Margie Hyams

Marjorie Hyams (August 9, 1920 – June 14, 2012)^[1] was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, and arranger. She began her career as a vibraphonist in the 1940s, playing with Woody Herman, the Hip Chicks, Mary Lou Williams, Charlie Ventura, and George Shearing. She also led her own groups.

Hyams had her own trio and quartet from 1940 to 1944, and played with Woody Herman and Flip Phillips in the mid-1940s. In 1945, she played with the all-female band Hip Chicks^[2] and, with guitarists such as Tal Farlow, Mundell Lowe, and Billy Bauer, formed another trio that performed on Manhattan's 52nd Street until 1948.^[3] In 1946, she arranged and sang with Charlie Ventura and recorded with Mary Lou Williams. Hyams joined George Shearing from 1949 to 1950.^[4]

Jack Siefert, a lifelong friend of Woody Herman, introduced Hyams to Herman, who had broken convention in 1941 by hiring female trumpeter Billie Rogers.^[5] Hyams was one of Herman's vibraphonist alumni that included Terry Gibbs, Red Norvo, and Milt Jackson, all of whom, according to jazz author Doug Ramsey, were elite musicians.^[6]

Later reflecting on her time with Herman's First Herd, Hyams said:

In a sense, you weren't really looked upon as a musician, especially in clubs. There was more interest in what you were going to wear or how your hair was fixed — they just wanted you to look attractive, ultra feminine, largely because you were doing something they didn't consider feminine. Most of the time I fought it and didn't listen to them. Only in retrospect, when you start looking back and analyzing, you can see the obstacles that were put in front of you. I just thought at the time that I was too young to handle it, but now I see that it was really rampant chauvinism.^[7][8][9]

Hyams was a founding member (1949-50) of the popular George Shearing Quintet, which introduced a new and much-imitated ensemble sound in small group modern jazz. In his autobiography, Shearing called Hyams a "very fine musician" and "thoroughly schooled classical pianist." He said they "got on very well" and acknowledged her contribution of November Seascape and other original compositions. He added that when she left the group, he thought she had "just got tired of working for someone else and traveling so much, even though she was drawing a good salary."^[10]

Hyams was born August 9, 1920, in New York^[1] and grew up in Jamaica, Queens.^[11] Her brother, Mark Hyams (1914–2007), was a jazz pianist who played with big bands, including those of Will Hudson (mid-1930s) and Spud Murphy (late 1930s).

Hyams married William G. "Bill" Ericsson (1927–1978)^[12][13][14] on June 6, 1950 in Chicago, Illinois.^[15] and, from 1951 to 1970, played, taught, and arranged in Chicago.^[11] Margie and Bill had three children: Lisa, Kristin, and Tod.^[1]

Hyams died June 14, 2012, in Arcadia, California.^[1]

The media, marquees, and promos often spelled her first name "Margie", but she insisted that it was spelled with a "j".