Jack Gardner (musician)
Encyclopedia
Francis Henry "Jack" Gardner August 14, 1903, Joliet, Illinois
– November 26, 1957, Dallas, Texas
) was an American jazz
pianist.
Gardner played locally in Denver in the early 1920s, including with Doc Becker's Blue Devils and Boyd Senter's band. He moved to Chicago
in 1923, where he led his own band in addition to playing with musicians like Wingy Manone
, Jean Goldkette
, and Gene Austin
. He remained in Chicago through 1937, playing with Jimmy McPartland
in 1936. Moving to New York City
, he began associations with Sandy Williams
's orchestra and Harry James
, but returned to Chicago early in the 1940s, where he led his own group. In 1944 he recorded with Baby Dodds
. He spent much of his later life playing in Dallas, Texas
.
Gardner's compositions include the song "Bye, Bye, Pretty Baby".
Joliet, Illinois
Joliet is a city in Will and Kendall Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, located southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County. As of the 2010 census, the city was the fourth-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 147,433. It continues to be Illinois' fastest growing...
– November 26, 1957, Dallas, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
) was an American jazz
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...
pianist.
Gardner played locally in Denver in the early 1920s, including with Doc Becker's Blue Devils and Boyd Senter's band. He moved to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 1923, where he led his own band in addition to playing with musicians like Wingy Manone
Wingy Manone
Wingy Manone was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, singer, and bandleader. His major recordings included "Tar Paper Stomp", "Nickel in the Slot", "Downright Disgusted Blues", "There'll Come a Time ", and "Tailgate Ramble".- Biography :Manone was born Joseph Matthews Mannone in New Orleans,...
, Jean Goldkette
Jean Goldkette
John Jean Goldkette was a jazz pianist and bandleader born in Patras, Greece. Goldkette spent his childhood in Greece and Russia, and emigrated to the United States in 1911....
, and Gene Austin
Gene Austin
Gene Austin was an American singer and songwriter, one of the first "crooners". His 1920s compositions "When My Sugar Walks Down the Street" and "The Lonesome Road" became pop and jazz standards.-Career:...
. He remained in Chicago through 1937, playing with Jimmy McPartland
Jimmy McPartland
James Dugald McPartland , better known as Jimmy McPartland, was an American cornetist and one of the originators of Chicago Jazz...
in 1936. Moving to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, he began associations with Sandy Williams
Sandy Williams
Sandy Williams was an American jazz trombonist born in Summerville, South Carolina, perhaps best-known for playing with the premier big bands of his day, especially the Chick Webb orchestra. Williams also recorded extensively with Ella Fitzgerald.- Early life :In his youth, Williams moved to...
's orchestra and Harry James
Harry James
Henry Haag “Harry” James was a trumpeter who led a jazz swing band during the Big Band Era of the 1930s and 1940s. He was especially known among musicians for his astonishing technical proficiency as well as his superior tone.-Biography:He was born in Albany, Georgia, the son of a bandleader of a...
, but returned to Chicago early in the 1940s, where he led his own group. In 1944 he recorded with Baby Dodds
Baby Dodds
Warren "Baby" Dodds was a jazz drummer born in New Orleans, Louisiana."Baby" Dodds was the younger brother of clarinetist Johnny Dodds. He is regarded as one of the very best jazz drummers of the pre-big band era, and one of the most important early jazz drummers...
. He spent much of his later life playing in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
.
Gardner's compositions include the song "Bye, Bye, Pretty Baby".
Further reading
- John ChiltonJohn ChiltonJohn James Chilton is a British jazz trumpeter and writer. During the 1960s he also worked with pop bands, including The Swinging Blue Jeans and The Escorts....
, Who's Who of Jazz.