Despite record company publicity accounts that Gaillard was born in Santa Clara, Cuba of a Greek father and an Afro-Cuban mother, he was born in Pensacola, Florida to a german immigrant named Theopolous Rothschild and an African-American woman named Liza Gaillard. He grew up in Detroit and moved to New York City in the 1930s.
Gaillard first rose to prominence in the late 1930s as part of Slim & Slam, a jazz novelty act he formed with bassist Slam Stewart. Their hits included "Flat Foot Floogie (with a Floy Floy)", "Cement Mixer (Puti Puti)" and the hipster anthem, "The Groove Juice Special (Opera in Vout)". Vout was Gaillard's private term for the hip argot. The duo perform in the 1941 movie Hellzapoppin'.
A later duo teamed him with bassist Bam Brown. His 1945 session with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie is notable, both musically and for its relaxed convivial air. In the late forties and early fifties, he frequently opened at Birdland, for such greats as Charlie Parker, Flip Phillips, and Coleman Hawkins. Gaillard could play several instruments, and always managed to turn the performance from hip jazz to comedy: he would play the guitar with his left hand fretting from the top of the neck, or would play credible piano solos with his palms facing up.
Gaillard's appeal was similar to Cab Calloway and Louis Jordan in that he presented a hip style with broad appeal (for example in his children's song "Down by the Station"). Unlike them, he was a master improviser whose stream of consciousness vocals ranged far afield from the original lyrics along with wild interpolations of nonsense syllables like McVouty oreeney. One such performance is celebrated in the 1957 novel On the Road by Jack Kerouac.
Gaillard appeared in the 1970s TV series Roots: The Next Generations and by the early 1980s he was touring the European jazz festival circuit, playing with such musicians as Arnett Cobb.
He appeared in the musical film Absolute Beginners (1986) singing "Selling out".
In 1992, the Belgian group De Nieuwe Snaar released an amusing ode (in Dutch) to this musician, on their CD William.
His daughter Janis Hunter was partner (1973-1977) and wife (1977-1981) of Marvin Gaye; and the mother of actress and singer Nona Gaye (b 1974) & son Frankie Christian Gaye(b 1975).
Chicken Rhythm
Slim Gaillard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jay it low, Chicken Rhythm
Buk off, buk buk
Jay it low, Chicken Rhythm
Buk off, buk buk
Jay it low, Chicken Rhythm
Buk off, buk buk
Jay it low. Chicken Rhythm
When that rooster start to crow
Grab your partner on your way
Then you move out on the low
Cause it won't be long for the break of day
Buk off, buk buk
Jay it low, Chicken Rhythm
Buk off, buk buk
Jay it low. Chicken Rhythm
Buk buk buk buk, buk off
Buk buk buk buk, buk off
Buk buk buk buk, buk off
Buk off, buk off
Buk buk buk buk, buk off
Buk buk buk buk, buk off
Buk buk buk buk, buk off
Buk off, buk off
Buk buk buk buk, buk off
Buk buk buk buk, buk off
Buk buk buk buk, buk off
Buk off, buk off
The lyrics to Slim Gaillard's "Chicken Rhythm" are a playful and catchy ode to the activity of chickens themselves. The repeated phrase "buk off" mimics the sound of a chicken's clucking and sets the tone for the entire song. The phrase "Jay it low, Chicken Rhythm" is likely a direction to the band or dancers accompanying the music to keep in rhythm with the low, steady movements of a chicken. The line "When that rooster start to crow" sets the scene for a barnyard dance, with participants grabbing their partners and moving to the music.
The lyrics themselves are quite simple, and it is likely that the real impact of "Chicken Rhythm" comes from the infectious melody and rhythm of the song. Gaillard was known for his unique, scat-like vocal style and use of nonsense syllables in his music, which can be heard in the "buk buk" refrain. "Chicken Rhythm" also features a call-and-response element, with Gaillard leading the "buk off" chant and the musical accompaniment responding with a melody. Overall, the lyrics to "Chicken Rhythm" express an upbeat and lighthearted celebration of the joy and energy of chickens, as well as the sense of community and togetherness that comes from dancing and moving to music.
Line by Line Meaning
Buk off, buk buk
Shoo away, little chickens
Jay it low, Chicken Rhythm
Get down low and do the Chicken Rhythm dance
When that rooster start to crow
When the rooster begins to sing in the morning
Grab your partner on your way
Take your dance partner with you
Then you move out on the low
Start dancing in a lower position
Cause it won't be long for the break of day
The sun will rise soon, so don't dance for too long
Buk buk buk buk, buk off
Shoo shoo, chickens
Buk off, buk off
Get out of here, chickens
Contributed by Adalyn S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@WaleliMoonrise
MY NEW FAVORITE SONG
Just a few minutes ago my favorite song was Sukiyaki Cha Cha!
All the Slim Gaillard songs are my favorite!!
@ivancurtean807
Understandable π
@timothymatthews1433
best song when you are feeling down
@oreoanimationstudio
Man this video is so underrated needs more likes!!!!
@mannykhan7752
I am so in love with this song....
@davidrichardsonusher
Tied for first place with Lawrence Welk's Chicken Polka!
@saeedhamour3470
very useful when we learn swing
@DonDeering
Do you hear someone cracking up 3 or 4 times?
@ericw7794
la canciΓ³n preferida de Vicky de Medellin!
@HurdyG
Slim was a real Motha Baka.