Lou McGarity

A very talented trombone soloist influenced by Jack Teagarden but possessing his own brassier sound, Lou McGarity was a strong asset to many bands and jam sessions. He started out playing violin when he was seven, not switching to trombone until he was 17. McGarity studied at the University of Georgia from 1934-36, gigged locally in the South (including with Kirk DeVore and Nye Mayhew), and toured with Ben Bernie from 1938-40 before hitting the big time with Benny Goodman from 1940-42. McGarity not only played with Benny Goodman's big band but with his smaller groups -- the fi...