"Cement Mixer" / Slim Gaillard

FIRST - This is my 200th upload to KZbin! Thanks to all who have stuck with me over the past few years. It's been fun to share my collection of videos with you.
SECOND - Here is a rare kinescope of a talented musician named "Slim" Gaillard. He performs several songs, both on piano & guitar, including his hit, "Cement Mixer" (Put-Ti-Put-Ti)
"Slim" Gaillard (1916-1991) was an American jazz singer, songwriter, pianist, and guitarist, noted for his vocalese singing and word play in a language he called "Vout". He 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)". The duo performed in the 1941 movie Hellzapoppin'. In the late forties and early fifties, Gaillard 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, both of which you'll see in this clip.
I hope you enjoy my 200th presentation!

[@jennyg4life]

Thanks for posting! My grandfather is/was Slim Gaillard. :D I had never seen this video of him. I am now just a tad closer to him in spirit. :)

[@mrblue99999]

Jennifer Gaillard wow!!! and what a spirit!

[@ianmcardle8519]

Dear Ms Gaillard. I hope you know that there is a fantastic description of your Grandad in Jack Kerouac's novel On the Road. One of the best writings abour jazz ever. Loved your grandad's stuff for years. Still do.

[@bhd201]

I was lucky enough to meet that great man in London.

[@bucksix1]

I just wanted to say how much I loved Slim Gaillard. Many rears ago I took a date to Birdland and to impress her I sat in the high rent section. As we entered they were playing a tune. Slim kept playing Here Comes the Bride and nodding his head. I kept shaking my head no. Then he announced thatthe next tune would be dedicated to the newly weds spending their honeymoon at Birdland. He added "What a drag. If that was me I'd lock the vouty and throw the reeny away." We are now married 60 years.

[@csprinker]

My mother was engaged to slim a few years prior to him passing and she always told me stories about them travelling across Europe together and when I found this video and showed it to her she started to cry... Thank you for uploading this video I never believed it when she told me he could play palms up!

[@davebeedon3424]

Thank you, KZbin for recommending this video. Thank you, Kerry for making and posting it. I now know something about an interesting man that I otherwise would never have known about. Wikipedia has more information about him.

[@shooskua]

My grandmother who would have been 90 this year, has sang parts of this song all my life, but she didn't know all the words...mostly just the chorus with a big smile and a hip wiggle. It is wonderful to hear and see what she was going on about all those years...I could tell it was one of her favorites and she loved music. Thanks for posting this and creating a special moment for me today.

[@TromboneAdvocate]

Slim's talent, I feel, was never fully realized because..like Fats Waller, he achieved his greatest success using comedy to advance his musical talent. He visited Detroit in 1990 and I had an opportunity to spend several hours with him.. I was shocked to hear of his passing less than a year after we had met. I remember him as if it were yesterday. RIP, Slim, you were really one of a kind!

[@agamum1]

My husband's Dad used to sing Cement Mixer to him when eating a breakfast of oatmeal in the morning~ A little tradition that my husband sang to our kids as well. Nice to see where my father in law got his inspiration & making a memory for generations!

[@SubUrbanNinja-EDC]

True talent. You can't be taught this stuff, you either have it or you don't. Sad that talented people are not immortals. But with videos like this, we have them forever.

[@zooterdan]

Great Thanx for posting this. Slim Gaillard was a great musician, an outstanding performer and a cool and kind man. I met him some thirty years ago. He told me how he was impressed to see so much youngsters( at the time ! ), who knew his music and sing along with him the crazy songs he wrote. Voilàààà ! O voutie moooe....

[@IainOElliott]

I had the honor of meeting Slim Gaillard in a cocktail lounge in Pacific Beach, CA in the '70's. He shook my hand, which completely disappeared in his own. He played 'Cement Mixer', with his palms in both directions. While he played, he reached up for his drink, not missing a beat. An amazing musician, a warm person.

[@psyoptic]

holy shit the imagery makes me so happy

[@twangCORP]

Wonderful! One of a select handful that never forgot that good music & entertainment were not opposing concepts. Come back to fly us all to the moon again, Slim.

