Johnny St. Cyr

Johnny St. Cyr (April 17, 1890 – June 17, 1966) was an American jazz banjoist and guitarist. For banjo his by far most used type in records at least was the six string one. On a famous “action photo” with Jelly Roll Morton’s Red Hot Peppers he is holding a four string banjo, probably tenor. There is, however, no verified information if he ever used such an instrument on records.

St. Cyr was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and raised Catholic. He played for several leading New Orleans bands before moving to Chicago in 1923. He is best remembered as a member of Louis Armstrong's Hot Five and Hot Seven bands. He also played with Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers. He composed the standard "Oriental Strut", known for its adventurous chord sequence.

During the 1950s, he performed and led a group named Johnny St. Cyr and His Hot Five and recorded with Paul Barbarin and George Lewis. From 1961 until his death in 1966, St. Cyr was the bandleader of the Young Men from New Orleans, who performed at Disneyland. He died in Los Angeles, California, and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, in Los Angeles.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 17, 1890 (New Orleans), Died June 17, 1966 (Los Angeles)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1918 - 1927

Roles Represented in DAHR: banjo, guitar, speaker, songwriter, composer

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

Recordings (Results 76-86 of 86 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick C531 10-in. 7/23/1926 Messin’ around Dixie Syncopators ; King Oliver Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Gennett 11632 10-in. 10/5/1923 When you leave me alone to pine King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Gennett 11633 10-in. 10/5/1923 Alligator hop King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Gennett 11634 10-in. 10/5/1923 That sweet something dear King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Gennett 11635 10-in. 10/5/1923 Zulu's Ball King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Gennett 11636 10-in. 10/5/1923 Working man blues King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Gennett 11637 10-in. 10/5/1923 Someday, sweetheart King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Gennett 11638 10-in. 10/5/1923 Krooked blues King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Gennett 11639 10-in. 10/5/1923 If you want my heart (You got to 'low it, babe) King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Gennett 12932 10-in. 7/20/1927 Embarrassment blues King Brady's Clarinet Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Gennett 12945 10-in. 7/22/1927 Lazybone blues King Brady's Clarinet Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
(Results 76-86 of 86 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "St. Cyr, Johnny," accessed November 24, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/112561.

St. Cyr, Johnny. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 24, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/112561.

"St. Cyr, Johnny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/112561

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