Herman "Hymie" Shertzer or Schertzer (April 22, 1909 – March 22, 1977) [1] was an American jazz alto saxophonist, best known for his long-term association with Benny Goodman.
Shertzer was born in New York City, United States, [2] began playing violin when he was nine years old and picked up the saxophone when he was a teenager. He worked as a sideman for Gene Kardos at the club Birdland, then joined Benny Goodman's band, where he was the lead saxophonist until 1938, [2] though he recorded with Goodman intermittently until the mid-1940s. [2] He was in Tommy Dorsey's band from 1938-1940, and also recorded in the late 1930s with Bunny Berigan and Lionel Hampton. [2] He worked with Billie Holiday in 1941 and again in 1944, then became a house musician for NBC radio and television. [2] He worked as a session player for studio recordings of Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Sy Oliver, Louis Armstrong, and Artie Shaw in the period 1947-1953, and continued working with Goodman live, on television, and on record from 1951 until 1969. [2] He was a member of the Tonight Show Band during its Johnny Carson era and was active in recording sessions until the mid-1970s.
He died in New York City, in March 1977, aged 67. [3]
References
- ^ Prior research giving his birthdate as April 2 is incorrect; his social security application has April 22. Barry Kernfeld, "Hymie Shertzer". The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. 2nd edition, 2004.
- ^ a b c d e f Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 2202. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
- ^ "Hymie Shertzer Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
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