Wilbur de Paris was born January 11, 1900, in
Crawfordsville, Indiana. His father, Sidney de Paris Sr., was a musician and taught him and his brother
Sidney how to play music. He played
alto saxophone in his father's circus band. In 1919, de Paris began his career in Philadelphia in a small band. Among the musicians de Paris worked with were
Stuff Smith,
Dave Nelson,
Noble Sissle (with whom he toured Europe), and
Edgar Hayes. In late 1945, de Paris broke up his group to join
Duke Ellington with whom he stayed until 1947. His music is present in the films of
Woody Allen, including "In a Persian Market" in
The Curse of the Jade Scorpion. == Death ==