Representative Albums: "Sounds of New Orleans, Vol. 6," "Jack Delaney and George Girard in New Orleans," "Dixieland Festival, Vol. 3: Jam Session on Bourbon Street"
One of the finest New Orleans jazz players to emerge in the 1950s, George Girard's premature death from cancer cut short a very promising career. He became a professional in 1946 after graduating from high school, played with Phil Zito, and then became a key member (along with Pete Fountain) of the Basin Street Six (1950-1954). After the breakup of that group, Girard led his own bands and freelanced until bad health forced him to retire in 1956. Girard had an exciting trumpet style and was a rhythmic vocalist whose potential was sadly not realized. In addition to his recordings with the Basin Street Six, Girard led sessions that were later issued by Storyville, GHB, and Good Time Jazz, in addition to cutting two full albums for Vik. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Girard was born in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. In highschool he studied music under Johnny Wiggs and became a professional musician immediately after graduating in 1946. He played and toured with the bands of Johnny Archer and Phil Zito before cofounding the band "The Basin Street Six", made up mostly of friends he had grown up with, including clarinetist Pete Fountain. The band got a regular gig at L'Enfant's Restaurant in New Orleans, as well as regular television broadcasts over WWL. The band started receiving favorable national attention, but Girard was dissatisfied with it and broke up the band in 1954 to found his own band, "George Girard & The New Orleans Five". Girard landed a residency at the Famous Door in the French Quarter, recorded for several labels, and got a weekly broadcast on CBS. Girard had ambitions to make a national name for himself (and according to many fellow musicians the musical ability to do so), but became ill with cancer and had to give up playing in 1956. Girard died in New Orleans.
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