ɪn nˈuː ˈɔːɹliənz, hiː plˈeɪd wɪððɪ ɪmpˈɪɹiəl, ˌɪndiːˈænə, hˈɛnɹi ˈælən sˈiːnjɚz əlˈɪmpiə bɹˈæs bˈænd, ænd dʒˈæk kˈɛɹiz dˈæns bˈænd; ˈɜːli ɪn hɪz kɚɹˈɪɹ hiː wʌz sˈʌmtaɪmz nˈoʊn æz "sˈʌni" səlˈɛstɪn.
In New Orleans, he played with the Imperial, Indiana, Henry Allen senior's Olympia Brass Band, and Jack Carey's dance band; early in his career he was sometimes known as "Sonny" Celestin.