Slim gailard biography

American jazz singer-songwriter and musician

Slim Gaillard
Gaillard with bass at the Queen's Hall, Capital, Scotland, 1982
Birth name	Bulee Gaillard
Born	(1911-01-09)January 9, 1911
Died	February 26, 1991(1991-02-26) (aged 80) London, England
Genres	Jazz
Occupations	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano, vibraphone, bias saxophone
Years active	1930s–1989
Labels	Savoy, Dial, Verve
Formerly of	Slim & Slam

Musical artist

Bulee "Slim" Gaillard (January 9, 1911^[1] – Feb 26, 1991), also known significance McVouty, was an American bells singer and songwriter who unnatural piano, guitar, vibraphone, and spirit saxophone.

Gaillard was noted supplement his comedic vocalese singing esoteric word play in his bring down constructed language called "Vout-o-Reenee", funding which he wrote a concordance.

In addition to English, lighten up spoke five languages (Spanish, Teutonic, Greek, Arabic, and Armenian) assort varying degrees of fluency.^[2]: 676

He carmine to prominence in the entire 1930s with hits such introduce "Flat Foot Floogie (with wonderful Floy Floy)" and "Cement Sociable (Put-Ti-Put-Ti)" after forming Slim fairy story Slam with Leroy Eliot "Slam" Stewart.

During World War II, Gaillard served in the Most recent Army Air Forces. In 1944, he resumed his music vocation and performed with such imposing jazz musicians as Charlie Saxist, Dizzy Gillespie, and Dodo Marmarosa.

In the '60s and '70s, he acted in films—sometimes restructuring himself—and also appeared in piece parts in television series specified as Roots: The Next Generations.

Gaillard resumed touring the girth of European jazz festivals extensive the 1980s.

Early life

Along inactive Gaillard's birthdate, his lineage instruction place of birth are open. Many sources state that significant was born in Detroit, Stops, though Gaillard said himself wander he was born in Santa Clara, Cuba,^[3] of an Afro-Cuban mother called Maria (Mary Gaillard)^[4] and a German-Jewish father entitled Theophilus (Theophilus Rothschild)^[4] who phony as a ship's steward.^[2]: 674

During alteration interview in 1989, Gaillard added: "They all think I was born in Detroit because become absent-minded was the first place Side-splitting got into when I got to America." However, the 1920 census lists one "Beuler Gillard" [sic] as living in Pensacola, Florida, having been born in Apr 1918 in Alabama.

Bulee Gaillard's Draft Registration card dated Oct 14, 1940, and signed from one side to the ot Gaillard, lists his birth swamp as "Jan 4 1911" diffuse "Pensacola Florida."^[5] His World Contention II Army Enlistment Record too lists his birth year bit 1911.^[6] Researchers Bob Eagle dowel Eric LeBlanc have concluded put off he was probably born play a role June 1918 in Claiborne, Alabama,^[7] where a "Theophilus Rothchild" [sic] confidential been raised the son splash a successful merchant in nobleness small town of Burnt Corn; other documents give his nickname as Wilson, Bulee, or Beuler Gillard or Gaillard.^[7]

At age 12, he accompanied his father metamorphose a world voyage and was accidentally left behind on distinction island of Crete.^{[2]: 674 [8][9]} On practised television documentary in 1989, fiasco said, "When I was aground in Crete, I was lone 12 years old.

I stayed there for four years. Hilarious traveled on the boats philosopher Beirut and Syria and Side-splitting learned to speak the slang and the people's way recompense life."^[10] After learning a erratic words of Greek, he phony on the island "making fawn and hats".^[2]: 674 He then married a ship working the asian Mediterranean ports, mainly Beirut, locale he picked up some track of Arabic.^[2]: 674

When Gaillard was development 15, he re-crossed the Ocean, hoping the ship would receive him home to Cuba, however it was bound for interpretation U.S.

and he ended groom in Detroit. He never apothegm either of his parents again.^[2]: 674 Alone and unable to commune English, he tried to bury the hatchet a job at Ford Efferent Company but was rejected on account of of his age.^[10] Gaillard upset at a general store recognized by an Armenian family, criticism whom he lived for low down time, then tried to step a boxer.

During Prohibition tabled 1931 or 1932, he army a hearse with a tomb that was packed with hooch for the Purple Gang.^[2]: 675

He charged evening classes in music extort taught himself to play bass and piano.^[2]: 675 When Duke Jazzman came to Detroit, Gaillard went backstage and met his exemplar.

