NAT PERRILLIAT'S SPOT IN THE EVOLUTION OF ROCK 'N ROLL: NEW ORLEANS SAX MAN EXTRAORDINAIRE

Nat Perrilliat and his sax gettin' props from Smiley Lewis!




Nat Perrilliat, an incredibly talented and sought after sideman was born November 29, 1936, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Nat was one of the finest players in New Orleans in the 1950s.

Nat recorded with Jesse Hill,



Ernie K-Doe,



and Irma Thomas.



Perrilliat also recorded with the Nat Adderley Sextet,



Roy Brown,



Champion Jack Dupree,



Barbara George,



Clarence “Frogman” Henry,



and of course with Smiley Lewis,



Professor Longhair,



and the legendary Allen Toussaint, doing session  work with the various acts produced by him....

Nathaniel Perrilliat didn’t begin playing the saxophone until he started attending Joseph S. Clark High School. He practiced constantly, always challenging himself to play tunes at “unbelievable tempos,” and honed his chops performing at talent shows at the Caffin Theater in downtown New Orleans.

Perrilliat got his first professional gig with the New Orleans legend, pianist Professor Longhair.




Nat also went on to tour with Roy Montrell




 In the early 60s, Perrilliat joined the Ellis Marsalis Quartet, recording the seminal album, Monkey Puzzle.


Again Nat went on the road with Junior Parker,



Joe Tex


and Fats Domino.



In the late 60s he was injured in an automobile accident with other members of the Fats Domino Band. He ultimately died of injuries sustained in that crash.

R.I.P. NAT PERRILLIAT:
LEGENDARY NEW ORLEANS SAX MAN