:Bohumir Kryl

Bohumir Kryl (originally Bohumil Krill, also Bohumír Kryl) was born on May 3, 1875, at Hořice 230, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary.{{cite web |last= Johnson |first= Geary |url= https://www.angelfire.com/music2/thecornetcompendium/well-known_soloists_6.html |title= The Cornet Compendium- The History and Development of the Nineteenth-Century Cornet: WELL-KNOWN SOLOISTS (I-K) |access-date=2011-07-14}}{{cite book|title= A Passion for Polka – Old-Time Ethnic Music in America|last= Greene|first= Victor|year= 1992|publisher= University of California Press|location= Berkeley|isbn= 978-0-520-07584-9|page= [https://archive.org/details/passionforpolkao00gree/page/78 78]|url= https://archive.org/details/passionforpolkao00gree|url-access= registration}} He was baptized Catholic 7 days later.{{Cite web|date=1875|title=Matriky/Church books Jičin, 47-3327, 1867-1875|url=https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C95W-YSVK-Y|website=FamilySearch}} His first instrument was the violin, which he studied at age 10. While attending school in Hořice he was classmates with Jan Kubelík, with whom he maintained correspondence.{{cite news |title= Bohumir Kryl, Who Comes Here Chautauqua Week, Was a Schoolmate of Kubelik |date= 9 July 1915|publisher= Bluffton (Indiana) Chronicle|page= 4|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=584nAAAAIBAJ&pg=3680,43951&dq=bohumir+kryl&hl=en|access-date=October 23, 2011}} He spent time performing both the violin and the cornet for a circus band in Prague.{{cite news |title= Bohumir Kryl is Master Cornetist|date= 5 November 1940|publisher= The Newberry (South Carolina) Observer|page= 1|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=021DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3077,4607372&dq=bohumir+kryl&hl=en|access-date=October 23, 2011}} He also performed as an aerialist acrobat with the Rentz Circus in Germany,{{cite news |title= Kryl, Now Noted Musician, Once Star of 'Big Top'|date= 17 November 1935|publisher= The Sarasota Herald-Tribune|pages= 1–2|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3-EcAAAAIBAJ&pg=1431,3312721&dq=bohumir+kryl&hl=en|access-date=October 23, 2011}} but an accident in 1886 ended this line of work. His father was a sculptor, and Bohumir also studied this art. He emigrated to the United States in 1889,{{cite book |title= John Philip Sousa, American Phenomenon|last=Bierley|first=Paul E.|year= 1973|publisher=Integrity Press|location=Westerville, Ohio|isbn=978-0-918048-07-3|page=190}} paying the fare in part by performing with the ship's orchestra.{{cite web |url= http://www.choicerecordings.com/bohumir.htm |title= Bohumir Kryl (1875 to 1961) |publisher= Choice Recordings |access-date= 2011-07-14 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110317124135/http://www.choicerecordings.com/bohumir.htm |archive-date= 2011-03-17 |url-status= dead }} After he moved to Chicago, English sculptor H.R. Saunders furthered his profession there. Bohumir followed Saunders to Indianapolis and was soon employed, along with his brother,{{cite journal |year= 1908|title= Bohumir Kryl and his Band|journal= The Lyceumite and Talent|volume= 2|pages= 103|publisher= The Lyceumite Press|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=QTUcAQAAMAAJ&q=Bohumir+Kryl&pg=PA103}} as a sculptor by General Lew Wallace and also working on the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument. Simultaneously he joined the When Clothing Company Band, playing the cornet and soloing on this instrument. Before long he was hired by John Philip Sousa, but was fired in 1898 by Sousa because he copied some of the band's music for his own personal use.{{cite book |last=Rehrig |first=William E. |year=1991|editor1-last=Bierley |editor1-first=Paul E. |title=The Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music|volume=1 |location=Westerville, Ohio |publisher=Integrity Press |isbn=0-918048-08-7|page=426}} He then joined Thomas Preston Brooke's Chicago Marine Band, where he spent the next two years. During this time he studied with Weldon of Chicago's Second Regiment Band. In 1901 he spent some time with Phinney's United States Band,Cipolla, Frank. [http://library.buffalo.edu/exhibits/panam/essays/cipolla/cipolla.html "Bands of the Pan-American Exposition"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004204625/http://library.buffalo.edu/exhibits/panam/essays/cipolla/cipolla.html |date=2011-10-04 }}. Retrieved July 14, 2011 but he joined the Duss Band permanently that year. This group was based at Madison Square Garden, at $800 per-month and became its assistant conductor in 1903. This band, led by Frederick Innes, was not as well known, but he was hired as soloist, and the heavy touring schedule and two solos per concert gained him wide exposure. His solos would result in requests for multiple encores.{{cite news|title=Duss at St. Nicholas Rink|date=27 May 1902|page=9|work=The New York Times}} Studying bandleaders Creatore and Vessela, he adopted a wild "lionesque" hairstyle that became his trademark.{{cite news |title= Bushy Haired Kryl and Enchanted Horn|date= 5 November 1909|publisher= Ottawa (Illinois) Free Trader|page= 5|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8RQoAAAAIBAJ&pg=926,4902663&dq=bohumir+kryl&hl=en|access-date=October 23, 2011}} He became acquainted with Joseph Jiran, who owned a Czechoslovak music store in Chicago. With Jiran's encouragement, he formed his own band in 1906 styled as Kryl's Bohemian Band by 1910 with the Cimera brothers.{{cite book|title= A Passion for Polka – Old-Time Ethnic Music in America|last= Greene|first= Victor|year= 1992|publisher= University of California Press|location= Berkeley|isbn= 978-0-520-07584-9|page= [https://archive.org/details/passionforpolkao00gree/page/52 52]|url= https://archive.org/details/passionforpolkao00gree|url-access= registration}} This group worked for Columbia, Victor, and Zonophone, recording works by such composers as Smetana, Dvorak, and Safranek. He earned the distinction of the first Czech musician to record on phonograph cylinders. Kryl's older brother František Xaverský (Frank) Kryl became a band-leader in Chicago.{{Cite web|title=17 Aug 1916, Page 5 - The Waterloo Press at Newspapers.com|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=1183081&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjM3NTI4NTA1LCJpYXQiOjE1OTQxNTcyMzAsImV4cCI6MTU5NDI0MzYzMH0.LGowRYzdTJE_DUsPnCukX9LgYt9ddVsyS9AwOPO8Qk8|access-date=2020-07-07|website=Newspapers.com|language=en}} An even older brother Jan Křtitel (John) was president of the Pilsen Foundry & Iron Works there.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i5cV5b89910C&q=Pilsen+steel+Foundry+%22kryl%22&pg=PA501|title=The Iron Age|date=1921|publisher=David Williams|language=en}}

