Johnny St. Cyr

Johnny St. Cyr (April 17, 1890 – June 17, 1966) was an American jazz banjoist and guitarist. For banjo his by far most used type in records at least was the six string one. On a famous “action photo” with Jelly Roll Morton’s Red Hot Peppers he is holding a four string banjo, probably tenor. There is, however, no verified information if he ever used such an instrument on records.

St. Cyr was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and raised Catholic. He played for several leading New Orleans bands before moving to Chicago in 1923. He is best remembered as a member of Louis Armstrong's Hot Five and Hot Seven bands. He also played with Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers. He composed the standard "Oriental Strut", known for its adventurous chord sequence.

During the 1950s, he performed and led a group named Johnny St. Cyr and His Hot Five and recorded with Paul Barbarin and George Lewis. From 1961 until his death in 1966, St. Cyr was the bandleader of the Young Men from New Orleans, who performed at Disneyland. He died in Los Angeles, California, and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, in Los Angeles.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 17, 1890 (New Orleans), Died June 17, 1966 (Los Angeles)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1918 - 1927

Roles Represented in DAHR: banjo, guitar, speaker, songwriter, composer

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

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-21549 10-in. 2/27/1918 Mamma's baby boy Earl Fuller's Famous Jazz Band Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BVE-36239 10-in. 9/15/1926 Black bottom stomp Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-36240 10-in. 9/15/1926 Smoke-house blues Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-36241 10-in. 9/15/1926 The chant Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-36283 10-in. 9/21/1926 Sidewalk blues Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers Jazz/dance band, with talk instrumentalist, banjo, speaker  
Victor BVE-36284 10-in. 9/21/1926 Dead man blues Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers Jazz/dance band, with talk instrumentalist, banjo, speaker  
Victor BVE-36285 10-in. 9/21/1926 Steamboat stomp Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers Jazz/dance band, with talk instrumentalist, banjo, speaker  
Victor BVE-37254 10-in. 12/16/1926 Someday sweetheart Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BVE-37255 10-in. 12/16/1926 Grandpa's spells Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BVE-37256 10-in. 12/16/1926 Original Jelly-Roll Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BVE-37257 10-in. 12/16/1926 Doctor Jazz stomp Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BVE-37258 10-in. 12/16/1926 Cannon ball Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia W142426 10-in. 7/13/1926 Perdido Street blues New Orleans Wanderers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9446 10-in. 11/6/1925 New Orleans shags Richard M. Jones Three Jazz Wizards Jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9447 10-in. 11/6/1925 Spanish shawl Albert Nicholas ; Richard M. Jones Three Jazz Wizards Clarinet solo, with piano and banjo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9448 10-in. 11/6/1925 29th and Dearborn Albert Nicholas ; Richard M. Jones Three Jazz Wizards Clarinet solo, with piano and banjo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9449 10-in. 11/6/1925 Wonderful dream Richard M. Jones Three Jazz Wizards Jazz/dance trio, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9471 10-in. 11/11/1925 Gambler's dream Hociel Thomas Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9472 10-in. 11/11/1925 Sunshine baby Hociel Thomas Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9473 10-in. 11/11/1925 Adam and Eve had the blues Louis Armstrong's Jazz Four ; Hociel Thomas Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9474 10-in. 11/11/1925 Put it where I can get it Louis Armstrong's Jazz Four ; Hociel Thomas Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9475 10-in. 11/11/1925 Wash woman blues Hociel Thomas Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9476 10-in. 11/11/1925 I've stopped my man Hociel Thomas Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9484 10-in. 11/12/1925 My heart Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9485 10-in. 11/12/1925 Yes! I'm in the barrel Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9486 10-in. 11/12/1925 Gut bucket blues Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9501 Not documented 2/22/1926 [Unknown title(s)] Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9502 Not documented 2/22/1926 [Unknown title(s)] Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9503 10-in. 2/22/1926 Come back, sweet papa Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9533 10-in. 2/26/1926 Georgia grind Lil Hardin Armstrong ; Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble, with female-male vocal duet instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9534 10-in. 2/26/1926 Heebie jeebies Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9535 10-in. 2/26/1926 Cornet chop suey Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9536 10-in. 2/26/1926 Oriental strut Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble composer, instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9537 10-in. 2/26/1926 You're next Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9538 10-in. 2/26/1926 Muskrat ramble Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9573 10-in. Mar. 1926 Sweet man Lillie Delk Christian ; Johnny St. Cyr Female vocal solo, with banjo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9574 10-in. Mar. 1926 Sweet Georgia Brown Lillie Delk Christian ; Johnny St. Cyr Female vocal solo, with banjo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9717 10-in. 6/15/1926 Lonesome and sorry Lillie Delk Christian ; Jimmie Noone ; Johnny St. Cyr Female vocal solo, with clarinet and banjo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9718 10-in. 6/15/1926 Baby o' mine Lillie Delk Christian ; Jimmie Noone ; Johnny St. Cyr Female vocal solo, with clarinet and banjo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9729 10-in. 6/16/1926 Don't forget to mess around Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9730 10-in. 6/16/1926 I'm gonna gitcha Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9731 10-in. 6/16/1926 Dropping shucks Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9732 10-in. 6/16/1926 Who'sit Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9750 10-in. 6/18/1926 He likes it slow Louis Armstrong ; Butterbeans & Susie ; Hot Five Female-male vocal duet, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9768 10-in. 6/22/1926 Messin' around Cookie's Gingersnaps Jazz/dance band, with talking songwriter  
