Gene Gifford, born Harold Eugene Gifford on May 31, 1908, in Americus, Georgia, was a prominent American jazz banjoist, guitarist, and arranger. Raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Gifford began playing banjo in high school and later performed with territory bands such as Watson's Bell Hops and the bands of Bob Foster and Lloyd Williams. He formed his own group to tour Texas before switching to guitar to play with Blue Steele and Henry Cato's Vanities Orchestra in 1928.

In 1929, Gifford became an arranger for Jean Goldkette and joined the Casa Loma Orchestra, where he became the chief arranger. Although he played both guitar and banjo, he left the ensemble in 1933 to focus on arranging. He remained with Casa Loma until 1939, when he was dismissed due to alcohol-related issues, but he returned to perform with them in 1948-49. During the 1940s, Gifford worked as a freelance arranger, contributing significantly to radio arrangements.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Gifford semi-retired from music and worked in radio engineering. He led only one recording session as a bandleader, producing four tracks for Victor Records in 1935. Known for his intricate and dynamic arrangements, Gifford's work was described as creating "intricate staccato passages" and "demonic steam trains" of kinetic energy. He passed away on November 12, 1970, in Memphis, Tennessee.