World War I interrupted his professional career, as he was serving in the U.S. Military. Here he attained the rank of Lieutenant and was given the title "Bandmaster of all the Military Camp Bands in the country". Immediately after the war he was touring with his bands, including many appearances on the Chautauqua circuit. This activity continued until he dismantled the band in 1931. From 1926 to 1929 he would spend winters at his mansion in Tarpon Springs, Florida. He built a bandshell on his property and would give numerous concerts each year.{{cite news |title= Tarpon Springs Landmark on Sale at Auction Today|date= 14 February 1956|publisher= St. Petersburg Times|page= 22|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3xtSAAAAIBAJ&pg=5806,6224643&dq=bohumir+kryl&hl=en|access-date=October 23, 2011}} Through his compositions and band touring, he became a millionaire by the mid-1920s.{{cite news |title= Fantastic Love Troubles of the Music Master's Pretty Daughters|date= 14 November 1926|publisher= The (Wilmington, Delaware) Sunday Morning Star|page= 5|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IAknAAAAIBAJ&pg=916,6735284&dq=bohumir+kryl&hl=en|access-date=October 23, 2011}} He was a victim of an extortion attempt in 1929, but the perpetrator was caught and sentenced to prison.{{cite news |title=Extortionist Given Year Term|newspaper=Cleveland Plain Dealer |date=August 4, 1929 |page=23}} The Great Depression did not affect his personal affluence as much as others, as he was a bank president and a known financier in 1932.{{cite news|title= Love and Money Run a Race, and Both Win|date=28 November 1932|page=7|publisher=The Evening Independent (St. Petersburg, FL)|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zfNPAAAAIBAJ&pg=2162,5451423&dq=bohumir+kryl&hl=en}} He later formed a "Women's Symphony Orchestra" that featured daughter Josephine on violin and daughter Marie on piano. He also formed and conducted the "Kryl Symphony Orchestra", which featured soloists such as Florian ZaBach{{cite news|title=Kryl Symphony to give Concert in Denton Friday|date=2 December 1938|page=1|publisher=The Dallas Morning News}} and vocalist Mary McCormic.{{cite news|title= Outstanding Artists to appear with Kryl Symphony Orchestra|date=4 December 1937|page=7|publisher=The Vancouver Sun|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HjFlAAAAIBAJ&pg=1575,584135&dq=bohumir+kryl&hl=en}} His public musical career ended in the late 1940s, when he had difficulties with the American Federation of Musicians,{{cite news |title= Union Acts to Halt Concert|date= 16 October 1947|publisher= The (Dubuque, Iowa) Telegraph-Herald|page= 1|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sVdkAAAAIBAJ&pg=5432,3232932&dq=bohumir+kryl&hl=en|access-date=October 23, 2011}} because although his musicians were well taken care of, he did not pay scale.{{cite book |title= The bassoon reed manual: Lou Skinner's theories and techniques|last1= Hinkle|first1= Russell|last2= Woodward|first2= William|year= 2000|publisher= Indiana University Press|isbn=978-0-253-21312-9 |page= xxii|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=C5SIH--rNJ0C&q=Bohumir+Kryl&pg=PR22|access-date=August 28, 2011}} His last groups played popular dance music as well as "heavier classics".{{cite news |title= Classical, Popular Numbers to be Given by Girl Orchestra|date= 3 December 1947|publisher= Cape Girardeau Southeast Missourian|page= 10|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=W7MfAAAAIBAJ&pg=6920,493008&dq=bohumir+kryl&hl=en|access-date=October 23, 2011}} Before his musical retirement, he had traveled more than one million miles and soloed more than 12,000 times. His touring included many small towns such as Albany, Oregon and Bend, Oregon, where his orchestra was the first appearance by any symphony orchestra.{{cite news|title= Kryl Concert Well Attended|date=7 December 1937|page=1|publisher=The Bend Bulletin|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YxZPAAAAIBAJ&pg=4835,1584085&dq=bohumir+kryl&hl=en}} Aside from the United States, he toured Canada, Cuba, and Mexico with his bands and orchestras and America and Europe with his daughters. He later formed booking agency and a music bureau. An Honorary Doctor of Letters was given to him in 1957.

