Cyrus St. Clair

Among the best tuba players from the 1920’s, Cyrus St. Clair is definitely best-known for his association with Clarence Williams’ many documenting organizations. St. Clair’s dad and uncle had been also tuba players. Although he started playing cornet locally as a kid, he eventually turned to tuba. After shifting to NY around 1925, St. Clair experienced stints with Wilbur DeParis, Bobby Lee’s Natural cotton Pickers and Charlie Johnson’s Heaven Ten (beginning in 1926). St. Clair was on the many information with Clarence Williams through the 1926-37 period where his percussive playing and periodic solos (that have been always filled with spirit) were a solid asset. He also documented with Bessie Smith and within Williams’ group support other performers. The tuba was quite definitely out of design in jazz from the past due 1930’s therefore Cyrus St. Clair (who by no means led any saving classes of his personal) retired, mainly working beyond music aside from a limited period in 1947 when he made an appearance on Rudi Blesh’s THAT IS Jazz radio series and documented with Tony Parenti.