Editing Barney Bigard (section)

==Bigard and his Jazzopaters==
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[[File:Velma & Friends.jpg|thumb|left|From left: [[Jack Teagarden]], Sandy DeSantis, [[Velma Middleton]], [[Fraser MacPherson]], [[Cozy Cole]], [[Arvell Shaw]], [[Earl Hines]], and Barney Bigard at the Palomar Supper Club, Vancouver, March 17, 1951]]
The first version of the song "Caravan" (composed by [[Juan Tizol]] and later rearranged by Duke Ellington) was recorded in Hollywood, on December 18, 1936, and performed as an instrumental by Barney Bigard and His Jazzopaters. Two takes were recorded and were issued, although L-0373-2 is by far the more commonly found take. As of 2024 "Caravan" is the most covered song in history with over 500 versions published.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://stacker.com/music/most-covered-songs-all-time | title=Most-covered songs of all time }}</ref>

The band members were [[Cootie Williams]] (trumpet), Juan Tizol (trombone), Barney Bigard (clarinet), [[Harry Carney]] (baritone sax), Duke Ellington (piano), [[Billy Taylor (jazz bassist)|Billy Taylor]] (bass), and [[Sonny Greer]] (drums). All were members of the Duke Ellington Orchestra, which was often drawn upon to record small-group sides. Although Ellington was present at the recording date, the session leader was Bigard.
[[Image:variety-va515.jpg|thumb|right|"Caravan" on Variety]]
In keeping with Ellington's formation of small groups featuring his primary soloists, Bigard continued to be featured under his own name on Variety and subsequently [[Vocalion Records]] and [[OKeh Records|OKeh]] through 1940. When Ellington signed with [[Victor Records|Victor]] in 1940, Bigard (and other Ellingtonians) recorded for [[Bluebird Records|Bluebird]] under his own name. He sat in with the [[Glenn Miller Orchestra]] for some of their biggest hits, such as "[[Moonlight Serenade]]", "[[Little Brown Jug (song)|Little Brown Jug]]", and "[[Tuxedo Junction]]". Bigard was also a member of Louis Armstrong's All Stars before and after [[Edmond Hall]] joined. Bigard can be seen with the All Stars in the movie ''[[The Glenn Miller Story]]'' (1954).

Bigard performed with [[Louis Armstrong]] and his All Stars with [[Velma Middleton]] singing vocals for the ninth [[Cavalcade of Jazz]] concert held at [[Wrigley Field (Los Angeles)|Wrigley Field]] in Los Angeles. The concert was produced by [[Leon Hefflin, Sr.]] on June 7, 1953. Also featured that day were [[Roy Brown (blues musician)|Roy Brown]] and his Orchestra, [[Don Tosti]] and His Mexican Jazzmen, [[Earl Bostic]], [[Nat King Cole|Nat "King" Cole]], and [[Shorty Rogers]] and his Orchestra.<ref>“More Big Names in Cavalcade” Article Los Angeles Sentinel May 21, 1953.
</ref><ref>“Satchmo Band Spice To Open Air Show” Article, ''[[Los Angeles Sentinel]]'', May 28, 1953.</ref>

After World War II, Bigard recorded under his own name for, among others, [[Signature Records]], [[Rex Records (1933)|Rex Records]], [[Black & White Records]], and [[Keynote Records]] in 1944–45. He recorded an album for Liberty in 1957 and an album for [[Disques Vogue|French Vogue Records]] as "Barney Bigard-[[Claude Luter]] Quintet" in 1966. In 1968, Delmark Records had him come to Chicago and recorded "Bucket's Got A Hole In It" with [[Art Hodes]].