“HELLO-RHYTHM FIENDS!”

His own Story, written for Rhythm by

EDDIE LANG

World’s Guitar Ace

Most people start their musical education at an early age, and I, being no exception, started at the very tender age of one and a half years. 

My father was a maker of guitars in the old country, and he made me an instrument that consisted of a cigar-box with a broom handle attached, and strong thread was used for the string. I really don’t know what he called the instrument, but anyway it achieved its purpose, for it succeeded in keeping me quiet, which I am suspicious enough to image was my father’s main object.

A few years elapsed then I began to study the violin and played in the orchestra at the school I went to. Attending this school and also playing violin was a boy who has since become my inseparable pal, Joe Venuti.

After leaving school, my first real job on the violin came when Charlie Kerr signed me up to play with him for four years. Everything went well until banjo’s came into style, and then Charlie decided he wanted me to play banjo. Having fooled around with the guitar at home, banjo playing was not so hard to me as it might have been, and very soon after, I was specializing in banjo stop choruses. My next job was with the Scranton Sirens, who numbered in its personnel Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey.

The first good break came when I joined the Mound City Blue Blowers. They were an added attraction with Ray Miller’s Band, and as I had been offered very good money, I did not hesitate about joining them. They wanted me to play banjo, but as they already had a fellow playing banjo, I suggested that I should be allowed to play the guitar, and so improve the combination. We agreed to try it out, and it was quite successful.

Then came our contracts to go to London, and I would like to mention here that I was very much impressed by the charming manner in which the English musicians received us. They were very kind, ands showed us all the worth-while places of interest. We played at the Piccadilly Hotel, and also at some very expensive parties at one of which Prince Henry was a guest.