Many reed players significant in early jazz studied with Lorenzo Tio Jr., including Sidney Bechet, Barney Bigard, Johnny Dodds, Omer Simeon, Louis Cottrell, Jr., Jimmie Noone and Albert Nicholas. Tio Jr. taught Bigard what would become the main theme to the Duke Ellington tune, "Mood Indigo."
Many prominent reed players in early jazz learned from Lorenzo Tio Jr., including Sidney Bechet, Barney Bigard, Johnny Dodds, Omer Simeon, Louis Cottrell, Jr., Jimmie Noone and Albert Nicholas.  Tio Jr. taught Bigard the melody for Duke Ellington's "Mood Indigo."