Bulee "Slim" Gaillard, born on January 9, 1911, was an American jazz singer and songwriter known for his comedic vocalese singing and inventive wordplay. He was proficient in several instruments, including the piano, guitar, vibraphone, and tenor saxophone. Gaillard gained fame in the late 1930s with hits like "Flat Foot Floogie (with a Floy Floy)" and "Cement Mixer (Put-Ti-Put-Ti)" after forming the duo Slim and Slam with bassist Slam Stewart.

Gaillard's early life is shrouded in mystery, with conflicting accounts of his birthplace. While many sources claim he was born in Detroit, Michigan, Gaillard himself stated he was born in Santa Clara, Cuba, to an Afro-Cuban mother and a German-Jewish father. His adventurous youth included being accidentally left on the island of Crete at age 12, where he learned Greek and worked various jobs before traveling through the Mediterranean.

During World War II, Gaillard served in the US Army Air Forces. After the war, he resumed his music career, collaborating with jazz legends such as Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. In the 1960s and 1970s, Gaillard appeared in films and television series, including a role in "Roots: The Next Generations."

Gaillard was known for his constructed language, "Vout-o-Reenee," and spoke multiple languages, including Spanish, German, Greek, Arabic, and Armenian. He continued to perform at European jazz festivals into the 1980s.

Slim Gaillard passed away on February 26, 1991, in London, England, shortly after attending a jazz event in Pensacola, Florida, where he had familial connections. His legacy as a jazz innovator and entertainer endures through his recordings and performances.