Biography
Joe Garland, who wrote the piece "In the Mood," stayed largely unknown to the wider public while exerting significant behind-the-scenes influence in jazz. A capable reed specialist who performed on tenor, baritone, and bass saxophones along with clarinet, he also distinguished himself as an arranger and composer. He first took up music in North Carolina and later trained at the Aeolian Conservatory in Baltimore plus Shaw University. Classical work occupied him until 1924, when he entered Graham Jackson's Seminole Syncopators and completed his initial recordings with that ensemble. Further engagements during the decade encompassed Elmer Snowden in 1925, Joe Steele, Henri Saporo, Leon Abbey on a South American tour, Charlie Skeete, Jelly Roll Morton on several of the pianist's discs, a return to Steele, and Bobby Neal in 1931. Both dependable section work and primary arranging responsibilities brought him notice with the Mills Blue Rhythm Band from 1932 to 1936, spanning the interval of Lucky Millinder's leadership, after which he moved through Edgar Hayes in 1937, Don Redman in 1938, and Louis Armstrong from 1939 to 1942, serving as the trumpeter's musical director. Freelance activity followed, including time alongside Claude Hopkins, before he rejoined Louis Armstrong's final large group from 1945 to 1947. Subsequent positions involved the orchestras of Herbie Fields, Hopkins again, and Earl Hines in 1948. By the 1950s Garland had turned to part-time performance while sporadically fronting both small combos and big bands. Among his compositions were the hits "In the Mood" for Glenn Miller and "Leap Frog" for Les Brown.