Leon Herriford

born: 13 July 1894 Chillicothe, Missouri, United States of America

died: 15 January 1937 National Military Home, West Los Angeles, California, United States of America (heart disease, age 42)

Black American jazz musician who played alto saxophone and clarinet in Paul Howard's Quality Serenaders. A military veteran, he played with Paul Howard and Harvey Brooks' "Quality Four" (1923-24), then played in the Quality Serenaders until 1929, whereupon he was replaced by Charlie Lawrence. He later led his own bands, some with Quality Serenaders alumni, until shortly before his passing.

Real name: Leon Hunter Herriford Height: 5'5"

Films listed on this page: complete Hal Roach filmography.

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1926 Mama Behave Jazz musician (clarinet) Acknowledgements: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3ZK-S79 (1900 Census) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2Y6-D3G (1910 Census) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDR-GK7X (military enlistment reg.) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG1X-X97L (1918 marriage) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCRR-NJ6 (1920 Census) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKS9-3WRH (CA Death Index) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGKV-TKGM (death certificate) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPT9-FMK4 (U.S. Veterans Adm. Master Index) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VHZZ-QBC (headstone app.) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55448141 (Find a Grave) https://archive.org/details/blackbeautywhite0000drig_n9z6/page/190/mode/1up?q=%22leon+herriford%22 ('Black Beauty, White Heat: A Pictorial History of Classic Jazz, 1920-1950,' by Frank Driggs & Harris Lewine) Jesse Brisson (bio notes, research and information; identification in Mama Behave) This page was last updated on: 06 January 2026