Jack Gardner

Who was Jack Gardner?

Francis Henry "Jack" Gardner August 14, 1903, Joliet, Illinois – November 26, 1957, Dallas, Texas) was an American jazz pianist.

Gardner played locally in Denver in the early 1920s, including with Doc Becker's Blue Devils and Boyd Senter's band. He moved to Chicago in 1923, where he led his own band in addition to playing with musicians like Wingy Manone, Jean Goldkette, and Gene Austin. He remained in Chicago through 1937, playing with Jimmy McPartland in 1936. Moving to New York City, he began associations with Sandy Williams's orchestra and Harry James, but returned to Chicago early in the 1940s, where he led his own group. In 1944 he recorded with Baby Dodds. He spent much of his later life playing in Dallas, Texas.

Gardner's compositions include the song "Bye, Bye, Pretty Baby".