Slim Gaillard

[Bulee] (b Detroit, 1 Jan 1916) Singer, guitarist, and pianist. He first came to prominance in the late 1930's in a duo with Slam Stewart which toured and recorded with considerable success. When Stewart was drafted he was replaced by the double bass player Tiny "Bam" Brown. In 1941 Gaillard moved to Los Angeles, where he appeared in several films, most notably Hellzapoppin' (1941). During the 1940, he also performed and recorded with such musicians as Dizzy Gillespie, Dodo Marmarosa, Charlie Parker, and Leo Watson. With Brown he composed his masterpiece, Opera in Vout, a performance of which was recorded in 1946. 'Vout' is a humorous language invented by Gaillard in which he inserts nonsense syllables into everyday words; the lyrics to many of his songs are in this style. Although later in the decade radio broadcasts sustained his career, during the 1950's his popularity faded. He concentrated on acting in the 1960's and 1970's, but in 1970 he reunited with Stewart for an appearance at the Monterey Jazz Festival. In the early 1980's he returned to prominence, performing at festivals in Europe and playing in London, where he recorded with Buddy Tate and others.

SELECTED RECORDINGS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

STAN BRITT

• The Bartender's Review of Slim Gaillard: Laughing In Rhythm: The Best of the Verve Years
  
• Nice Price: Slim Gaillard and Bam Brown: Opera in Vout
  
• Absolute Beginners, a musical with Slim Gaillard appearing.
  
• Jack Kerouac references Slim in On the Road
  
• Another Slim Gaillard bio