1. Slim Gaillard resumed touring the circuit of European jazz festivals during the 1980s.
22 Facts About Slim Gaillard
1. 2.
Many sources state that he was born in Detroit, Michigan, though Slim Gaillard said himself that he was born in Santa Clara, Cuba, of an Afro-Cuban mother called Maria and a German-Jewish father called Theophilus who worked as a ship's steward.
3.
Slim Gaillard then joined a ship working the eastern Mediterranean ports, mainly Beirut, where he picked up some knowledge of Arabic.
4.
When Slim Gaillard was about 15, he re-crossed the Atlantic, hoping the ship would take him home to Cuba, but it was bound for the US and he ended up in Detroit.
5.
Slim Gaillard worked at a general store owned by an Armenian family, with whom he lived for some time, then tried to become a boxer.
6.
Slim Gaillard attended evening classes in music and taught himself to play guitar and piano.
7.
When Duke Ellington came to Detroit, Slim Gaillard went backstage and met his hero.
8.
Slim Gaillard sang wild interpolations of nonsense syllables, such as "MacVoutie O-Reeney".
9.
In December 1942, Slim Gaillard was drafted into the United States Army Air Forces.
10.
Slim Gaillard was discharged before the end of the war after a year and seven months of service, six months after being diagnosed with chronic frontal sinusitis.
11.
Slim Gaillard resumed his music career on his release from the draft in 1944.
12.
Slim Gaillard later teamed with bassist Bam Brown, and their successes included the hipster anthem "Opera in Vout ".
13.
Slim Gaillard played for the 2nd Cavalcade of Jazz at Wrigley Field on October 12,1946, and for the 3rd Cavalcade of Jazz, at Wrigley Field on September 7,1947.
14.
Slim Gaillard wrote the theme for the Peter Potter radio show.
15.
Slim Gaillard appeared in the '70s TV series Roots: The Next Generations and reprised some of his old hits on the NBC prime-time variety program The Chuck Barris Rah Rah Show.
16.
Slim Gaillard performed with George Melly and John Chilton's Feetwarmers, appearing on their BBC television series and occasionally deputising for Melly when he was unwell.
17.
Slim Gaillard made a guest appearance on Show 106 of the 1980s program Night Music, an NBC late-night music series hosted by David Sanborn.
18.
Slim Gaillard followed Dizzy Gillespie's advice to move to Europe and settled in London in 1983.
19.
Around Christmas 1985, Slim Gaillard recorded the album Siboney at Gateway Studios in Battersea, London, produced by Joe Massot.
20.
In 1986, Slim Gaillard appeared in the musical film Absolute Beginners, singing "Selling Out".
21.
Slim Gaillard died of cancer in London on February 26,1991.
22.
Slim Gaillard was survived by a number of children including Janis Hunter Gaye, former wife of singer-songwriter Marvin Gaye.