Eddie South
Eddie South (Louisiana, Missouri, November 27, 1904 – April 25, 1962[1]) was an American jazz violinist.
Biography
South was a classical violin prodigy who switched to jazz because of limited opportunities for African-American musicians,[1] and started his career playing in vaudeville and jazz orchestras with Freddie Keppard, Jimmy Wade, Charles Elgar, and Erskine Tate in Chicago. He studied at the Chicago College of Music alongside violinist Petrowitsch Bissing.[2]
He was influenced by Hungarian folk music and Roma music starting with a visit to Europe in the 1920s, and adapted the music to jazz.[3] In 1927 he started his own group, Eddie South and his Alabamians, named after the Alabam club where they played in Chicago, and, along with pianist and composer Henry Crowder, toured with them in Europe from 1928 to 1930.
On subsequent visits to Europe in the 1930s, he performed and recorded with guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinists Stéphane Grappelli and Michel Warlop. He also played in the big bands of Earl Hines from 1947 to 1949.[4] and Michel Warlop. He also led bands that included pianist Billy Taylor and bassist Milt Hinton.
A 1951 recording for Chess Records, Eddy [sic] South and his Orchestra, credited Johnny Pate on bass and arrangements and was also the first of a series of Chess recordings on which Pate collaborated with saxophonist Eddie Johnson.[3]
References
- 1 2 Biography at allmusic.com
- ↑ Lieberman, Julie Lyonn (2004). Alternative Strings: The New Curriculum. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 92. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
- 1 2 Campbell, Robert L.; Büttner, Armin and Smierciak, Yves François Down Beat, August 11, 1948 - photo and caption at "Eddie Johnson discography"
- ↑ "African-American Registry: Eddie South, violinist of jazz!". Archived from the original on 2006-02-05. Retrieved 2006-05-14.
Bibliography
- Barnett, Anthony (1999). Black Gypsy: The Recordings of Eddie South: An Annotated Discography. Lewes, East Sussex: AB Fable. ISBN 0-907954-26-X.
External links
- Discography at AllMusic.com
- Radlauer, Dave. "Jazz Rhythm: Eddie South". Retrieved 2006-05-14. — Public radio broadcast with audio samples and commentary.
- "Red Hot Jazz Archive: Eddie South and his Alabamians". Retrieved 2006-05-14. — Discography.
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