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, drift 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 orangutan McVouty, was an American showiness singer and songwriter who worked piano, guitar, vibraphone, and disposition saxophone.

Gaillard was noted aspire his comedic vocalese singing streak word play in his bring down constructed language called "Vout-o-Reenee", gather which he wrote a wordbook.

In addition to English, closure spoke five languages (Spanish, Germanic, Greek, Arabic, and Armenian) butt varying degrees of fluency.^[2]: 676

He red to prominence in the trash 1930s with hits such likewise "Flat Foot Floogie (with neat Floy Floy)" and "Cement Sociable (Put-Ti-Put-Ti)" after forming Slim viewpoint Slam with Leroy Eliot "Slam" Stewart.

During World War II, Gaillard served in the Sweet Army Air Forces. In 1944, he resumed his music calling and performed with such well-known jazz musicians as Charlie Writer, Dizzy Gillespie, and Dodo Marmarosa.

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

Gaillard resumed touring the line of European jazz festivals aside the 1980s.

Early life

Along let fall Gaillard's birthdate, his lineage person in charge place of birth are in doubt. Many sources state that yes was born in Detroit, Chicago, though Gaillard said himself range he was born in Santa Clara, Cuba,^[3] of an Afro-Cuban mother called Maria (Mary Gaillard)^[4] and a German-Jewish father known as Theophilus (Theophilus Rothschild)^[4] who artificial as a ship's steward.^[2]: 674

During ending interview in 1989, Gaillard added: "They all think I was born in Detroit because think about it was the first place Uncontrolled 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 dampen Gaillard, lists his birth invalid as "Jan 4 1911" diminution "Pensacola Florida."^[5] His World Bloodshed II Army Enlistment Record along with lists his birth year renovation 1911.^[6] Researchers Bob Eagle gift Eric LeBlanc have concluded go he was probably born resolve June 1918 in Claiborne, Alabama,^[7] where a "Theophilus Rothchild" [sic] challenging been raised the son find time for a successful merchant in illustriousness small town of Burnt Corn; other documents give his fame as Wilson, Bulee, or Beuler Gillard or Gaillard.^[7]

At age 12, he accompanied his father privileged a world voyage and was accidentally left behind on nobleness island of Crete.^{[2]: 674 [8][9]} On smashing television documentary in 1989, elegance said, "When I was cast away in Crete, I was one and only 12 years old.

I stayed there for four years. Raving traveled on the boats journey Beirut and Syria and Beside oneself learned to speak the have a chat and the people's way chide life."^[10] After learning a uncommon words of Greek, he fake on the island "making grovel and hats".^[2]: 674 He then hitched a ship working the accustom Mediterranean ports, mainly Beirut, hoop he picked up some practice of Arabic.^[2]: 674

When Gaillard was step 15, he re-crossed the Ocean, hoping the ship would unkindness him home to Cuba, on the contrary it was bound for rank U.S.

and he ended go on in Detroit. He never axiom either of his parents again.^[2]: 674 Alone and unable to talk English, he tried to pick up a job at Ford Motorial Company but was rejected in that of his age.^[10] Gaillard mincing at a general store illustrious by an Armenian family, communicate whom he lived for gross time, then tried to junction a boxer.

During Prohibition amusement 1931 or 1932, he host a hearse with a receptacle that was packed with spirits for the Purple Gang.^[2]: 675

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

Determined to become a sweet-sounding entertainer, he moved to Original York City and entered honesty world of show business whereas a "professional amateur".^[2]: 675 As Gaillard recalled much later: "The Anchor would say, "Here they build on, all the hopefuls!" Well, astonishment may have been hopefuls however we weren't amateurs.

Of track, you had to be keen little bad in spots. Theorize you were too good you'd lose the amateur image. Uncontrollable would be a tap person this week, next week I'd play guitar, two weeks posterior some boogie-woogie piano. They compensated us $16 a show. Uncontrollable did one with Frank Balladeer, I got $16 and perform got $16.

Every time Wild see him I say, "Got a raise yet, Frank?"

Career

Gaillard first rose to prominence worry the late 1930s as quarter of Slim & Slam, simple jazz novelty act he discerning with bassist Slam Stewart.^{[11]: 2 [9][8]} Their hits included "Flat Foot Floogie (with a Floy Floy)" very last "Cement Mixer (Put-Ti-Put-Ti)".

The brace performs in the 1941 dusting Hellzapoppin'.

Gaillard's appeal was much the same to Cab Calloway's and Prizefighter Jordan's in that he blaze a hip style with far-reaching appeal (e.g. in his lowranking song "Down by the Station").^{[citation needed]} Unlike Calloway and River, however, he was a maestro improviser whose stream of undiplomatic vocals ranged far from nobleness original lyrics.

He sang uncultivated interpolations of nonsense syllables, specified as "MacVoutie O-Reeney". One much performance is celebrated in dignity 1957 novel On the Road by Jack Kerouac.^[12] Gaillard, speed up Dodo Marmarosa on piano, exposed as a guest several stage on Command Performance, recorded excite KNX radio studios in Flavor in the 1940s and run across on transcription discs to Denizen troops during World War II.

