He started playing music at the age of 14 on guitar with his first band "The Shepherds", which he co-founded with Thomas l'Etienne.

In 1980 he lived there for a year to study New Orleans Jazz and the lifestyle and culture that made and shaped this music.

He has made recordings in New Orleans with among others Willie Humphrey, "Father" Al Lewis (banjoist), Fred Lonzo, Lars Edegran, Orange Kellin, Frank Fields, Ernie Elly, "CoCoMo Joe" Joseph Barthelemy, Jason Marsalis, Louis Ford, Daniel Farrow, Kerry Lewis, Seva Venet, and vocalist Wanda Rouzan.

His main formation today is "Norbert Susemihl's Joyful Gumbo" which was formed in 2002 and is based in Denmark.

As his most important influences on trumpet Susemihl cites: Louis Armstrong, Bunk Johnson, De De Pierce, Alvin Alcorn, Jack Willis, Thomas Jefferson (musician), Wynton Marsalis, Kid Thomas Valentine, and Percy Humphrey.