Thomas James Ladnier, known as Tommy Ladnier, was born on May 28, 1900, in Mandeville, Louisiana, and was an American jazz trumpeter. From 1914, he performed with the Independence Band at Dew Drop Dance Hall. In 1923, he recorded for Paramount Records and collaborated with King Oliver’s Harmony Syncopators on "Play that Thing." His extensive touring included work with Sam Wooding in Europe during the late 1920s. He returned to New York in 1938 for the first From Spirituals to Swing concert arranged by John Hammond, then died unexpectedly on June 4, 1939, at Mezzrow’s apartment in Harlem, New York.
