Paul Wesley “Doc” Evans
(1907 – 1977)
Inducted in 1989
Doc Evans was born in Spring Valley, Minnesota and learned basic music in his
hometown. He played violin, drums, saxophone, and best of all, the cornet. He was a college musician at Carlton College in
Northfield, Minnesota graduating in 1929.
Evans did a variety of things, including teaching school, raising championship cocker spaniels, and playing jazz. He performed with some of the Fathers of Traditional American Jazz: Bunk Johnson, Eddie Condon, Joe Sullivan, Red Dougherty and Miff Mole. He recorded with many
recording companies in the Twin Cities. Evans was noted for his work as a lead cornetist in Dixieland and Traditional Jazz bands. One of his last performances was
at Mankato State University (now called Minnesota State University).
