A Medical History

Lang’s preoperative diagnosis is difficult to discern. In the few references that exist on the topic, Lang has been described as having “a chronically inflamed sore throat,”7 “laryngitis,”1 and “disorders of. . .the digestive system that tormented him his whole life.”8 Could Lang’s hoarse voice have been a sequela of undiagnosed gastroesophageal reflux? We may never know. Regardless, a tonsillectomy was advised. Lang’s family was assured that it was to be “an extremely simple operation.”8 On Lang’s death certificate, under the heading of “diagnosis during last illness,” are written the words “operation for recurrent tonsillitis/chronic tonsillitis.”

The tonsillectomy was performed the morning of Sunday, March 26, 1933, at Park West Hospital at 170 West 76th Street in Manhattan. 8 Presumably, general anesthesia was used. 7 Lang’s wife Kitty (a former Ziegfeld Follies dancer) was present in the hospital at the time of the operation. 8,9 In the immediate postoperative period, the operation appeared to have been a success. The surgeon reportedly left, stating that everything had gone well. 8 Kitty Lang recalls being told by the doctor that Eddie had been given a sedative and would sleep for a while. 1 According to one published reference, Kitty left to get something to eat, and on her return found that Eddie Lang had died. 8 However, in another source, Kitty claims that, despite the doctor telling her to go home and come back later, she remained at Eddie Lang’s bedside throughout the entire postoperative period, waiting for him to awaken and see her. 9 Eddie Lang never woke up. According to Kitty, after a nurse checked Lang’s pulse around 5:00 pm, a doctor was rapidly called, and Kitty was escorted out of the room, being told soon thereafter that Eddie had died. Bing Crosby, who reportedly had been at the nearby Friar’s Club, rushed to the hospital after being notified of Lang’s death. 9 According to Kitty, “when
Bing found out, he cried in my arms like a baby.”1

The mechanism of death is uncertain. In a 1992 interview of some of Eddie Lang’s living relatives by Italian jazz critic Adriano Mazzoletti, it was stated that Lang had “suffocated on his own blood.”8 One relative suggested that Lang was allowed to bleed to death because of inattention by the nursing staff. 8 Could there have been a lack of staff because of the operation being performed on a weekend? Another possible contributory factor to Lang’s death may have been a narcotic overdose, as the patient apparently never did regain consciousness after having been given a postoperative sedative. 9 Yet another theory as to the cause of death centers around Kitty Lang’s claim that she had been told that Eddie had developed “a blood clot that formed in the lung.”1 Indeed, on Lang’s death certificate, under the heading “Contributory,” the words “coronary embolus” are written and scratched out with a single line, followed by the words “pulmonary embolus.” However, the accuracy of such a diagnosis cannot be confirmed, as an autopsy was never    performed. 9 According to Kitty, “I didn’t want them to cut him up anymore. . .Whatever had gone wrong, I felt I didn’t want to know.”9

Lang’s body was transported to his hometown of Philadelphia, where the funeral was held on Thursday, March 30, 1933 (Fig. 3). The event, which drew more than 2000 guests, including many members of the jazz community, was documented by a small obituary in the Philadelphia Record. 10 Eddie Lang’s death drifted into distant memory as rapidly as Bing Crosby’s career rocketed toward uncharted heights. Legal action was never taken. “I feel that a mistake was made,” said Kitty, “but I don’t know for sure.”1

Fig. 3. Gravesite of Eddie Lang, Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon, Pennsylvania (year 2000).