George Brunies
Encyclopedia
George Brunies, aka Georg Brunis, (6 February 1902 – 19 November 1974) was a jazz
trombonist who came to fame in the 1930s, and was part of the Dixieland revival. He was known as the "King of the Tailgate Trombone".
George Clarence Brunies was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on 6 February 1902 into a very musical family. His father led a family band, and his brothers Henry, Merritt
, Richard, and Albert ("Abbie") all became noted professional musicians. By the age of 8 young George was already playing alto horn
professionally in Papa Jack Laine
's band. A few years later he switched to trombone
. He played with many jazz, dance, and parade bands in New Orleans. He never learned to read music, but could quickly pick up tunes and invent a part for his instrument.
He first went to Chicago in 1919 with a band led by Ragbaby Stevens
, then worked on riverboats going up and down the Mississippi River
. In 1921 he returned to Chicago and joined a band of his New Orleans friends playing at the Friar's Inn
; this was the band that became famous as the New Orleans Rhythm Kings
. Brunies's trombone style was influential to the young Chicago players, and his records were much copied. In this era Brunies was never bested; he could play anything any other trombonist could play as well or better. He would often end battles of the bands or "cutting contests" by outplaying other trombonists while operating the slide with his foot!
After the Rhythm Kings broke up in Chicago in 1924, Brunies joined the nationally famous Ted Lewis
band, which he played with through 1934.
After some time with Louis Prima
's band he landed a steady gig at the famous
New York City jazz club Nick's through 1938. In 1939 he joined Muggsy Spanier
's band, with whom he made some of his most famous recordings.
The following year he returned to Nick's, where he remained through 1946. Brunies then worked with Eddie Condon
.
In 1949 Brunies moved back to Chicago to lead his own band. Brunies often showed off his unusual technical abilities and bizarre sense of humor at the same time; for example he would lie on the floor and invite the largest person in the audience to sit on his chest while he played trombone.
On the advice of a numerologist
, he changed his name to Georg Brunis in the 1960s in the belief that this would increase his good luck
.
Georg Brunis died in Chicago on 19 November 1974.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
trombonist who came to fame in the 1930s, and was part of the Dixieland revival. He was known as the "King of the Tailgate Trombone".
George Clarence Brunies was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on 6 February 1902 into a very musical family. His father led a family band, and his brothers Henry, Merritt
Merritt Brunies
Merritt Brunies , was an American jazz trombonist and cornetist.Brunies was born into a well-known musical family in New Orleans, Louisiana; among its members were George Brunies and Albert Brunies...
, Richard, and Albert ("Abbie") all became noted professional musicians. By the age of 8 young George was already playing alto horn
Alto horn
The alto horn is a brass instrument pitched in E...
professionally in Papa Jack Laine
Papa Jack Laine
George Vital "Papa Jack" Laine was a pioneering band leader in New Orleans in the years from the Spanish-American War to World War I....
's band. A few years later he switched to trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
. He played with many jazz, dance, and parade bands in New Orleans. He never learned to read music, but could quickly pick up tunes and invent a part for his instrument.
He first went to Chicago in 1919 with a band led by Ragbaby Stevens
Ragbaby Stevens
Joe Stephens, generally known as "Ragbaby" or "Rag Baby Stephens", was an early New Orleans dixieland and jazz drummer....
, then worked on riverboats going up and down the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. In 1921 he returned to Chicago and joined a band of his New Orleans friends playing at the Friar's Inn
Friar's Inn
Friar's Inn was a nightclub and speakeasy in Chicago, Illinois, a famed jazz music venue in the 1920s.Though some sources refer to it casually as "Friar's Club", it was not related to the Friars Club of New York....
; this was the band that became famous as the New Orleans Rhythm Kings
New Orleans Rhythm Kings
The New Orleans Rhythm Kings were one of the most influential jazz bands of the early-to-mid 1920s. The band was a combination of New Orleans and Chicago musicians who helped shape Chicago Jazz and influenced many younger jazz musicians....
. Brunies's trombone style was influential to the young Chicago players, and his records were much copied. In this era Brunies was never bested; he could play anything any other trombonist could play as well or better. He would often end battles of the bands or "cutting contests" by outplaying other trombonists while operating the slide with his foot!
After the Rhythm Kings broke up in Chicago in 1924, Brunies joined the nationally famous Ted Lewis
Ted Lewis (musician)
Theodore Leopold Friedman, better known as Ted Lewis , was an American entertainer, bandleader, singer, and musician. He led a band presenting a combination of jazz, hokey comedy, and schmaltzy sentimentality that was a hit with the American public. He was known by the moniker "Mr...
band, which he played with through 1934.
After some time with Louis Prima
Louis Prima
Louis Prima was a Sicilian American singer, actor, songwriter, and trumpeter. Prima rode the musical trends of his time, starting with his seven-piece New Orleans style jazz band in the 1920s, then successively leading a swing combo in the 1930s, a big band in the 1940s, a Vegas lounge act in the...
's band he landed a steady gig at the famous
New York City jazz club Nick's through 1938. In 1939 he joined Muggsy Spanier
Muggsy Spanier
Francis Joseph Julian "Muggsy" Spanier was a prominent cornet player based in Chicago. He was renowned as the best trumpet/cornet in Chicago until Bix Beiderbecke entered the scene....
's band, with whom he made some of his most famous recordings.
The following year he returned to Nick's, where he remained through 1946. Brunies then worked with Eddie Condon
Eddie Condon
Albert Edwin Condon , better known as Eddie Condon, was a jazz banjoist, guitarist, and bandleader. A leading figure in the so-called "Chicago school" of early Dixieland, he also played piano and sang on occasion....
.
In 1949 Brunies moved back to Chicago to lead his own band. Brunies often showed off his unusual technical abilities and bizarre sense of humor at the same time; for example he would lie on the floor and invite the largest person in the audience to sit on his chest while he played trombone.
On the advice of a numerologist
Numerology
Numerology is any study of the purported mystical relationship between a count or measurement and life. It has many systems and traditions and beliefs...
, he changed his name to Georg Brunis in the 1960s in the belief that this would increase his good luck
Luck
Luck or fortuity is good fortune which occurs beyond one's control, without regard to one's will, intention, or desired result. There are at least two senses people usually mean when they use the term, the prescriptive sense and the descriptive sense...
.
Georg Brunis died in Chicago on 19 November 1974.