Georgie Auld (May 19, 1919 – January 8, 1990) was a jazz tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, and bandleader.

Early years

Auld was born John Altwerger in Toronto, Canada, and moved to Brooklyn, New York, in 1929. Before the family left Canada, Auld's parents bought him an alto saxophone, which he taught himself to play. He later switched to the tenor saxophone after hearing a Coleman Hawkins recording.

Career

Auld worked with Bunny Berigan, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Erroll Garner, Dizzy Gillespie, Al Porcino, Billy Eckstine, Tiny Kahn, and Frank Rosolino. Primarily a swing saxophonist, he was a member of big bands and led big bands, including Georgie Auld and His Orchestra and Georgie Auld and His Hollywood All Stars. He played rock and roll while working for Alan Freed in 1959. In 1949, Auld played Carl in The Rat Race in the Ethel Barrymore Theater on Broadway. In 1952, he had a small part in the film The Marrying Kind. In 1977 he played a bandleader in the motion picture New York, New York, starring Liza Minnelli and Robert De Niro and also acted as a technical consultant for the film.

Death

Auld died on January 8, 1990, in Palm Springs, California, aged 70.

Discography

As leader

As sideman