- Birth name: Adolphe Paul Barbarin
- Born: May 5, 1899 New Orleans, LA USA
- Died: February 17, 1969 New Orleans, LA USA
- Genres: Jazz
- Occupation: Musician, composer
- Instruments: Drums
- Associated Acts: Freddie Keppard, Jimmie Noone, King Oliver‘s band, Luis Russell‘s band, Red Allen‘s sextet, Sidney Bechet, Art Hodes.
Paul grew up in New Orleans in a musical family, which included his dad, three of his brothers, and his nephew. Paul played in both the Silver Leaf Orchestra and the Young Olympia Band before moving to Chicago. In 1917, he worked with Freddie Keppard and Jimmi Noone. He worked with King Oliver from 1925-1927 after which he moved to New York City and playing in Luis Russell’s band where he worked with Louis Armstrong who, it is said, credited Barbarin with inventing the rim shot. In 1942, he worked with Red Allen’s sextet and with Sidney Bechet in 1944 and Art Hodes in 1953.
In 1960 Paul re-formed his dad’s Onward Brass Band that played at Preservation Hall and made several recordings.
Paul passed away while playing snare drum and leading his Onward Brass Band in a Mardi Gras parade.
