Buddy Boudreaux
A saxophone powerhouse who turned Baton Rouge into a big band destination for over half a century.
1917–2015 (age 98)·Musical artist·Birthday: December 27·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Buddy Boudreaux didn't just play music; he built a scene. For more than seventy years, his saxophone and clarinet were the heartbeat of live performance in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Starting his first band in 1934, he cultivated a reputation for impeccable musicianship and showmanship. His groups became the must-play house band for a staggering roster of touring stars, from Andy Williams and Johnny Mathis to Bob Hope and Joan Rivers. Boudreaux understood that entertainment was about atmosphere as much as notes, creating polished, swinging ensembles that made national acts feel at home and local nights out feel special. Dubbed 'the city’s sound of big band' by the local paper, he was less a famous soloist than a cultural impresario, a fixture whose steady presence defined the sound of an entire city's nightlife across generations.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Buddy was born in 1917, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Buddy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1917
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Buddy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1917Born
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Started school
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1930Became a teenager
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1933Could drive
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1935Could vote
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1938Turned 21
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1947Turned 30
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 40
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 50
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 60
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 70
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 80
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2015Died at 98
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
Key Achievements
- Led and performed with his own bands in Baton Rouge for over seven decades, from 1934 until his passing.
- His orchestra served as the backing band for countless major national touring artists performing in Louisiana.
- Helped establish and sustain a vibrant big band and jazz performance circuit in the southern United States.
Did You Know?
He was a member of the LSU Tiger Band while a student at Louisiana State University.
He performed for every Louisiana governor from Sam Jones to Bobby Jindal.
Beyond performing, he also worked as a music educator and directed the choir at his church for many years.
He was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2009.
“If you want the dance floor full, you have to play the song they feel.”
