- He lived in Europe, primarily Switzerland, from 1976 and did musical arrangements for Sarah Vaughan among others.
- Francy Boland's 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.
- He 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.
- Francy Boland starts playing the piano at the age of 8. He then moves to Liège to study at the Music Conservatory after World War II.
- He was undoubtedly one of the major figures of jazz writing in Europe.
- He was also part of One World, One Peace, an effort involving Pope John Paul II.
- 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 entered in semi-retirement and concentrated on composing.
- 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.
- During the Jazz Middelheim Festival in August '97, the Brussels Jazz Orchestra paid a special tribute to Francy BolandD, under the musical direction of his long time friend Jean Warlnd..
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content