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 New York City (most populous city in the United States), 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 76-100 of 223 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 76443 6/3/1950 I can't give you anything but love Sy Oliver Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 76444 6/3/1950 I ain't got nobody Sy Oliver Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 76528 6/26/1950 La vie en rose Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 76529 6/26/1950 C' est si bon Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 76662 7/19/1950 Three little words Bill Darnell instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 76663 7/19/1950 Pink champagne Bill Darnell instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 76664 7/19/1950 Well, oh well Bill Darnell instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 76669 7/19/1950 Don't worry 'bout me Artie Shaw Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 76670 7/9/1950 Blue again Artie Shaw Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 76671 7/19/1950 It's a long way to Tipperary Artie Shaw Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 76672 7/19/1950 Show me the way to go home Artie Shaw Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 76845 9/14/1950 Jingle bells Artie Shaw Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 76846 9/14/1950 Where or when Artie Shaw Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 76847 9/14/1950 Blue again Artie Shaw Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 80448 1/24/1951 Sweet Adeline Tommy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 80449 1/24/1951 Diane Tommy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 80450 1/24/1951 Marcheta Tommy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 80461 1/25/1951 Beautiful madness Don Cherry ; Artie Shaw instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 80462 1/25/1951 Chapel of the roses Don Cherry ; Artie Shaw instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 80463 1/25/1951 I've got to pass your house Don Cherry ; Artie Shaw instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 80464 1/25/1951 The thrill is gone-1 Don Cherry ; Artie Shaw instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 81287 7/18/1951 I don't want to make a change Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, saxophone  
Decca 81288 7/18/1951 There never was a baby like my baby Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, saxophone  
Decca 81289 7/18/1951 Give a little, get a little Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, saxophone  
Decca 81300 7/23/1951 The morning side of the mountain Arthur Prysock instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
(Results 76-100 of 223 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Schertzer, Hymie," accessed January 6, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113734.

Schertzer, Hymie. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 6, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113734.

"Schertzer, Hymie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 6 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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