[@MarcBrewer]

A great man & musician who never got the respect he deserved from the music critics. Thanks so much for posting.

[@MrPOMMYB]

Cheers Kerry, Ted Matthews here aboard my canal boat in Lancaster (Canal) in the sunny NW corner of England. Thanks for this rare treat - talk about great musicians --wow Slim was de DADDY!. What a fantastic talent he was and the size of those magic hands. Can't thank you enough man.

[@kirosuks]

@3rdStoneFromTheSun Thanks! I never get tired of watching this 71/2 minutes of history. A great entertainer and fabulous musician.

[@123melcovy]

My dad was a brick mason and sing cement mixer all the time. I didn't think it was a real song wow. He had his own words but that rhythm I recognize anywhere. Go dad I know you are looking down from heaven saying "Now that's real music."

[@LonnyJoe1]

It also featured on an episode of MASH.

[@pencpa]

So great to see this! I had a job that took me to San Jose often in the early 1960s, and during part of that time Slim was playing at the bar in a big blowling alley, Bowling was big in those days, and piano bars were popular. Slim was always very cordial, especially to people who were familiar with his work. Thanks for sharing this.

[@stevmuzik]

I lived near Slim in London in the early 80's and often saw him in the street wearing his trademark beret. We used to nod or smile at each other because maybe he recognised me from his gigs, but I was unfortunatley too shy to say hello. He has got to be the only guy who could play exciting Cuban piano jazz, bop-ish jazz, as well as great guitar, "sing-swing" and driving blues. On top of that he was a great comedian! what a guy!

[@vf4000]

I was driving along and passed an ELECTRIC cement mixer and what the heck? I remembered my dad saying, "cement mixer, putti putti" and smiling. He grew up in the '40's and we listened to Glenn Miller and such when I was a kid in the '70's. But I never heard this song 'til now. THANKS for uploading it!! (I just made my kids listen to it, too...)

[@christopherlucy1772]

Ovoutee, obviously talented and there's really nothing like him today

[@rondoweiss]

I was blue, and now I am happy.Amazing what a video can do..Slim lives on

[@bennyjazzful]

What an absolutely BRILLIANT musician. Should have been much more famous. Amazing sounds & very enjoyable.

[@oxdrift76]

Fond memories. I was a fan of his when I was a freshman in college in 1953. Thanks for the post.

[@sazerac1]

I was playing Slim Gaillard's "Siboney" cd at the bar here in NOLA. Ray Davies of the Kinks asked me who it was.Ray had worked with Slim in the movie Absolute Beginners. "That's Slim?" HIs song, in the movie "Selling Out" is awesome. The whole AB soundtrack is fantastic. I think Slim had an interesting life and there should be a movie about him, including being like a father to Marvin Gaye.

[@523adult]

This guy is so amazing!!! He's unique. I enjoy him since over 50 years. This film is so clear, just fantastic! Thank you

[@cambpete]

Slim Gaillard's a fantastic person. He reminds us to ENJOY music!!

[@jvlianr]

Awesome! keep uploading! I really enjoy all this old jazz musicians movies, makes me wanna dance on the spot...Congrats with your 200st upload. Greets, Julian

[@Nately22]

I read On The Road and discovered the music of Slim - great-rooni! Go Slim, go. Go.

[@franklee3940]

inspiration from the grooveroony king himself. we play slims music all the time here in brighton, lovely to see this clip again and please post more particularly looking forward to opera in voot if there is film of this clasic performance.frank,

[@jimbarker6763]

Amazing, under-appreciated chops...on anything that even remotely resembled a musical instrument! Incredible.

[@jonhillman871]

today is the first time i've heard of slim gaillard. he's already one of my favorites.

[@kittyscratchesboo]

You are a positive soul Shaman, keep uploading and stay on the JOY Road.

[@craigcontofalsky4387]

I'm in my 70's. As a young kid we would sing "Cement Mixer" all the time. We didn't know most of the words but we sure liked it!

[@seery88]

My Dad was a Navigator ...some how he broadcast the phrase "cement mixer-putti-putti"...he unwittingly alerted the whole military on the eastern seaboard....Happy memorial day and thanks for your 200th 'post' !!!!

