Gene Gifford

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Gene Gifford (born May 31, 1908 in Americus (Georgia) as H. Eugene Gifford , † November 12, 1970 in Memphis , Tennessee ) was an American guitarist and arranger of old-time jazz and swing .

Gene Gifford toured early in his career with Bob Fosters 'and Lloyd Williams ' orchestras as well as with the Blue Steele Band through the southern states of the USA and became known there with the Afro-American forms of singing such as blues and gospel , which later made his arrangements for the Casa Loma Orchestra , of which he became a member in 1935. The band was one of the first large white swing orchestras for which Gifford created arrangements with antiphonic interplay and riff figures, which were later developed by Benny Goodman ( Casa Loma Stomp 1930, White Jazz, Black Jazz, Maniac's Ball 1931). Some of Gifford's arrangements were also adopted by Fletcher Henderson's orchestra.

In 1935 Gifford played four records under his own name (including the title New Orleans Twist ) a. a. with Bunny Berigan , Bud Freeman , Claude Thornhill , Matty Matlock , Ray Bauduc and Dick McDonough . In 1939 Gifford left the Casa Loma Orchestra, but returned again for a short time in 1948/49 when the band worked under the direction of Glen Gray . After that, Gene Gifford disappeared from the music scene and worked as a radio mechanic. He also taught and wrote music on the side.

Selection discography

  • Mildred Bailey: 1929-1932 , 1932-1936 (Classics)
  • Casa Loma Orchestra: Casa Loma Stomp (Hep, 1929–1930)
  • Gene Gifford & his Orchestra: Planet Jazz - Bud Freeman (RCA, 1935)

Lexical entry

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personal data
SURNAME Gifford, Gene
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Gifford, H. Eugene
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz guitarist and arranger
DATE OF BIRTH May 31, 1908
PLACE OF BIRTH Americus (Georgia)
DATE OF DEATH November 12, 1970
Place of death Memphis (Tennessee)