06/17/2026
Ronell Johnson, the trombonist, vocalist, and sousaphonist known for his work with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and various other New Orleans-based ensembles, has passed away at age 49. His passing was confirmed in a series of posts by Preservation Hall. The posts did not specify a cause of death, though he had reportedly suffered a heart attack earlier this year.
“Ronell Johnson was a beacon,” reads a post announcing Johnson’s passing on Preservation Hall’s social media. “His love for music and community reverberated everywhere he went. His presence was larger than life, uplifting everyone who had the honor of crossing paths with him. Whether on stage, in the Hall, or in a passing conversation, his joy, kindness, and generosity left a lasting impact that we will carry with us always.”
“Ronell had great purpose in life, to bring joy and happiness to others through his music,” wrote Preservation Hall creative director, bassist, and tuba player Ben Jaffe. “[He] was a once in a generation talent and human being. I am processing this loss and will have more to say. Now, I am giving thanks for having known him. His joy was infectious. He made us all better. His heart was too big for this earth.”
“Ronell Johnson [was] truly one of the greatest musicians I have ever had the pleasure of performing with,” Preservation Hall Jazz Band guitarist Joshua Starkman wrote alongside a clip of him accompanying an ebullient Johnson on a lighthearted 1920s jazz tune. “Not just as a trombonist and vocalist but as a person who showed love and connection with everyone he came across. … I have never seen a musician with such enthusiasm to entertain and bring joy to everyone around him. What an inspiration. New Orleans and the world are going to miss him dearly, gone too soon.”
As Preservation Hall photographer Steve Rapport said in a separate post alongside a selection of photos, “This was an extraordinary and immensely talented musician with an incredibly happy and gregarious personality, and a beautiful, warm and caring wife, who quite literally lit up each and every room he wandered into. He gave so much of himself every minute of every day, and New Orleans was always a better place for his presence. His 3D trombone playing wasn’t great just because of its technically virtuosity, but also because every note was infused with his joy of life and his unquenchable passion for music. And the same can be said for his fabulous singing, which was always accompanied by goofy dancing and trombone shenanigans.”
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched by members of the Preservation Hall community and you can make a contribution to medical and funeral costs at the link in the comments.
📸: Steve Rapport via Preservation Hall IG
