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 51-65 of 65 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor ESHQ-72878 8-in. 6/13/1932 When the lights are soft and low The New Yorkers Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor ESHQ-72879 8-in. 6/13/1932 Every little bit of me loves every little bit of you The New Yorkers Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor ESHQ-72880 8-in. 6/13/1932 My silent love Gloria Palace Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor ESHQ-72881 8-in. 6/13/1932 Banking on the weather The New Yorkers Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BSHQ-72882 10-in. 6/13/1932 Banking on the weather Pennsylvania Collegians Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor ESHQ-72883 8-in. 6/13/1932 I'm so alone with the crowd Gloria Palace Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BSHQ-72884 10-in. 6/13/1932 In a shanty in old Shanty Town Pennsylvania Collegians Jazz/dance band director  
Victor ESHQ-72885 8-in. 6/13/1932 Having a good time, wish you were here The New Yorkers Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor ESHQ-72886 8-in. 6/13/1932 I got the potatoes, I got the tomatoes, but someone else has got my gal Rex Blaine and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BSHQ-73162 10-in. 8/4/1932 Jazz rondo Dickson's Harlem Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
Victor BSHQ-73163 10-in. 8/4/1932 In a little blue canoe with you Eliot Everett Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BSHQ-73164 10-in. 8/4/1932 Sheltered by the stars Gene Kardos Orchestra ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band (take 3); with male vocal solo (takes 1 and 2) director  
Victor BSHQ-73165 10-in. 8/4/1932 Sing (It's good for you) Gene Kardos Orchestra ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BSHQ-73166 10-in. 8/4/1932 This is the chorus of a song Village Barn Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal chorus director  
Victor BSHQ-73167 10-in. 8/4/1932 San Gene Kardos Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
(Results 51-65 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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