[@swingwithbing]

I adore this video! This man just fills your heart with happiness and joy. I wish that all of us could adopt the language of vout and mellow out.

[@killerdillr]

thank you so much for sharing this wonderful clip which I have never ever seen before

[@tuesdayafternoon13]

I can't thank you enough. People may upload lol but not from reels and this was one of my grandfather's favorites! What a wonderful treat and Slim you even died with your numbers upside down and mixed around. A true light on earth I look very much forward to hanging out in heaven with. Im 36 and I know.......the good stuff. Great upload!

[@melonfarmer3]

Wow, what a performer! The audience is eating out of the palm of his hands! This is great, thanks for posting. I found this after KHUM played a song by him the other day and I wanted to find more...

[@karinablacktie]

Oh, Slim, what big hands you have! Amazing! Thanks.

[@swingmn]

Thanks so much for posting. Always loved Slim and Slam. Great to see him in person.

[@ottoking]

Fantistic Video!!! I want more! Thank you very much for sharing this Video...

[@KKD1247]

Thanks Jan! I've had this clip for years & only recently watched it again and began to appreciate Slim's great talent! He had an amazing career.

[@eecorr]

Entertaining, swinging, gave me a smile! Thank you for sharing 😃👍

[@that1940sguy]

This is one of the COOLEST THINGS I've EVER SEEN! Thanks for posting!

[@bennyjazzful]

WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! From a mad keen 75yo Aussie fan.

[@bennyjazzful]

What a brilliant musician---so,so talented Didn't get the success he deserved. WONDERFUL !

[@Hairy1106]

Wonderful video and super talented entertainer---thank you!!!

[@ndmartin2587]

That vout-o-reenee kinescope is from the Steve Allen Playhouse show which aired on August 29, 1962.

[@twangbarfly]

Well done - thanks for your great efforts - fantastic clip. Can't thank you enough for posting this gem!

[@CherokeeMusic]

Father Mulcahy brought me here. And I'm glad he did. This is fantastic stuff.

[@OverlandOne]

Fantastic! What a talent. Thank you for posting this.

[@Ukuleleal]

Fabulous! What a gem. Thanks for posting :)

[@NikitaWill]

Thank you very much for putting up such a rare jewel, i did enjoyed his performance. Congrat for the 200 !!!

[@jettscream]

genius sheer brilliance so many thanks dee and jettxx

[@jzachwieja68]

Thanks for sharing, it's so hard to find good footage of Slim performing

[@dggd]

"It's a special arrangement, gonna arrange it now" lolllllllllll I love this man to pieces!

[@gregoryagogo]

Very entertaining this guy is!

[@dggd]

A Natural Man through and through....Genius!

[@janninegraham4317]

Would have loved to hear slim and slum sing London bridge is falling down again. What a pair of vocals these men had.

[@Sunflowers159]

I'd never heard of him until I was listening to Dustin Hoffman on BBC radio's venerable series "Desert Island Discs" where the guest chooses his or her 8 favourite pieces of music and this was one that Hoffman chose. I didn't realise that Gaillard was such an amazing musician. Watching this video I also noticed his hands - they're enormous! Ideal for a pianist! Apparently Rachmaninov had huge hands too.

[@Wobei]

Slim Gaillard ist soooo guter Mensch und Musiker. Hätte ihn gern persönlich kennen gelernt

[@Zjwaamseliedjes]

Congratiolations with this ! SUPER !

[@Araethorne]

These were the days when performers had smiles so wide.

[@KoenBosschert]

I enjoyed it Kerry, thanks a lot for your uploads! Greats from Koen. Holland\Amsterdam.

[@s.b.155]

OMG....he is really a GREAT MUSICIAN! WOW! *repeat*

[@brumsy.official]

this is mind blowing ... thank you !!!

[@sonarman65]

The man is so cool he is fro.............zen!! Solid slice of oob bla dee.

[@Mickie_Woo]

He was so great! Thanks for posting.

[@Maggie769]

Great performance. Thanks so much.

