Biography
Slim Gaillard, born Bulee Gaillard (birth date variously cited as January 4, 1916 or January 9, 1911) in Detroit, Michigan or possibly Santa Clara, Cuba, was a singular figure in American jazz, celebrated for his inventive humor, linguistic playfulness, and musical versatility[1][2][3][5]. Gaillard mastered a wide range of instruments, including piano, guitar, vibraphone, drums, and saxophone, and was equally adept as a composer, singer, and even tap-dancer[1][3]. His early life was marked by a period as a merchant seaman and professional cook before he found his calling in music[1].
Gaillard rose to fame in the late 1930s as one half of the duo Slim & Slam, alongside bassist Slam Stewart. Their 1938 hit "Flat Foot Floogie (with a Floy Floy)" topped charts and established Gaillard's reputation for blending swing, jive, and comedic novelty with a surrealist edge[1][2][3]. He was renowned for his use of 'Vout', a private, jive-inspired language that infused his performances with a dadaist sense of absurdity and improvisational flair[1][2]. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Gaillard returned to the jazz scene, collaborating with bebop luminaries such as Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, notably on the 1945 recording "Slim's Jam"[1][2][3].
Though his popularity waned in the U.S. during the 1950s, Gaillard's career endured through radio, film, and later a resurgence in Europe, where he performed at jazz festivals and recorded with new generations of musicians[2][4]. He spent his final years in London, where he continued to perform and appeared in television and film until his death in 1991. Gaillard's legacy endures as a jazz innovator whose boundary-pushing humor, linguistic creativity, and improvisational genius influenced both his contemporaries and later artists, including those in rap and hip-hop[2][3][4].
Fun Facts
- Slim Gaillard invented his own language, 'Vout', and even published a 'Dictionary of Vout' distributed to colleges and universities[2][3].
- He was a polyglot, reportedly fluent in five languages: Spanish, German, Greek, Arabic, and Armenian[3].
- Gaillard served as a bomber pilot in the Pacific during World War II[3].
- He appeared in the 1941 film 'Hellzapoppin'' with Slim & Slam and later in the 1986 musical film 'Absolute Beginners'[3][4].
Associated Acts
- Slim & Slam
- Slim Gaillard Trio
- Slim Gaillard and His Boogiereeners
- Slim Gaillard and His Flat-Foot-Floogee-Boys
- Slim Gaillard Quartette
- Slim & Bam
- Slim Gaillard and His Baker's Dozen
- Slim Gaillard and His Middle Europeans
- Slim Gaillard and His Musical Aggregation, Whenever He Maybe
- Slim Gaillard and His All Stars - eponymous, original
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Cab Calloway - Stylistic influence; both shared a hip, comedic approach to jazz and jive (General influence, not direct collaboration) [1930s–1940s]
Key Collaborators
- Leroy "Slam" Stewart - Formed the duo Slim & Slam, achieving major hits and radio/film appearances ("Flat Foot Floogie (with a Floy Floy)", "Cement Mixer (Put-Ti-Put-Ti)", Slim & Slam recordings) [1937–1943, reunited 1970]
- Charlie Parker - Recorded and performed together, notably during the bebop era ("Slim's Jam" (1945), performances at Birdland) [1945–late 1940s]
- Dizzy Gillespie - Collaborated in recording sessions and shared bills at jazz clubs ("Slim's Jam" (1945)) [1945–late 1940s]
- Dodo Marmarosa - Performed and recorded together in the 1940s (Various recordings) [1940s]
Artists Influenced
- Dream Warriors - Collaborated late in life; Gaillard seen as a forefather of rap style due to his vocalese and wordplay (Collaboration in the 1980s) [1980s]
- Louis Jordan - Shared comedic, jive-infused approach; Gaillard's style influenced the broader jive and jump blues movement (General stylistic influence) [1940s–1950s]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Groove Juice: The Norman Granz Recordings + More | 2018-08-31 | Album |
| Jump Session | 1942-12-12 | Album |
| Slim Gaillard Cavorts | 1953-11-01 | Album |
| Slim Gaillard Rides Again | 1958-01-01 | Album |
| Anthology: The Complete McVouty (Remastered) | 2021-06-18 | Album |
| Slim's Jam | 1996-05-18 | Album |
| Complete Jazz Series 1947 - 1951 | 2009-02-09 | Album |
| Complete Jazz Series 1937 - 1938 | 2009-02-09 | Album |
| Mish Mash | 1953-04-01 | Album |
| Complete Jazz Series 1945 Vol. 2 | 2009-02-09 | Album |
| Slim Gaillard At Birdland, 1951 | 1951-06-08 | Album |
| Wherever He May Be | 1954-01-01 | Album |
| Dancing on the Beach - Swingin' 30's with Slim & Slam | 2024-08-23 | Album |
| Atomic Cocktail - Legendary Slim Gaillard | 2021-08-13 | Album |
| Cool Cat Lounge - Slim Gaillard's Swinging Sounds of the Night | 2023-06-02 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Communications (Groove Juice: The Norman Granz Recordings + More)
- Potato Chips (Slim Gaillard Cavorts)
- Atomic Cocktail - Remastered (Anthology: The Complete McVouty (Remastered))
- Atomic Cocktail
- Thunderbird (Slim Gaillard Rides Again)
- The Flat Foot Floogie (Slim's Jam)
- Momma's In The Kitchen But We've Got "Pop" On Ice (Groove Juice: The Norman Granz Recordings + More)
- Potato Chips (Groove Juice: The Norman Granz Recordings + More)
- Jump Session (Jump Session)
- Atomic Cocktail
External Links
Tags: #jazz
References
Heard on WWOZ
SLIM GAILLARD has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 27, 2025 | 19:26 | GHOST OF A CHANCE | Blues and R&Bw/ Gentilly Jr. |