[Dixielandjazz] Tommy Yetta obit

[Patrick Cooke]

Here is Tommy Yetta's obit from this morning's Times Picayune:

   Thomas Yetta, 72, N.O. Jazz Musician

    Thomas Alfred Yetta, a jazz musician, died Wednesday of complications
from vasculitis at East Jefferson Hospital.  He was 72.
    Mr. Yetta was born in Pittsburgh and lived in New Orleans for the past
70 years.  He attended St. Aloysius High School.
     He was a jazz entertainer in New Orleans for the past 50 years.  He
performed in the French Quarter at such places as the Maison Bourbon, Crazy
Shirley's, The Famous Door, the Court of the Two Sisters, and the old French
Opera House.  He also performed at the Blue Room.
      Mr. Yetta appeared at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival for
more than 25 years and at the French Quarter Festival, where he won the
first Battle of the Bands.
      During the past 25 years, Mr. Yetta performed in Italy, France,
Ecuador, Columbia, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Hong Kong, Mexico, and Portugal.
        He donated his time and talent to entertain many civic
organizations, hospitals, nursing homes, the American Legion, and music
schools.
       He was a member of the American Federation of Musicians, Knights of
Columbus, the American Legion, the Jefferson Parish Community Band, and the
Delgado Jazz Band.  He was an Army National Guard Veteran.
        Survivors include four daughters, Cynthia Seruntine, Darlene Yetta,
Kathleen Yetta, and Debbie Zeringue: his mother, Stella May Thomas; a
sister, Dolores Yetta Jeandron; six grandchildren, and two great
grandchildren.
       A Mass will be said Saturday at 12:30 PM at All Faiths Funeral Home,
5200 Canal Blvd.  Visitation will begin at 9:30 AM.  The mass will be
followed by a jazz funeral to Greenwood Cemetery for burial.