[@trombonisteau]

@TromboneAdvocate the thing about his comedy is, well, IT'S STILL FUNNY! -more than a half century later ! - most of the other comedy from his era now seems antiquated & aimless... slim's imagination & legendary quick wit now seem almost poetic; his grace & style in delivery -not to mention his incredible stamina...i played a gig with him (lucky me!) in 1989 or 90 in toronto, and this guy was hands down the most energetic musician on the stage, even after three long sets...truly a great man!

[@ericsutz8026]

Great stuff. What a tremendous talent.

[@KKD1247]

I caught that too - as did you. So did the audience...great opening line!

[@sportster88]

Look how long Slim's fingers were! I've read that long fingers are often a sign of mental brilliance. It was definitely true in Slim's case!

[@MostLovedGod]

The guy that invented the piano is still beating his head after seeing Slim playing. He's thinking: "If I knew this guy was going to be born I'd make another keyboard above facing down!"

[@RSUEMICHIGANUSA]

Pure delight!

[@DoctorQuackenbush]

What a fun guy to watch! And he finished his songs (unlike Victor Borge). 8~)

[@FrancaDiPrimaCaseaTrapani]

FANTASTIC.

[@gregoryagogo]

He was in the movie, "Hellzapoppin!" Wow, those are some long fingers he's got! Supposedly he performed a commercial jingle using Cement Mixer for J.R. Townsend Studebaker in San Diego. Every hear or come across it?

[@HEMISUPERBEE426]

VERY INTERESTING.

[@captlarry-3525]

So glad to see this.. we listened to Slim Gaillard on 78 when we were 15-16.. in the early 60's. Great to get a chance to see him perform. Brilliant and Talented Guy.. with a great handle on language and music..and funny as hell. Simply too hip for most rooms. WHAT IS THIS A KINOSCOPE OF ? WHAT TV SHOW ?

[@michaelreilly7635]

Very cool, this is my first intro to slim, need more wow

[@dtkane]

Your audio and visual quality are extraordinary. Why can't everybody do it as well as you?

[@DonyaLane]

Why it is that Slim Gaillard was never a household name and not listed in the Pantheon of the great American entertainers is beyond me! He was like the Mark Twain of jazz and blues.

[@oldtimecharlie]

Might be Yeproc Heresy. Sounds foreign but is actually Slim's own jive voutie language. One story has it that Slim was stranded in Greece for six months at the age of twelve. He spoke numerous foreign languages. This film is a real treasure!

[@shawnssongs]

Slim was truly a master.

[@watski]

Pure Joy !

[@supakidgalaxy]

Style is everything

[@85wimsey]

this is brilliant!!!

[@bbcisrubbish]

Slim had something very few, if any, entertainers have today and that is personality. (And of course talent).

[@indrajitadvani3742]

Mesmerising

[@NatePinkyVideos]

fantastic!

[@JohnRinNoHo]

Those are the longest fingers I've ever seen.

[@billding7073]

Gaillard was to hip to be happening. Ah vootie!

[@marcblues]

Thanks Mr KKD1247! Great video!

[@snobizmo]

Brilliant!

[@ilans2050]

via wikipedia "...Along with Gaillard's date of birth, his family lineage and place of birth are disputed. One account is that he was born in Santa Clara, Cuba, of a Greek father and an Afro-Cuban mother. Αnother is that he was born in Pensacola, Florida, to a German father and an African-American mother. Adding to the confusion, the 1920 U.S. Census lists a 19-month-old boy named "Beuler Gillard" in Pensacola, but born in Alabama. He grew up in Detroit and moved to New York City in the 1930s...."

[@quieterrps]

Amazing footage! Thanks for sharing this. :- })

[@loxab2]

i ve heard him now , thanks a lot! Finn

[@WVisthegreatest]

AMAZING! THANK YOU!

[@KKD1247]

Thanks Jenny, you made my day...

[@1masterfader]

Thank you for posting this. I know other pianist like myself who would enjoy this. :)

[@fleetman33]

Amazing!! and inspiring.

[@cpclean]

Thank you, thank you so so muxh