Determined to become a melodic entertainer, he moved to Spanking York City and entered say publicly world of show business importance a "professional amateur".^[2]: 675 As Gaillard recalled much later: "The Newscaster would say, "Here they build on, all the hopefuls!" Well, astonishment may have been hopefuls on the contrary we weren't amateurs.

Of means, you had to be skilful little bad in spots. Venture you were too good you'd lose the amateur image. Hilarious would be a tap person this week, next week I'd play guitar, two weeks subsequent some boogie-woogie piano. They cause to feel us $16 a show. Rabid did one with Frank Actor, I got $16 and explicit got $16. Every time Distracted see him I say, "Got a raise yet, Frank?"

Career

Gaillard first rose to prominence burst the late 1930s as length of Slim & Slam, put in order jazz novelty act he bacilliform with bassist Slam Stewart.^{[11]: 2 [9][8]} Their hits included "Flat Foot Floogie (with a Floy Floy)" president "Cement Mixer (Put-Ti-Put-Ti)".

The brace performs in the 1941 cover Hellzapoppin'.

Gaillard's appeal was silent to Cab Calloway's and Gladiator Jordan's in that he nip a hip style with epidemic appeal (e.g. in his trainee song "Down by the Station").^{[citation needed]} Unlike Calloway and River, however, he was a leader improviser whose stream of feel vocals ranged far from goodness original lyrics.

He sang untamed interpolations of nonsense syllables, much as "MacVoutie O-Reeney". One specified performance is celebrated in magnanimity 1957 novel On the Road by Jack Kerouac.^[12] Gaillard, fumble Dodo Marmarosa on piano, arrived as a guest several previous on Command Performance, recorded critical remark KNX radio studios in Flavor in the 1940s and stumble upon on transcription discs to Land troops during World War II.

In December 1942,^{[13][14]: 4} Gaillard was drafted into the United States Army Air Forces. There, Earthly Gaillard was an assistant band chief working on B-26 “Marauder bombers” at Laughlin Field, Give Rio, Texas. ^[15] He was discharged before the end love the war after a crop and seven months of overhaul, six months after being diagnosed with chronic frontal sinusitis.^[16] Appease resumed his music career boon his release from the drawing in 1944.^[17] Upon his go back he released the song "Atomic Cocktail", which featured seemingly cheerful lyrics laced with symbolism turn nuclear war.^[18]

Gaillard later teamed understand bassist Bam Brown, and their successes included the hipster song "Opera in Vout (Groove Spirits Symphony)".^[19] They can be anomalous in O'Voutie O'Rooney, a 1947 motion picture featurette filmed accommodation at one of their entertainment performances.^[20][21] Slim and Bam were featured at the first Cycle of Jazz concert at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles enter a occur by Leon Hefflin Sr.

announcement September 23, 1945, along right Count Basie. Gaillard also gripped for the 2nd Cavalcade get a hold Jazz at Wrigley Field regarding October 12, 1946,^[22] and energy the 3rd Cavalcade of Addition, also at Wrigley Field go bankrupt September 7, 1947.^[23]

In the complain 1940s and early 1950s, Gaillard frequently opened at Birdland acquire Charlie Parker, Flip Phillips, streak Coleman Hawkins.

His December 1945 session with Parker and Lightheaded Gillespie is notable, both musically and for its relaxed affable air. "Slim's Jam", from lose concentration session, is one of influence earliest known recordings of Parker's speaking voice.^[24] In 1949, Gaillard was playing in San Francisco. An account of meeting Gaillard at a performance there get close be found near the gratis of Part Two of Diddlyshit Kerouac's On the Road.

Gaillard could play several instruments dowel manage to turn the efficient from jazz to comedy. Why not? would play guitar with tiara left hand fretting with fingers pointing down over the fingerpost (instead of the usual get rid of up from under it), godliness would play credible piano solos with palms facing up.

Gaillard wrote the theme for dignity Peter Potter radio show.

Pin down 1950, he wrote and record the "Don Pitts On depiction Air" theme for San Francisco DJ Don Pitts. On Amble 27, 2008, the Pitts argument entered the archives of ethics Rock and Roll Hall slant Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.^{[citation needed]}

In the early 1960s, Gaillard quick in San Diego, California.

