Abraham Simon, who would later change his last name to Lyman, was born in 1897 in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up learning to play the drums and got a job as a drummer in a Chicago café. By 1919, he was regularly playing music with Henry Halstead and Gus Amheim out in California. Abe's brother, Mike, opened the Sunset night club, popular with many big name stars of the era. Abe was given the chance to play at the club and was very well received. Unfortunately, many celebrities eventually signed contracts with their agencies stating they weren't to be seen at clubs, so like its name, the sunset went away, but Abe kept on. For an engagement at the Cocoanut Grove on April 1, 1922, Abe brought on a violinist and saxophonist and played for 2000 guests, 500 of which were standing outside! His Cocoanut Grove shows were also the start of his radio career, being broadcast on KOG.
Lyman's recording career started with Nordskog Records, but the following year in 1923 he moved to Brunswick. His main band was prolific. Even his side projects were mostly successful with one of those being his Sharps and Flats that you're listening to now (although this group only made a total of 3 records, all in 1928). Lyman remained one of Brunswick's top performers through 1935 when he started recording for Decca Records. In 1937, he signed with Victor which assigned him to their Bluebird label where he recorded sporadically until 1942.
Abe Lyman would exit the music business in 1947 and went into restaurant management. He would pass away in Beverly Hills, California in 1957.
This is "Weary Weasel", composed by Abe Lyman himself, and recorded with an eight man ensemble in New York City on May 18, 1928.
22 мар 2024