OKeh 9776 10-in. 6/23/1926 The king of the Zulus (At a chit'lin' rag) Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble, with dialogue instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9777 10-in. 6/23/1926 Big fat Ma and skinny Pa Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble, with male vocal solo and talk instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9778 10-in. 6/23/1926 Lonesome blues Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9779 10-in. 6/23/1926 Sweet little papa Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9890 10-in. 11/16/1926 Jazz lips Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9891 10-in. 11/16/1926 Skid-dat-de-dat Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9892 10-in. 11/16/1926 Big butter and egg man from the West May Alix ; Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble, with female-male vocal duet instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9893 10-in. 11/16/1926 Sunset Cafe stomp May Alix ; Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9980 10-in. 11/27/1926 You made me love you Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9981 10-in. 11/27/1926 Irish black bottom Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 9982 10-in. 11/27/1926 Leave mine alone Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh W81126 10-in. 5/13/1927 S.O.L. blues Louis Armstrong ; Hot Seven Jazz/dance ensemble, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh W81302 10-in. 9/2/1927 Put 'em down blues Louis Armstrong ; Hot Seven Jazz/dance ensemble, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo, guitar  
OKeh W81310 10-in. 9/2/1927 Ory's Creole trombone Louis Armstrong ; Hot Seven Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, banjo, guitar  
OKeh W81317 10-in. 9/6/1927 The last time Louis Armstrong ; Hot Seven Jazz/dance ensemble, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo, guitar  
OKeh W82037 10-in. 12/9/1927 Struttin' with some barbecue Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh W82038 10-in. 12/9/1927 Got no blues Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh W82039 10-in. 12/10/1927 Once in awhile Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh W82040 10-in. 12/10/1927 I'm not rough Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance quintet, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh W82046 10-in. 12/12/1927 My blue heaven Lillie Delk Christian Female vocal solo, with clarinet and guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W82047 10-in. 12/12/1927 Who's wonderful, who's marvellous? Miss Annabelle Lee Lillie Delk Christian Female vocal solo, with clarinet and guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
OKeh W82055 10-in. 12/13/1927 Hotter than that Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance sextet, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh W82056 10-in. 12/13/1927 Savoy blues Louis Armstrong ; Hot Five Jazz/dance sextet instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh W82078 10-in. 12/16/1927 She's nothing but nice Wilton Crawley Clarinet solo, with male vocal solo and banjo, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh W82079 10-in. 12/16/1927 Crawley clarinet moan Wilton Crawley Clarinet solo, with male vocal solo and banjo, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh W82080 10-in. 12/16/1927 Love will drive me crazy Wilton Crawley Clarinet solo, with male vocal solo and banjo, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh W82081 10-in. 12/16/1927 Let's pretend to be sweethearts Wilton Crawley Clarinet solo, with male vocal solo and banjo, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, banjo  
Brunswick E2620-E2621 10-in. 3/10/1926 29th and Dearborn Russell's Hot Six Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, banjo  
Brunswick E2622-E2623 10-in. 3/10/1926 Sweet Mumtaz Russell's Hot Six Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo  
Brunswick E3884-E3885 10-in. 10/1/1926 Messin’ around Royal Flush Orchestra ; Fess Williams Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Brunswick C531 10-in. 7/23/1926 Messin’ around Dixie Syncopators ; King Oliver Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Gennett 11632 10-in. 10/5/1923 When you leave me alone to pine King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Gennett 11633 10-in. 10/5/1923 Alligator hop King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Gennett 11634 10-in. 10/5/1923 That sweet something dear King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Gennett 11635 10-in. 10/5/1923 Zulu's Ball King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Gennett 11636 10-in. 10/5/1923 Working man blues King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Gennett 11637 10-in. 10/5/1923 Someday, sweetheart King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Gennett 11638 10-in. 10/5/1923 Krooked blues King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Gennett 11639 10-in. 10/5/1923 If you want my heart (You got to 'low it, babe) King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Gennett 12932 10-in. 7/20/1927 Embarrassment blues King Brady's Clarinet Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Gennett 12945 10-in. 7/22/1927 Lazybone blues King Brady's Clarinet Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "St. Cyr, Johnny," accessed May 14, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112561.

St. Cyr, Johnny. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 14, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112561.

"St. Cyr, Johnny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 14 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112561

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