Gene Kardos

Eugene Kardos (June 12, 1899 – July 27, 1980) was the leader of a jazz and dance orchestra in the 1930s. He recorded for Victor in 1931–32 and then recorded for ARC's labels (Perfect, Melotone, Banner, Oriole, Romeo, Vocalion etc.) through 1938.

Born in Yorkville, New York, of Hungarian heritage, Kardos learned to play the violin and saxophone and worked in vaudeville pit orchestras until organizing his first band around 1930. A New York territory band, its usual home base was the Gloria Palast, a German-American ballroom and café on East 86th Street in the Yorkville neighborhood. Due to the location of AFM Local 802 headquarters nearby, many music professionals caught Kardos's band.

Among his musicians were Hymie Schertzer (sax), Vic Schoen (trumpet, arranger), Joel Shaw (piano), and Bernie Green (arranger-composer). There were a sizable group of Kardos recordings issued on Crown under Shaw's name and various ARC recordings under names such as Gene's Merrymakers, Art Kahn, and Bob Causer. From the mid-1930s, Kardos' style changed more to a hotel dance band style. Dick Robertson and Bea Wain were vocalists on many of his recordings.

Disbanding in 1939, Kardos married and took employment with the postal service in New York City by day, while leading a small café-style band evenings at Zimmerman's Hungaria, a popular restaurant in Yorkville. His run there continued into the 1950s.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 12, 1899 (New York City), Died August 27, 1980 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1931 - 1932

Roles Represented in DAHR: director, violin, saxophone, vocalist, songwriter

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 65 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BRC-71236 10-in. 1/15/1932 An old fashioned home in New Hampshire Dick Robertson Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble director, instrumentalist, violin  
Victor BRC-71237 10-in. 1/15/1932 Somewhere in the West Dick Robertson Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble director, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor BRC-71269 10-in. 1/22/1932 Blue Danube blues Eliot Everett Orchestra Jazz/dance band songwriter, director  
Victor BRC-71270 10-in. 1/22/1932 I wouldn't change you for the world Gene Kardos Orchestra ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BRC-71271 10-in. 1/22/1932 Fate introduced me to you Gene Kardos Orchestra ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BRC-71274 10-in. 1/25/1932 Alexander's ragtime band Gene Kardos Orchestra ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BRC-71275 10-in. 1/25/1932 Glory Gene Kardos Orchestra ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BRC-71276 10-in. 1/25/1932 I'll keep right on loving you Gene Kardos Orchestra ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter, director  
Victor BRC-72250 10-in. 4/7/1932 My extraordinary gal Gene Kardos Orchestra ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BRC-72251 10-in. 4/7/1932 When nobody else is around Gene Kardos Orchestra ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BRC-72252 10-in. 4/7/1932 He's in the jailhouse now Eliot Everett Orchestra ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band director  
Victor BRC-72253 10-in. 4/7/1932 Sweetest of all my dreams Pan-American Dance Orchestrra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BRC-72254 10-in. 4/7/1932 The dentist and the lady Gene Kardos Orchestra Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BRC-72255 10-in. 4/7/1932 Charlie, the chiseller Eliot Everett Orchestra Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BRC-72548 10-in. 5/5/1932 Roses are red, the violets are blue Gene Kardos Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BRC-72549 10-in. 5/5/1932 I can't believe that it's you Gene Kardos Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BRC-72550 10-in. 5/5/1932 Jam man Dickson's Harlem Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BRC-72551 10-in. 5/5/1932 Who, beside me? (Sits beside you) The New Yorkers Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BRC-72552 10-in. 5/5/1932 Crazy people The New Yorkers Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BRC-72553 10-in. 5/5/1932 Song of the fiddlers The Radio Rascals' Orchestra [Gene Kardos Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor LBSHQ-72557 10-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 5/9/1932 Dance medley [of] Hoagy Carmichael compositions Hoagy Carmichael Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with piano and male vocal soloists director, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor LBSHQ-72558 10-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 5/9/1932 Dance medley [of] Hoagy Carmichael compositions Hoagy Carmichael Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with piano and male vocal solo and duet director, instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor ESHQ-72875 8-in. 6/13/1932 Is I in love? I is Rex Blaine and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor ESHQ-72876 8-in. 6/13/1932 Lullaby of the leaves Gloria Palace Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor ESHQ-72877 8-in. 6/13/1932 Remember, cherie Gloria Palace Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
(Results 26-50 of 65 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kardos, Gene," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109625.

Kardos, Gene. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109625.

"Kardos, Gene." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109625

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