Alex Hyde

Albert Haim, February 27, 2015

From Oxford online, article by R. E. Lotz.

Hyde, Alex

(b ?Hamburg, Germany, 17 Feb 1898; d Santa Monica, CA, 7 July 1956). American bandleader and violinist. His family emigrated to the USA when he was two years old. He performed in New York (1919–22) and toured the northern states and Canada with his dance band, the Romance of Rhythm Orchestra (1922–3), which began recording in 1923. While touring Germany in 1924 the band made several recordings (including I’m going south, Vox 01625, and Mama Goes where Papa Goes, Vox 01627); among Hyde’s soloists at this period were the saxophonist Eddie Grosso, the pianist Walker O’Neill, and Howard McFarlane. He again toured and recorded as a leader in Germany in 1924–5, but with a different band, which was occasionally joined by such other visiting American musicians as Gene Sedric. After returning to the USA he formed a talent agency, then joined the air force as a composer and bandleader; he later worked in Hollywood. Hyde was not himself a jazz musician, but his bands contained excellent jazz soloists.

According to Don Rayno's Whiteman biography (Vol 1), once Whiteman success was secured in the early 1920s, he established a satellite empire. Some of the bands: Eddie Elkins, Barney Rapp, Clyde Doerr, Zez Confrey, Alex Hyde, etc.

Here is anad for Hyde's orchestra.

Alex Hyde and his orchestra in 1924. From the redhotjazzarchive

Alex Hyde and his New York Orchestra - 1924 - Left to Right: Tim Cave, Joe Parker, Eddie Grosso, Alex Hyde, Howard McFarlane, Wally O'Neill, Arthur Sheridan, Ray Allan.

From

An ad in Variety, 1924.

A photo of Whiteman with probably the Alex Hyde orchestra found in the youtube video of Hyde’s recording of Copenhagen.

Alex Hyde Passport Application:

Itwill be seen that his full name was Alexander Chalfan Hyde, born in Hamburg, Germany, on Feb 17, 1898.

Here is the WWI Draft Registration card; note the year of birth 1895.

and the WW Ii Draft Registration card.

A few youtube videos:

Farewell Blues:

Shine:

(Note it begins as an oriental type song; could be an interpolation, but can’t figure out from which recording).

Keep Smiling at Trouble:

No One Is Knowing What It’s All About”

Pleasure Mad:

Cold Cold Mamas: