Alex Hyde

Alex Hyde (February 17, 1898 – July 7, 1956) was an American jazz bandleader and violinist.

Biography

Hyde was born in Hamburg, Germany on February 17, 1898.[1][2] His family emigrated to the U.S. In April 1898.[1] He was tutored by a professional violinist.[2]

He founded his own dance band, the Romance of Rhythm Orchestra, and played with them locally in New York City (1919–22) and throughout North America (1922–23).[1] After World War I, Hyde visited Germany and entertained U.S. military personnel in the then-occupied Rhineland.[2] The Romance of Rhythm Orchestra first recorded in 1923, and when touring Germany in 1924, they released material on Deutsche Grammophon.[1] Among Hyde's soloists for these recordings are Howard McFarlane, pianist Walker O'Neill, and saxophonist Eddie Grosso.[1] He recorded as a leader with a different band in 1924-25, also in Germany; Gene Sedric plays on some of these recordings.[1]

Hyde met Michael Danzi in New York and Danzi joined Hyde's newly-formed Alex Hyde Orchestra.[3]

Upon his return to the U.S., he ran his own talent agency, composed music for military bands in the Air Force, and did work in the studios in Hollywood.[1] He also co-managed an insurance company with his brothers.[2] One of his brothers was talent agent Johnny Hyde.

Hyde died on July 7, 1956 in Santa Monica, California.[2]

References
  1. The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz.
  2. "Alex Hyde Bio | Alex Hyde Career". MTV Artists. Retrieved 2016-04-19.
  3. "Center for Jazz Arts | Featured Exhibition". www.centerforjazzarts.org. Archived from the original on 2012-03-13. Retrieved 2016-04-19.

Further reading

Rainer E. Lotz, "Alex Hyde". The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz.

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