Francy Boland

Belgian musician (1929–2005)

Born: 6 November 1929
Namur
Died: 12 August 2005
Geneva
Country: Belgium
Record labels: MPS Records, Black Lion Records

Biography

Francy Boland was a jazz musician who played piano and musical keyboard. Francy Boland was born on 6 November 1929 in Namur and died on 12 August 2005 in Geneva. The music is usually filed under jazz and big band music. Record labels: MPS Records and Black Lion Records.

François Boland (6 November 1929 – 12 August 2005) was a classically trained Belgian jazz composer and pianist. He first gained notice in 1949 and worked with Belgian jazz greats like Bobby Jaspar, and in 1955 he joined Chet Baker's quintet. Moving to the US, he began arranging for Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman and Dizzy Gillespie, and set up an octet with drummer Kenny Clarke before returning to Europe and becoming Kurt Edelhagen's chief arranger. In 1961, building from a rhythm section featuring Clarke, Jimmy Woode and himself, he founded The Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band, which rapidly became one of the most noted Big Bands assembled outside the United States. After it broke up in 1972 he concentrated on composing. He lived in Europe, primarily Switzerland, from 1976 and did musical arrangements for Sarah Vaughan among others. He was also part of One World, One Peace, an effort involving Pope John Paul II.

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