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Johnny St. Cyr

Biography

Johnny St. Cyr was born John Alexander St. Cyr on April 17, 1890, in New Orleans, Louisiana, and became one of the foundational figures in early jazz as a banjoist and guitarist[1][2][3]. Growing up in the birthplace of jazz, he was largely self-taught and began leading his own bands as early as 1905, quickly immersing himself in the city’s vibrant musical scene[6]. By his teens, he was performing with prominent local groups such as A.J. Piron’s orchestra and the Superior, Olympia, and Tuxedo bands, before joining Kid Ory’s band in 1918[6][8]. In 1923, St. Cyr moved to Chicago, where he became an integral part of the burgeoning jazz recording industry, working with legends like King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, and, most notably, Louis Armstrong[1][3][6].

St. Cyr’s musical style was marked by innovation and adaptability. He pioneered the use of the banjo in jazz, often modifying his instruments—such as attaching a guitar neck to a banjo body—to achieve a louder, more resonant sound suited to the demands of early jazz ensembles[1][4]. His playing combined rhythmic drive with melodic inventiveness, and he was known for his hard, clean single-string lines and smooth rhythm guitar work, using picks he crafted himself from toothbrush handles[1]. St. Cyr’s contributions are immortalized on landmark recordings like Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five and Hot Seven sessions (1925–1928), where his banjo provided both harmonic foundation and rhythmic propulsion[1][2]. Later in life, he led bands at Disneyland, most notably the Young Men from New Orleans, and remained active in music until his death in Los Angeles on June 17, 1966[1][3][5]. His legacy endures as a key architect of the jazz banjo and guitar tradition, influencing countless musicians who followed.

Fun Facts

  • St. Cyr famously made his own banjo picks from toothbrush handles to achieve his distinctive sound[1].
  • He built a hybrid instrument by attaching a guitar neck to a banjo body, creating a louder, jazzier banjo[1][4].
  • In 1955, he became the musical director for the Disneyland riverboats, leading the Young Men from New Orleans and hosting weekly jam sessions at his home[1][3].
  • St. Cyr won the ‘All-Time All-Star Banjoist’ poll conducted by The Record Changer magazine in 1951[1].

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

  • A.J. Piron - Early bandleader and mentor in New Orleans (Superior, Olympia, and Tuxedo bands) [1900s–1910s]
  • Kid Ory - Bandleader and collaborator, provided early professional opportunities (Kid Ory’s band) [1918–1920s]

Key Collaborators

  • Louis Armstrong - Core member of Armstrong’s Hot Five and Hot Seven bands (Hot Five and Hot Seven sessions) [1925–1928]
  • Jelly Roll Morton - Banjoist/guitarist with Morton’s Red Hot Peppers (Red Hot Peppers recordings) [1920s]
  • King Oliver - Member of Oliver’s band in Chicago (King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band) [1920s]
  • Johnny Dodds - Frequent collaborator in Armstrong’s bands (Hot Five sessions) [1925–1927]
  • Paul Barbarin - Collaborator in later New Orleans revival bands (Johnny St. Cyr and His Hot Five) [1950s]
  • Kid Ory - Reunited in Disneyland band (Young Men from New Orleans) [1955–1966]

Artists Influenced

  • Later jazz banjoists and guitarists - Pioneered the integration of banjo into jazz, influencing the instrument’s role in the genre (N/A) [1920s–present]
  • New Orleans revival musicians - His recordings and Disneyland performances inspired the Dixieland revival (N/A) [1940s–1960s]

Connection Network

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Discography

Albums

Title Release Date Type
Johnny St. Cyr 1994 Album
"Serie All Stars Music" Nº4 Exclusive Remastered From Original Vinyl First Edition (Vintage LPs) 2009-06-01 Album
Definitive Dodds 1926 - 1927: The Complete Sets 2008 Album

Top Tracks

  1. Somebody Stole My Gal (Johnny St. Cyr)
  2. Careless Love (Johnny St. Cyr)
  3. Just A Closer Walk With Thee (Percy Humphrey / Blind Gilbert's Trio)
  4. Streets of the City (Johnny St. Cyr)
  5. Someday You'll Be Sorry (Johnny St. Cyr)
  6. I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate (Percy Humphrey / Blind Gilbert's Trio)
  7. Put On Your Old Grey Bonnet (Percy Humphrey / Blind Gilbert's Trio)
  8. Someday, You'll Be Sorry (Johnny St. Cyr)
  9. Darktown Strutters Ball (Johnny St. Cyr)
  10. Put Me in the Alley Blues (Really the Blues?: A Blues History (1893-1959), Vol. 1 (1893-1929))

Tags: #jazz

References

  1. fromthevaults-boppinbob.blogspot.com
  2. aaregistry.org

Heard on WWOZ

Johnny St. Cyr has been played 8 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.

DateTimeTitleShowSpotify
Dec 10, 202509:21Boogie Woogiefrom Johnny St. CyrTraditional Jazzw/ Tom Saunders
Dec 8, 202510:58Sister Katefrom Johnny St. CyrTraditional Jazzw/ Dan Meyer
Oct 20, 202511:00Sister Katefrom Johnny St. CyrNew Orleans Music Showw/ Murf Reeves
Oct 16, 202509:13Darktown Strutters' Ballfrom Johnny St. CyrTraditional Jazzw/ Sally Young
Sep 29, 202510:55Could I Have Knownfrom Johnny St. CyrTraditional Jazzw/ Dan Meyer
Sep 12, 202509:38Somebody Stole My Galfrom Johnny St. CyrTraditional Jazzw/ the Jazz Police
Sep 12, 202509:30Streets of The Cityfrom Johnny St. CyrTraditional Jazzw/ the Jazz Police
Sep 12, 202509:21Sister Katefrom Johnny St. CyrTraditional Jazzw/ the Jazz Police