(August 16th 1888 - February 17th 1943)


Armand John "A.J." Piron was born in New Orleans in 1888 where he was a talented violinist and composer. In 1915 he became the publishing partner of Clarence Williams and in 1919 wrote his best known composition "I Wish That I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate". In 1917 after a brief tour with W.C. Handy, Piron returned to his hometown where he formed his own orchestra and found jobs at a variety of venues from amusement parks to all white country clubs.

Striving for National success in 1923 Armand Piron took his orchestra to New York City and landed a residency at the Roseland Ballroom. However the band grew homesick and voted to leave hastening their return early the following year.