 The group was founded by trumpeter Willie Wilson, and its early members included clarinetists Willie Parker, John Casimir, George Lewis and cornetist Kid Rena.In the 1930s Wilson became ill, and trumpeter Alcide Landry retained nominal control over the band.After 1937, when Wilson's condition forced him to leave, sousaphonist Joseph "Red" Clark briefly became the group's leader, followed by Dominique "T-Boy" Remy (1937-46), and then Percy Humphrey, who led the group for the remainder of its existence.