Jimmy Maxwell

Jimmy Maxwell has been dubbed alternately the "King of Mardi Gras Swing!" and "The Musical King of Carnival Balls" by the New Orleans Times Picayune, Jimmy has been the band for top social functions in New Orleans since 1981. His father Edward Maxwell played with the Rene Louapre Society Orchestra from 1950 up until joining Jimmy in 1981.  Hence, the Maxwell family has been in the service of the New Orleans Mardi Gras Krewes for over 50 years.

Maxwell's climb to big band stardom began in a haphazard fashion rather typical of New Orleans musicians. His father made part of his living playing drums and his mother was a professional singer when she met his dad in a talent show put on by the local telephone operators of the time. Early on, Jimmy remembers being taken as a youngster to hear all the good jazz, pop and classical artist at local clubs and concert halls.

 From 1985 to 1989 Jimmy was partners with Peter Duchin, the famed society band leader from New York City and together they produced events involving sound, lighting, staging and even decor. His appearance at the 1988 Republican National Convention landed him on the front page of the New York Times along with Nancy and Ronald Reagan. President George H.W. Bush later invited him to play for the first anniversary inaugural ball at the Kennedy Center along with Harry Connick Jr, Tony Bennett and Chubby Checker.

He has performed with or for Rita Moreno, Joel Grey, The Fifth Dimension, The Neville Brothers, Harry Connick, Sr, The Hansons, Peter Duchin, Rich Little, Lou Rawls, Reba McIntire, Al Hirt, The Drifters, Pete Fountain, Diane Schuur, The Vienna Boys Choir, Alex Donner, Joel Grey, Presidents Reagan, Bush, and Clinton, members of Great Britain’s Royal Family (Prince & Princess Michael of York; Princess Margaret, and Prince Andrew), Bill Gates, Major Ronald Ferguson, Henry Kissinger, Colin Powell, former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Conner, Anne Rice, two-time Heavyweight Boxing Champion George Forman, and The Chicago Bulls.