George Clarence Brunies (February 6, 1902 – November 19, 1974),[1] a.k.a. Georg Brunis, was an American jazz trombonist, who was part of the dixieland revival. He was known as "The King of the Tailgate Trombone".[2]
George Brunies
George Brunis and Tony Parenti, Jimmy Ryan's (Club), New York, c. August 1946, image: Gottlieb
Brunies was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States,[1] into a 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 eight, George was already playing alto horn professionally in Papa Jack Laine's band.[3] A few years later he switched to trombone.[1] 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.[2] Brunies's trombone style was influential to the young Chicago players, and his records were much copied.
After the Rhythm Kings broke up in Chicago in 1924, Brunies joined the nationally famous Ted Lewis band, which he played with through 1934.[1]
After some time with Louis Prima's band he landed a steady gig at the New York City jazz club, Nick's, through 1938.[4] In 1939, he joined Muggsy Spanier's band, with whom he made some of his most famous recordings.[1] The following year he returned to Nick's, where he remained until 1946.[4] Brunies then worked with Eddie Condon.
Later careeredit
In 1949, Brunies moved back to Chicago to lead his own band.[1] 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 late 1940s,[1] when he was playing at the 1111 (eleven-eleven) Club in Chicago.[1] He believed that this name change would increase his good fortune. The 1111 was a popular jazz club which was always full on Friday and Saturday nights with jazz lovers from the northern suburbs of Chicago. Every now and then other well-known jazz musicians, such as Muggsy Spanier, would drop in and sit and play until dawn.
Georg Brunis died in Chicago on November 19, 1974.[2]
Sourcesedit
Kernfeld, Barry Dean, and Stanley Sadie. "New Orleans Rhythm Kings." The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. London: Macmillan, 1988.
New Orleans Rhythm Kings biography. The Red Hot Jazz Archive. Retrieved June 29, 2006.
Kennedy, Rick. Jelly Roll, Bix, and Hoagy: Gennett Studios and the Birth of Recorded Jazz. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 1994. ISBN978-0253213150
Kenney, William Howland. Chicago Jazz: A Cultural History, 1904-1930. New York: Oxford UP, 1993. ISBN9780195092608
^ abcStetler, Susan L. (editor) (1987), "Brunis, George", Biography Almanac, (Third edition), Gale Research Company, Detroit, p. 257, ISBN0-8103-2142-4
^"George Brunies (1902-1974)". Syncopatedtimes.com. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
george, brunies, confused, with, george, bruns, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, july, 2021, learn, when, remov. Not to be confused with George Bruns This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations July 2021 Learn how and when to remove this message George Clarence Brunies February 6 1902 November 19 1974 1 a k a Georg Brunis was an American jazz trombonist who was part of the dixieland revival He was known as The King of the Tailgate Trombone 2 George BruniesGeorge Brunis and Tony Parenti Jimmy Ryan s Club New York c August 1946 image GottliebBackground informationBirth nameGeorge Clarence BruniesAlso known asGeorg BrunisBorn 1902 02 06 February 6 1902New Orleans Louisiana U S DiedNovember 19 1974 1974 11 19 aged 72 Chicago Illinois U S GenresJazz dixielandOccupation s MusicianInstrument s TromboneYears active1920 1960 Contents 1 Background 2 Later career 3 Sources 4 ReferencesBackground editBrunies was born in New Orleans Louisiana United States 1 into a 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 eight George was already playing alto horn professionally in Papa Jack Laine s band 3 A few years later he switched to trombone 1 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 2 Brunies s trombone style was influential to the young Chicago players and his records were much copied After the Rhythm Kings broke up in Chicago in 1924 Brunies joined the nationally famous Ted Lewis band which he played with through 1934 1 After some time with Louis Prima s band he landed a steady gig at the New York City jazz club Nick s through 1938 4 In 1939 he joined Muggsy Spanier s band with whom he made some of his most famous recordings 1 The following year he returned to Nick s where he remained until 1946 4 Brunies then worked with Eddie Condon Later career editIn 1949 Brunies moved back to Chicago to lead his own band 1 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 late 1940s 1 when he was playing at the 1111 eleven eleven Club in Chicago 1 He believed that this name change would increase his good fortune The 1111 was a popular jazz club which was always full on Friday and Saturday nights with jazz lovers from the northern suburbs of Chicago Every now and then other well known jazz musicians such as Muggsy Spanier would drop in and sit and play until dawn Georg Brunis died in Chicago on November 19 1974 2 Sources editKernfeld Barry Dean and Stanley Sadie New Orleans Rhythm Kings The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz London Macmillan 1988 New Orleans Rhythm Kings biography The Red Hot Jazz Archive Retrieved June 29 2006 Kennedy Rick Jelly Roll Bix and Hoagy Gennett Studios and the Birth of Recorded Jazz Bloomington Indiana UP 1994 ISBN 978 0253213150 Kenney William Howland Chicago Jazz A Cultural History 1904 1930 New York Oxford UP 1993 ISBN 9780195092608References edit a b c d e f g h Georg Brunis Biography amp History AllMusic Retrieved July 25 2021 a b c Stetler Susan L editor 1987 Brunis George Biography Almanac Third edition Gale Research Company Detroit p 257 ISBN 0 8103 2142 4 George Brunies 1902 1974 Syncopatedtimes com Retrieved May 20 2020 a b Colin Larkin ed 1992 The Guinness Who s Who of Jazz First ed Guinness Publishing p 66 ISBN 0 85112 580 8 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Brunies amp oldid 1216667737, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
