Wendell Brunious

Born on October 27, 1954, Brunious was born into a Louisiana Creole family, the son of Nazimova "Chinee" Santiago and John "Picket" Brunious, Sr., a trumpeter who studied at Juilliard and played with the Onward Brass Band, Young Tuxedo Brass Band, and Paul Barbarin, and who arranged for Billy Eckstine and Cab Calloway.

Brunious sang in Chief John and the Mahogany Hall Stompers in the 1960s, a group in which his father was also a member.

In 1976, Brunious substituted for his father in Albert "Papa" French's band for Mardi Gras, and by 1979 was playing regularly at Preservation Hall with Kid Thomas Valentine.

He also played with the Eureka Brass Band (1980), Lionel Hampton (1981), Linda Hopkins (1984), and Sammy Rimington (1984).

He later played with Michael White, Chris Barber, Papa Don Vappie, Bob Wilber, and the Pfister Siblings.