17 Facts About Barney Bigard

Albany Leon "Barney" Bigard was an American jazz clarinetist known for his 15-year tenure with Duke Ellington.

Barney Bigard attended local schools and studied music and clarinet with Lorenzo Tio.

In December 1927, Barney Bigard joined Duke Ellington's orchestra in New York.

Barney Bigard did soundtrack work for Hollywood film studios and had an onscreen featured role with an all-star band led by Louis Armstrong in the film New Orleans.

Barney Bigard began working with trombonist Kid Ory's group during the late 1940s.

Barney Bigard later worked with Armstrong's touring band, the All Stars, and others.

In 1951 Barney Bigard appeared in The Strip with Armstrong, Jack Teagarden, and Earl "Fatha" Hines.

Barney Bigard again appeared and played in the movie St Louis Blues, with Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Pearl Bailey and Eartha Kitt.

Barney Bigard wrote an autobiography entitled With Louis and The Duke.

Barney Bigard is credited as composer or co-composer on several numbers, including the Ellington standard "Mood Indigo".

In keeping with Ellington's formation of small groups featuring his primary soloists, Barney Bigard continued to be featured under his own name on Variety and subsequently Vocalion Records and OKeh through 1940.

When Ellington signed with Victor in 1940, Barney Bigard recorded for Bluebird under his own name.

Barney Bigard was a member of Louis Armstrong's All Stars before and after Edmond Hall joined.

Barney Bigard can be seen with the All Stars in the movie The Glenn Miller Story.

Barney Bigard performed with Louis Armstrong and his All Stars with Velma Middleton singing vocals for the ninth Cavalcade of Jazz concert held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles.

Barney Bigard recorded an album for Liberty in 1957 and an album for French Vogue Records as "Barney Bigard-Claude Luter Quintet" in 1966.

Barney Bigard died on June 27,1980, aged 74, in Culver City, California and was interred in that city's Holy Cross Cemetery.