Eddie South | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Edward Otha South |
Born | Louisiana, Missouri, U.S. | November 27, 1904
Died | April 25, 1962 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | (aged 57)
Genres | Jazz |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument(s) | Violin |
Edward Otha South (November 27, 1904 – April 25, 1962) [1] was an American jazz violinist.
South studied classical music in Budapest, Paris, and Chicago. He turned to jazz because, as a Black musician, there was no room for him in classical music. [2] In the 1920s he was a member of jazz orchestras led by Charlie Elgar, Erskine Tate, and Jimmy Wade. [2] [3] From 1928 to 1930, he was touring in Europe with his band, Eddie South's Alabamians, [4] with whom he had already made several records. [5] He recorded during this tour as well. During this tour, the Alabamians had an extended stay in Venice, in 1928, at the Luna Hotel. [6]
He led a band in the early 1930s that included Milt Hinton and Everett Barksdale. [2] In 1937 he recorded in Paris with Stephane Grappelli, Django Reinhardt, and Michel Warlop. [2] In 1945 he worked for the studio band at WMGM in New York City. [2] During the 1950s, he was a guest on television with Fran Allison and Dave Garroway and on WGN in Chicago. [2]
On September 2, 2020, The New York Times consulted violinist Mazz Swift, who selected Eddie South's performance of "Black Gypsy" for a feature on "5 Minutes That Will Make You Love the Violin." [7]