Francy Boland
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.
Francy Boland
- Name
- Francy Boland
- Birth Name
- François Boland
- Born
- 6 November 1929
- Birthplace
- Namur, Belgium
- Died
- 12 August 2005
- Place of death
- Geneva, Switzerland
- Nationality
- Belgium
- Occupation
- composer · pianist · bandleader · music arranger · musician
- Fields
- jazz · big band music
- Languages
- French
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Documentary summary
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.
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wikidata · Q706775 · wikipedia · Francy Boland
In this article
Biography
Biography
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. He died in 2005. Song "Just Give Me Time" was covered by Carola in 1966, first released on her album Carola & Heikki Sarmanto Trio, reaching the Finnish Charts in 2004.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Francy Boland • Birth Name — François Boland • Born — 6 November 1929 • Birthplace — Namur, Belgium • Died — 12 August 2005 • Place of death — Geneva, Switzerland
Identity
Identity
Francy Boland is recorded with the occupation music arranger. Classed in the genre jazz. Recorded as composer, pianist, bandleader, music arranger and musician.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
2005
Francy Boland died on 13 August 2005.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Namur.
Birth place
Geneva.
Death place
Discography
• Out of the Background (SABA, 1967) • Flirt and Dream (SABA, 1967) With Johnny Griffin • Night Lady (Philips, 1964) • Tough Tenors Again 'n' Again (MPS, 1970) – with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Kenny Clarke / Francy Boland Big Band (1962-1971) • see the discography section of The Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band With Mark Murphy • Midnight Mood (MPS, 1968) With Sahib Shihab • Summer Dawn (Argo, 1964) • Seeds (Vogue Schallplatten, 1968) • Companionship (Vogue Schallplatten, 1964-70 [1971])
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q706775: Francy Boland
General reference · Wikidata
reference work
- “Francy Boland”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Citations
References
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authority record
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
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