Jazz trumpeter and vocalist Kermit Ruffins was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on
December 19, 1964. Influenced by Louis Jordan and Louis Armstrong, Kermit
Ruffins is best known as the co-founder of the Rebirth Brass Band. He began
playing trumpet in the eighth grade, but had to include classical music into his
repertoire at the insistence of the band teacher. While attending high school,
he co-founded the Rebirth Brass Band, who combined traditional New Orleans brass
band music with jazz, soul, funk, and hip hop. The group released their first
album, Here to Stay!, in 1984 to cri...