Wade Whaley

Jazz clarinetist, born 1895 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Whaley originally played bass and guitar, then clarinet. Played clarinet with Armand J. Piron and others in New Orleans. Joined Jelly Roll Morton in Los Angeles 1917, played with Kid Ory in 1919-1922. From 1934 left full-time music to work in shipyards in San Jose. Began working regularly again in 1943 and continued during the next few years, also taking part in several recording sessions.