Harry Hyams,
Violin (1961-1982)
Concert Violinist Played With
Lawrence Welk For 21 Years
Harry Hyams played the
violin and viola on the
Lawrence Welk Show from 1961 to 1982. Hyams was
born May 24, 1917 in New York, NY. Hyams attended
the Julliard School and later played with New York
Philharmonic Orchestra. He first joined the
Champagne Music Makers in 1961, when the string
section consisted of six violinists, one cellist and
and a viola. Hyams most often played the viola, an
instrument which looks like a violin but is actually
larger and plays deeper notes compared with a
violin.
Hyams also performed as a session
musician, providing backgrounds for artists such as
Frank Zappa, Harry Nilsson and Bobby Darin. Plus, as
a concert musician, he was in constant demand to
play in several symphony orchestras both in the
United States and in Europe. Until the last week of
his life, at 97, Hyams was sailing his boat, smoking
cigars, playing cards and drinking whiskey with
friends and family. Hyams passed away on
January 24, 2015.