Big 6 Brass Band formed in the spring of 2017, founded by trumpeter Eric Gordon, trombonist Lamar Heard, tuba player Clifton "Spug" Smith, snare drummer Pierre Carter, bass drummer Thaddeus "Peanut" Ramsey, and cowbell percussionist Chris Tero, who started out playing jam sessions at Josie's Playhouse. Each member hails from the Sixth Ward of New Orleans, and the band's name nods to that shared home turf as much as its original six-piece lineup.
As their popularity grew, the band expanded, adding trombonist Dwayne Finnie, trumpeters Chris Cotton and Chadrick Honoré, and saxophonist Utopia Francis. Soon after forming, Big 6 became the most popular band on the streets, playing all but about five of the roughly forty social aid and pleasure club Sunday second line parades during the 2018–2019 season — an extraordinary run for a band barely two years old.
In June 2019, the band released its self-titled debut album, Big Six, thirteen tracks of original material blending funk, R&B, hip-hop, jazz, and classical elements alongside crowd-favorite covers. OffBeat Magazine called it "the sound of New Orleans streets today." The band's roster carries serious pedigree: Dwayne Finnie is a former member of Hot 8 Brass Band and a New Orleans public school music teacher, while Grammy-winning trumpeter Chadrick Honoré also performs with Rebirth Brass Band.
