Joe Garland

Joe Garland, the composer of "In the Mood," never became famous himself but was an important force in jazz behind the scenes. A fine reed player who in his career was heard on tenor, baritone, and bass saxophones in addition to clarinet, Garland was also a talented arranger-composer. He began playing while living in North Carolina and he studied music at the Aeolian Conservatory in Baltimore and at Shaw University. Garland played classical music until 1924 when he joined <a href="spotify:artist:31UQm6ioX5yFcPiwV0Cji9">Graham Jackson's Seminole Syncopators</a>, with whom he made his recording debut. Other associations in the '20s included <a href="spotify:artist:3xNzMGxMGxIhGXYmQTc4iP">Elmer Snowden</a> (1925), Joe Steele, Henri Saporo, Leon Abbey (with whom he toured South America), Charlie Skeete, <a href="spotify:artist:4XepUkisa56DUeA3gbjDQD">Jelly Roll Morton</a> (he appeared on some of <a href="spotify:artist:4XepUkisa56DUeA3gbjDQD">Jelly Roll</a>'s records), <a href="spotify:artist:2JDUkLsElw2Khm1BVvZ6tf">Steele</a> again, and Bobby Neal (1931). Garland made a strong impression as both a reliable section player and a chief arranger with <a href="spotify:artist:140K78ooLk7HfhlWiTc9dM">the Mills Blue Rhythm Band</a> (1932-1936, including the period when it was taken over by <a href="spotify:artist:4tdVYQWfsBth04tc1mmQ23">Lucky Millinder</a>) and followed that up with stints with <a href="spotify:artist:7LuYKkS2JVhnt6x2HmwK2P">Edgar Hayes</a> (1937), <a href="spotify:artist:4xgDy82aqLHAG2Is3ELRWv">Don Redman</a> (1938), and <a href="spotify:artist:19eLuQmk9aCobbVDHc6eek">Louis Armstrong</a> (1939-1942), serving as <a href="spotify:artist:19eLuQmk9aCobbVDHc6eek">Armstrong</a>'s musical director. Garland freelanced for a time, played with <a href="spotify:artist:5c9tII5LKJPqotewcpsFcb">Claude Hopkins</a>, and was back with <a href="spotify:artist:19eLuQmk9aCobbVDHc6eek">Louis Armstrong</a>'s final big band (1945-1947). Later jobs included the orchestras of <a href="spotify:artist:0B02fJSZlYibxMSJmbbVrS">Herbie Fields</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5c9tII5LKJPqotewcpsFcb">Hopkins</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:2mY5u4CceAPrpBnse1WpFr">Earl Hines</a> (1948). Joe Garland became a part-time music in the '50s, occasionally leading both a small and a big band. Few probably realize that his compositions included hits for <a href="spotify:artist:2aAHdB5HweT3mFcRzm0swc">Glenn Miller</a> ("In the Mood") and <a href="spotify:artist:1NcsSDCxHOZrAfYVtrahND">Les Brown</a> ("Leap Frog"). ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi