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Ferbos stayed active long after reaching his century and last
performed in public in March, CBS affiliate WWL-TV reported.
Asked if he had any advice for young musicians, he told WWL in a
birthday interview, "Practice and practice and practice, and
you'll make friends all over the world."
The New Orleans native suffered from asthma as a child and his
parents initially refused to let him take up a wind instrument,
the station said.
He got his start in music at 15, when he saw an all-girl
orchestra at the Orpheum Theater and argued that he ought to be
able to do anything a girl could. He bought a cornet from a pawn
shop and began taking lessons.
Ferbos played with jazz bands in the New Orleans area and backed
blues singer Mamie Smith while playing with the Fats Pichon
Band.
He worked as a laborer for the federal Works Progress
Administration in the 1930s and played trumpet in the WPA jazz
band. Ferbos was the band's last surviving member.
He toured Europe eight times with the New Orleans Ragtime
Orchestra, which he helped found. He also led the French
Quarter's Palm Court Jazz Band for more than two decades, WWL
said.
Ferbos, who had a day job for many years as a metal worker, was
a member of the stage band for the Vernel Bagneris musical "One
Mo' Time" in 1979.
Ferbos, who celebrated his birthday on Thursday, died at his
home in New Orleans, said the station, citing family members.
His wife died in 2009 after 75 years of marriage. He is survived
by a daughter, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren,
WWL added.
(Reporting by Ian Simpson; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
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