Dark Angel Eddie South

Eddie South

Source: Wikiwand

Born on 27 November 1904 in Louisiana, Missouri, Eddie South studied classical violin as a child, but began his career in music doing vaudeville, touring with cornetist, Freddie Keppard. Vaudeville was a form of theater in which brief acts, from singing to stunts, were consecutively performed on stage, basically a variety show. Vaudeville had begun to come together briefly after the Civil War. It spread in circuits throughout the nation in countless participating theatres until its decline in the twenties.

It was upon making his way to Chicago that South first recorded to issue with Jimmy Wade's Moulin Rouge Orchestra in December of 1923 for Paramount: 'Someday Sweetheart' and two takes of 'Mobile Blues'.

'Someday Sweetheart' / 'Mobile Blues'   Jimmy Wade's Moulin Rouge Orchestra

Recorded 15 Dec 1923 in Chicago   Matrices 1620-1 / 1621-1 or 1621-2

Cornet: Jimmy Wade   Trombone: Bill Dover

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Arnett Nelson (alto) / Vernon Roulette (tenor)

Violin: Eddie South   Piano: Teddy Weatherford

Tuba: Buddy Gross   Drums: Edwin Jackson

'Someday Sweetheart': Benjamin Spikes / John Spikes / Jelly Roll Morton

'Mobile Blues': Fred Rose / Albert Short

Though South recorded nothing with Erskine Tate, he worked as first violinist in his orchestra in 1927. South put away his initial titles as a leader with his Alabamians on December 2, 1927, in Chicago, yielding four takes each of 'La Rosita' and 'The Voice of Southland'. South's Alabamians consisted of Henry Crowder (piano,) Little Mike McKendrick (guitar) and Jerome Bourke (drums) with Bourke and South at vocals.

'La Rosita'   Eddie South and His Alabamians

Recorded 2 Dec 1927 in Chicago   Matrix BVE40997-1

Take 1 of 4 eventually issued by Fable and Frog

Takes 2 and 4 unissued

Composition: Paul Dupont

'La Rosita'   Eddie South and His Alabamians

Recorded 2 Dec 1927 in Chicago   Matrix BVE40997-3

Take 3 of 4 issued on Victor 21151

Takes 2 and 4 unissued

Composition: Paul Dupont

'By the Waters of the Minnetonka'   Eddie South and His Alabamians

Take 3 of 3   Victor 21151

Composition: Thurlow Lieurance

Upon a chance to study at the Paris Conservatoire in 1928 South was able to record 'Doin' the Raccoon' and 'Two Guitars' in Paris on March 12, 1929. While in Europe he'd been able hear some Hungarian folk music in Budapest, later to serve up mixtures of gypsy music with jazz. In the meantime South went global with his International Orchestra:

'Algeria'   Eddie South and his International Orchestra

Radio transcription sometime Jan-March 1933 in Hollywood

Jazz Oracle BDW8054 at All Music / Discogs

Cornet: Clifford King   Violin: South / J. Wright Smith

Piano / celeste: Antonio Spaulding   Guitar: Everett Barksdale

String bass: Milt Hinton   Drums: Jimmy Bertrand

Vocals: South / King / Barksdale / Hinton

Another visit to Paris in 1937 resulted in a number of recordings with Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli.

'Sweet Georgia Brown'

Eddie South w Django Reinhardt (guitar) and Milson Myers (bass)

Recorded 29 Sep 1937 in Paris   Swing 8  / HMV B8778

Music: Ben Bernie / Maceo Pinkard 1925   Lyrics: Kenneth Casey

'I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me'

Eddie South w Django Reinhardt (guitar) and Paul Cordonnier (bass)

Recorded 23 Nov 1937 in Paris   Swing 31  / HMV 7EG8361

Music: Jimmy McHugh 1926   Lyrics: Clarence Gaskill

'Black Gypsy'   Eddie South w Dave Martin (piano)

Recorded 13 March 1938 in Hilversum, Holland   Brunswick AH81504 / Polydor 25855

Music: Jimmy McHugh 1926   Lyrics: Clarence Gaskill

'Praeludium and Allegro'   Eddie South (violin) and His Orchestra

Recorded 10 June 1940 in NYC   Columbia 35636

Piano: Dave Martin   Guitar: Eddie Gibbs

String bass: Ernest Hill   Drums: Specs Powell

Composition: Fritz Kreisler 1905

During the forties and fifties South was employed in radio and television. He worked with pianist, Earl Hines, from 1947 to 1949. In 1958 he rolled out the album, 'The Distinguished Violin of Eddie South', released on Mercury SR 60070. Lord's discography has him recording as late as 1959 with flautist, Mike Simpson, those from their second session in Chicago, being 'Let's All Sing Like the Birdies Sing', 'Robins and Roses' and 'Bird Bath' toward the album, 'Music for the Birds', released in 1962.

'Deep Purple'   Eddie South (violin) and His Trio

Standard radio transcription in Hollywood   Sep 1944

Piano: Billy Taylor   String bass: LaGrand Mason   Drums: Connie Jordan

 Composition: Peter De Rose 1924

From the album 'Eddie South Dark Angel of the Fiddle' Trip TLP5803 1958

'Music for the Birds'   Album by Eddie South (violin)

Recorded c Feb and April 1959 in Chicago   Mercury Wing MGW 12225 / 1962

Flute / piccolo: Mike Simpson   Guitar: John Grey ?

String bass: Johnny Pate   Drums: Al Duncan ?

South died in Chicago on 25 April 1962.