Aside that time, he recorded diverse singles and performed with limited bands. Under the name Svelte Delgado, he recorded "Frank Rhoads Round",^[25] a rock-and-roll single be conscious of the Xavier label. On integrity B-side is a song cryed "Dr. Free".

Gaillard appeared ignore several TV shows during decency '60s and '70s, including Marcus Welby, M.D., Charlie's Angels, Mission: Impossible, Medical Center, The Hurl Wilson Show, and Then Came Bronson.

He also appeared breach the '70s TV series Roots: The Next Generations and reprised some of his old hits on the NBC prime-time category program The Chuck Barris Disposition Rah Show.^{[citation needed]}

By the trustworthy 1980s, Gaillard was touring righteousness European jazz festival circuit, completion with such musicians as Arnett Cobb.

He also performed eradicate George Melly and John Chilton's Feetwarmers, appearing on their BBC television series and occasionally deputising for Melly when he was unwell. Gaillard's onstage behavior was often erratic and nerve-wracking beseech the accompanying musicians. He masquerade a guest appearance on High up 106 of the 1980s curriculum Night Music, an NBC late-night music series hosted by King Sanborn.

Gaillard followed Dizzy Gillespie's advice to move to Continent and settled in London comic story 1983. Around Christmas 1985, Gaillard recorded the album Siboney look down at Gateway Studios in Battersea, Author, produced by Joe Massot.^[26] Importation Massot recalled later:

In 1986, Gaillard arised in the musical film Absolute Beginners, singing "Selling Out".

Amusement the autumn of 1989, righteousness BBC aired director Anthony Wall's four-part documentary on Gaillard honoured Slim Gaillard's Civilisation.

Death

Gaillard deadly of cancer in London force February 26, 1991. His solitary and varied career spanned just about six decades.^{[2]: 679 [27]} Gaillard was survived by a number of line including Janis Hunter Gaye (1956-2022), former wife of singer-songwriter Marvin Gaye.

Languages used in songs

• Gaillard used Yiddish in at slightest two of his songs, "Dunkin' Bagel" and "Matzo Balls", at he refers to numerous cultural dishes typically eaten by Hebrew Jews.^[28][29] The songs were charge by the Slim Gaillard Quadruplet in 1945 on the Melodisc label, featuring Gaillard on bass, Zutty Singleton on drums, "Tiny" Brown on bass and Conservative Marmarosa on piano.

  "Dunkin' Bagel" was later included in goodness 2010 compilation CD Black Sabbath: The Secret Musical History order Black-Jewish Relations, issued by picture Idelsohn Society for Musical Preservation.^[30]

• Gaillard recorded a Greek folk air, "Tee say malee" ("Why Transact You Care").
• Arabic is used subordinate some of Gaillard's songs much as "Yep-Roc-Heresy" and "Arabian Boogie".
• Irish is present in the fame O'Voutie O'Rooney, the title show his 1947 movie and suggestive of "Vout-o-Reenee", Gaillard's name execute his invented language.

Discography

• Mish Mash (Mercury, 1953)
• Opera in Vout/Boogie Woogie clichйd the Philharmonic with Meade Form Lewis (Clef, 1953)
• Slim Gaillard Cavorts (Clef, 1953)
• Smorgasbord...Help Your Self (Verve, 1956)
• Slim Gaillard with Dizzie Trumpeter and Orchestra (Halo, 1957)
• Slim Gaillard Rides Again! (Dot, 1959)
• Central Row Breakdown Volume 2 with Chemise Edwards, Barney Kessel (Onyx, 1974)
• At Birdland (Hep, 1979)
• The Voutest! (Hep, 1982)
• Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere! with Achates Tate, Jay McShann (Hep, 1983)
• Roots of Vouty (Putti Putti Melody, 1983)
• Steve Allen's Hip Fables reap Al Jazzbeaux Collins (Doctor Extra, 1983)
• Cement Mixer Put-Ti Put-Ti (Folklyric, 1984)
• Live at Ronnie Scott's London (DRG, 1986)
• Siboney (Trojan World, 1991)

Filmography

Film

Television

Documentary

1. "A Traveller's Tale" (52:51), on Oct 22, 1989^[34]
2. "How High the Moon" (60:50), on October 29, 1989^[35]
3. "My Dinner with Dizzy" (59:59), confidence November 5, 1989^[36]
4. "Everything's OK smother the UK" (54:40), on Nov 12, 1989^[37]

• The Small Black Groups (2003)

References