File:Grave of Bohumir Kryl (1875–1961) at Masaryk Memorial Mausoleum, Bohemian National Cemetery, Chicago.jpg

Before his death he was President of the Berwyn (Illinois) National Bank, and was also involved in several savings and loans around the Chicago area.{{cite book |last=Rehrig |first=William E. |year=1991|editor1-last=Bierley |editor1-first=Paul E. |title=The Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music|volume=3 |location=Westerville, Ohio |publisher=Integrity Press |page=449|isbn=0-918048-12-5}} He died at his summer home in Wilmington, New York,{{cite news|title=Bohumir Kryl Dies|date=12 August 1961|page=9|publisher=The Dallas Morning News}} on August 7, 1961, leaving an estate valued at over 1 million dollars. He was interred at Masaryk Memorial Mausoleum in Bohemian National Cemetery in Chicago. His widow was Mary Jerabek Kryl,{{cite news|title=Bohumir Kryl Is Dead|date=10 August 1961|page=27|work=The New York Times}} originally of Vienna.

File:BohumirKryl1917PhotoProgram.jpg

Kryl was one of the few musicians who enjoyed successful dual careers as a mainstream musical artist and as an ethnic recording artist. He transitioned from a star soloist with the Sousa outfit to a leader of ethnic Czech music,{{cite book|title= A Passion for Polka – Old-Time Ethnic Music in America|last= Greene|first= Victor|year= 1992|publisher= University of California Press|location= Berkeley|isbn= 978-0-520-07584-9|page= [https://archive.org/details/passionforpolkao00gree/page/79 79]|url= https://archive.org/details/passionforpolkao00gree|url-access= registration}} and made the transition back to the broader national audience. Because of his solo ability, he was branded "the Caruso of the cornet". He was a master of producing pedal tones and the technique of multiphonic effects. He would hold a high note for a duration of one minute.{{cite book |title= Brass Playing Is No Harder than Deep Breathing|last= Gordon|first= Claude|year= 1987|publisher= Carl Fischer, L.L.C.|isbn=978-0-8258-2870-6|page= 7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bjP7voIxeSEC&q=Bohumir+Kryl&pg=PA7 |access-date=August 28, 2011}} As a conductor, he was well regarded, and known for his disuse of a score and baton.

