Joe Garland

American jazz saxophonist, composer, and arranger, best known for writing “In The Mood“ (Aug. 15, 1903, Norfolk, Virginia - April 21, 1977, Teaneck, New Jersey).

Garland studied music at Shaw University and the Aeolian Conservatory. He started by playing classical music but joined a jazz band, Graham Jackson’s Seminole Syncopators, in 1924, where he first recorded. He had a long run of associations as a sideman on saxophone and clarinet, with , , Henri Saparo, Leon Abbey (including a tour of South America), Charlie Skeete and in the 1920s. The 1930s saw him playing with Bobby Neal and the ; he was both a performer and an arranger for the Blue Rhythm Band from 1932 to 1936, when replaced him. Following this he played with , , and (1939-42). In the 1940s he played with and others, and then returned to Armstrong’s band from 1945-47. Following this he played with , Hopkins again, and . In the 1950s, he went into semi-retirement.