Hymie Schertzer

Herman "Hymie" Shertzer or Schertzer (April 22, 1909 – March 22, 1977) was an American jazz alto saxophonist, best known for his long-term association with Benny Goodman.

Shertzer was born in New York City, United States, began playing violin when he was nine years old and picked up the saxophone when he was a teenager. He worked as a sideman for Gene Kardos at the club Birdland, then joined Benny Goodman's band, where he was the lead saxophonist until 1938, though he recorded with Goodman intermittently until the mid-1940s. He was in Tommy Dorsey's band from 1938-1940, and also recorded in the late 1930s with Bunny Berigan and Lionel Hampton. He worked with Billie Holiday in 1941 and again in 1944, then became a house musician for NBC radio and television. He worked as a session player for studio recordings of Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Sy Oliver, Louis Armstrong, and Artie Shaw in the period 1947-1953, and continued working with Goodman live, on television, and on record from 1951 until 1969. He was a member of the Tonight Show Band during its Johnny Carson era and was active in recording sessions until the mid-1970s.

He died in New York City, in March 1977, aged 67.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 2, 1909 (New York City), Died March 22, 1977

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1935 - 1956

Roles Represented in DAHR: alto saxophone, clarinet, saxophone, baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone

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

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 215 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor PBS-09577 10-in. 7/7/1937 When it's sleepy time down South Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor PBS-09578 10-in. 7/7/1937 Afraid to dream Benny Goodman Orchestra ; Betty Van Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor PBS-09579 10-in. 7/7/1937 Changes Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Columbia 31002 10-in. 8/07/1941 Jim Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Columbia 31003 10-in. 8/07/1941 I cover the waterfront Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Columbia 31004 10-in. 8/07/1941 Love me or leave me Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Columbia 31005 10-in. 8/07/1941 Gloomy Sunday Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Columbia 32405 10-in. 2/10/1942 Wherever you are Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Columbia 32406 10-in. 2/10/1942 Mandy is two Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Columbia 32407 10-in. 2/10/1942 It's a sin to tell a lie Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Columbia 32408 10-in. 2/10/1942 Until the real thing comes along Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Decca 72404 10-in. 10/4/1944 Lover man (oh, where can you be?) Billie Holiday instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 72405 10-in. 10/4/1944 No more Billie Holiday instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 72497 10-in. 11/8/1944 That ole devil called love Billie Holiday instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 72498 11/8/1944 Don't explain Billie Holiday instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 72499 11/8/1944 Big stuff Billie Holiday instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 74000 7/11/1947 You're breakin' in a new heart Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 74013 7/22/1947 Don't you think I oughta know? Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 74014 7/22/1947 You're breakin' in a new heart Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 74766 2/17/1949 Just in case Sy Oliver Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 74767 2/17/1949 Gran'ma plays the numbers Sy Oliver Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 75227 9/6/1949 That lucky old sun Louis Armstrong ; Gordon Jenkins and his Chorus and Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 75228 9/6/1949 Blueberry hill-1 Louis Armstrong ; Gordon Jenkins and his Chorus and Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 75868 2/17/1950 That's a plenty Bob Crosby Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 75869 2/17/1950 If you can't get a drum with a boom-1 Bob Crosby Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
(Results 26-50 of 215 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Schertzer, Hymie," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113734.

Schertzer, Hymie. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113734.

"Schertzer, Hymie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113734

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