Georgie Auld


Georgie Auld was a jazz tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, and bandleader.

Early years

Auld was born John Altwerger in Toronto, Canada, and moved to Brooklyn, New York, in 1929. Before the family left Canada, Auld's parents gave him a saxophone, which he taught himself to play.

Career

Auld was most noteworthy for his work with Bunny Berigan, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Erroll Garner, Dizzy Gillespie, Al Porcino, Billy Eckstine, Tiny Kahn, Frank Rosolino, and many others. Primarily a swing saxophonist, he did many big band stints in his career, and led several big bands, including Georgie Auld and His Orchestra and Georgie Auld and His Hollywood All Stars. Auld also played some rock´n roll working for Alan Freed in 1959.

Acting

In 1949, Auld played Carl in The Rat Race in the Ethel Barrymore Theater on Broadway. In 1952, he had a small part in the film The Marrying Kind. In 1977 he played a bandleader in the motion picture New York, New York, starring Liza Minnelli and Robert De Niro and also acted as a technical consultant for the film.

Death

Auld died on January 8, 1990, in Palm Springs, California, aged 70.

Discography

With Buddy Bregman
With Maynard Ferguson
With Coleman Hawkins
With Barney Kessel