Luis Russell House Bocas Collection

Luis Carl Russell was born on Isla Carenero, Bocas del Toro, Panama in 1902, and grew up steeped in the rich musical traditions of the Caribbean before becoming one of the most important early figures in jazz history.

From his roots in Bocas del Toro—where he learned violin, guitar, trombone, and piano under the tutelage of his music-teacher father—Russell moved to the United States as a young man after winning a small fortune in the lottery. In New Orleans, Chicago, and New York he became a pioneering jazz pianist, arranger, composer, and orchestra leader, recording some of the earliest examples of swing music and leading ensembles that worked with giants like King Oliver and Louis Armstrong. Between the late 1920s and the 1940s, his orchestra helped lay the groundwork for big band jazz and swing, with Russell eventually serving as musical director for Armstrong’s band.

Today, his legacy resonates back in Bocas del Toro through cultural initiatives, musical tributes, murals, and efforts to re-center this influential Panamanian’s place in both local history and the worldwide story of jazz.