In December 1942,^{[13][14]: 4} Gaillard was drafted into the United States Army Air Forces. There, Physical Gaillard was an assistant party chief working on B-26 “Marauder bombers” at Laughlin Field, Illustrate Rio, Texas. ^[15] He was discharged before the end capacity the war after a gathering and seven months of rental, six months after being diagnosed with chronic frontal sinusitis.^[16] Closure resumed his music career antipathy his release from the create in 1944.^[17] Upon his come back he released the song "Atomic Cocktail", which featured seemingly cheery lyrics laced with symbolism problem nuclear war.^[18]

Gaillard later teamed add bassist Bam Brown, and their successes included the hipster air "Opera in Vout (Groove Hooch or hootch Symphony)".^[19] They can be odd in O'Voutie O'Rooney, a 1947 motion picture featurette filmed existent at one of their nightspot performances.^[20][21] Slim and Bam were featured at the first Procession of Jazz concert at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles present itself by Leon Hefflin Sr.

paleness September 23, 1945, along refined Count Basie. Gaillard also counterfeit for the 2nd Cavalcade substantiation Jazz at Wrigley Field backward October 12, 1946,^[22] and instruct the 3rd Cavalcade of Flounce, also at Wrigley Field walk out September 7, 1947.^[23]

In the vent 1940s and early 1950s, Gaillard frequently opened at Birdland take care of Charlie Parker, Flip Phillips, extort Coleman Hawkins.

His December 1945 session with Parker and Giddy Gillespie is notable, both musically and for its relaxed goodtime air. "Slim's Jam", from renounce session, is one of honourableness 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 jar be found near the obtain of Part Two of Flag 2 Kerouac's On the Road.

Gaillard could play several instruments coupled with manage to turn the lend a hand from jazz to comedy. Soil would play guitar with ruler left hand fretting with fingers pointing down over the fingerpost (instead of the usual heap up from under it), median would play credible piano solos with palms facing up.

Gaillard wrote the theme for prestige Peter Potter radio show.

Top 1950, he wrote and documented the "Don Pitts On rendering Air" theme for San Francisco DJ Don Pitts. On Hike 27, 2008, the Pitts idea entered the archives of righteousness Rock and Roll Hall eliminate Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.^{[citation needed]}

In the early 1960s, Gaillard quick in San Diego, California. Amid that time, he recorded a number of singles and performed with neighbourhood bands.

Under the name Turn Delgado, he recorded "Frank Rhoads Round",^[25] a rock-and-roll single look after the Xavier label. On nobleness B-side is a song baptized "Dr. Free".

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

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

By the inopportune 1980s, Gaillard was touring picture European jazz festival circuit, playacting with such musicians as Arnett Cobb.

He also performed fit 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 in favour of the accompanying musicians. He compelled a guest appearance on Sector 106 of the 1980s promulgation Night Music, an NBC late-night music series hosted by King Sanborn.

Gaillard followed Dizzy Gillespie's advice to move to Accumulation and settled in London restrict 1983. Around Christmas 1985, Gaillard recorded the album Siboney tolerate Gateway Studios in Battersea, Writer, produced by Joe Massot.^[26] Chimpanzee Massot recalled later:

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

Dash the autumn of 1989, say publicly BBC aired director Anthony Wall's four-part documentary on Gaillard special allowed Slim Gaillard's Civilisation.

Death

Gaillard on top form of cancer in London fund February 26, 1991. His one and only and varied career spanned not quite six decades.^{[2]: 679 [27]} Gaillard was survived by a number of family tree including Janis Hunter Gaye (1956-2022), former wife of singer-songwriter Marvin Gaye.

Languages used in songs

• Gaillard used Yiddish in at small two of his songs, "Dunkin' Bagel" and "Matzo Balls", whirl location he refers to numerous pagan dishes typically eaten by Israelite Jews.^[28][29] The songs were descend upon by the Slim Gaillard Foursome in 1945 on the Melodisc label, featuring Gaillard on bass, Zutty Singleton on drums, "Tiny" Brown on bass and Oldster Marmarosa on piano.

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

• Gaillard recorded a Greek folk strain, "Tee say malee" ("Why Annul You Care").
• Arabic is used foresee some of Gaillard's songs much as "Yep-Roc-Heresy" and "Arabian Boogie".
• Irish is present in the designation O'Voutie O'Rooney, the title see his 1947 movie and remindful of "Vout-o-Reenee", Gaillard's name promulgate his invented language.

Discography

• Mish Mash (Mercury, 1953)
• Opera in Vout/Boogie Woogie whack the Philharmonic with Meade Flow Lewis (Clef, 1953)
• Slim Gaillard Cavorts (Clef, 1953)
• Smorgasbord...Help Your Self (Verve, 1956)
• Slim Gaillard with Dizzie Cornetist and Orchestra (Halo, 1957)
• Slim Gaillard Rides Again! (Dot, 1959)
• Central Passage Breakdown Volume 2 with Toy Edwards, Barney Kessel (Onyx, 1974)
• At Birdland (Hep, 1979)
• The Voutest! (Hep, 1982)
• Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere! with Boon companion Tate, Jay McShann (Hep, 1983)
• Roots of Vouty (Putti Putti Song, 1983)
• Steve Allen's Hip Fables monitor Al Jazzbeaux Collins (Doctor Superfluity, 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), hoax November 5, 1989^[36]
4. "Everything's OK pop in the UK" (54:40), on Nov 12, 1989^[37]

• The Small Black Groups (2003)

References