He was born in
Morrilton, Arkansas, in either 1918 or 1919. By the mid-1940s Wichard was a member of various bands led by Johnny (or Johnnie) Alston with
King Fleming,
William 'Brother' Woodman,
Wilbert Baranco,
Buddy Harper,
Addison Farmer,
George Vann,
Oscar Lee Bradley, one of which backed
Wynonie "Blues" Harris. He later appeared on several
Jimmy Witherspoon recordings made for the Modern label between 1946 and 1951 with
Gal Friday (vocals);
Mitchell "Tiny" Webb (guitar);
Chuck Norris (guitar);
Frank Sleet (alto saxophone);
Ben Webster (tenor saxophone);
Jay McShann (piano);
Maxwell Davis (tenor saxophone);
Buddy Floyd (tenor saxophone) and
Gene Gilbeaux, (piano). According to Witherspoon, "Cake Wichard got me that major label recording contract,..." In 1947, he also recorded for Modern with his own line-up, the Al Wichard Sextette, featuring vocals by Big
Duke Henderson. A member of the
King Perry Orchestra in 1947, they recorded backing
Hoagy Carmichael in Los Angeles. Between 1947 and 1951, Wichard recorded with Gene Phillips and his Rhythm Aces, again for Modern Records with the guitarist
Gene Phillips, plus
Lloyd Glenn,
Maxwell Davis,
Marshal Royal,
Jake Porter and
Jack McVea. He recorded with
Smokey Hogg (guitar and vocals),
Hadda Brooks (piano),
Bill Davis (bass). And with Brooks again in 1948 with
Teddy Bunn on guitar and
Red Callender on bass. By July 1949 he had joined the
James Von Streeter Septet with
Nat Meeks (trumpet)
Walter Henry (alto saxophone),
Hampton Hawes (piano), Chuck Norris (guitar),
Shifty Henry (bass), and
Herman Pattus (vocals), which recorded in
Los Angeles, California. During this period he also recorded with
Sister Wynona Carr and
Brother Joe May, and also with
Little Willie Littlefield. Wichard appears as a drummer in a jazz club scene, in the
film noir movie,
D.O.A. in 1950. He died in
Los Angeles in 1959. ==Albums/CDs==