While never a jazz player, his technique was an influence on Louis Armstrong{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}} and Harry James.{{cite book |title= On And Off the Bandstand: A Collection of Essays Related to the Great Bands, the Story of Jazz, And the Years When There Was Non-vocal Popular Music for Adults|last= Bradley|first= Arthur|year= 2005|publisher= iUniverse|isbn=978-0-595-35907-3 |page= 16|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=diQX-NEUz-AC&q=Bohumir+Kryl&pg=PA16}}

Kryl became known as the "robber baron of the music field" because of his business talent and frugality. Upon not receiving his full fee, he was known to cancel concerts with audience members seated.{{cite news |title= Money Is Lacking, So Is Concert|date= 3 December 1937|publisher= The Bend Bulletin|page= 1|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6VtPAAAAIBAJ&pg=4395,1182014&dq=bohumir+kryl&hl=en|access-date=October 23, 2011}}

Kryl's two daughters became established musicians, performing with Bohumir's "Bohemian Band" as early as 1912.{{cite news|title=Ad for Fall Festival of Industry, Texas Cotton Palace, Waco, TX featuring concert by 'Famous Bohemian Band'|date=27 October 1912|page=3|publisher=The Dallas Morning News}} Kryl was insistent that his daughters become professional musicians. He offered each $100,000 if they were to remain single until the age of 30, so that their careers would not be stalled by the distractions of romance. Josephine Kryl (1897–1960), a pupil of Eugène Ysaÿe,{{cite book |title= The Čechs (Bohemians) in America: a study of their national, cultural, political, social, economic and religious life|last= Čapek|first= Thomas|year= 1920|publisher= Houghton Mifflin Company|page= 225|isbn= 9780598682765|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=mRh2AAAAMAAJ&q=Bohumir+Kryl&pg=PA224|access-date=August 28, 2011}} spurned this offer in order to marry Dr. Paul White, director of the Rochester Civic Orchestra, in 1924,{{cite news|title=Marie Kryl Reported to Have Broken Troth|date=11 July 1927|page=D35|work=The New York Times}}{{cite news|title=Mrs. Paul White|date=25 November 1960|page=27|work=The New York Times}} even though Bohumir managed to delay the wedding twice. Marie initially took the same course of action when she became engaged to Greek Count Spiro Hadji-Kyriacos.{{cite news|title=Marie Kryl, Concert Pianist, A Member of Musical Family|date=27 October 1987|page=D35|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/27/obituaries/marie-kryl-concert-pianist-a-member-of-musical-family.html}} However, Marie broke her engagement and was able to collect the full amount from her father. Marie did wed at age 35 to composer and NBC conductor Michel Gusikoff.{{cite news|title=Marie Kryl, Pianist, Is to Wed Violinist|date=18 November 1932|page=22|work=The New York Times}}Marie's age stated as unknown in article, they assumed she had not yet reached age 30, Other articles mistakenly refer to her as being 26 years old, but in fact she was 35, having been born in 1897. See New York Times obituary. Given the number of articles that cite her age as 26, it is likely the story was largely a publicity stunt by Kryl, and her true age was disguised. It is otherwise possible the birth-date found in her obituary is incorrect. Both daughters continued their musical careers after marriage.

A popular Conn cornet model formally named the "Conn-queror" was nicknamed the "Kryl Model."

His band furthered the career of many Czech musicians, including Vlasta Sedlovská, Jaroslav Cimera on trombone, Leo Zelenka-Lerando on harp, František Kuchynka on double-bass, J. Frnkla on French horn, Jaroslav Kocián on violin, and multi-instrumentalist Alois Bohumil Hrabák.

At one point, Kryl was considered to have one of the best private art collections in the United States. Kryl donated 16 paintings to St. Joseph's College.{{cite news|title=$350,000 Painting Recovered by F.B.I|date=26 January 1967|page=28|work=The New York Times}}{{cite news |title= Famed Painting Stolen|date= 1 November 1965|publisher= Spokane Daily Chronicle|page= 2|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=irszAAAAIBAJ&pg=5430,21250&dq=bohumir+kryl&hl=en|access-date=October 23, 2011}}

• King Carnival,{{cite web |url=http://victor.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/talent/detail/44289 |title=Bohumir Kryl (composer)|publisher=University of California Santa Barbara: Encyclopedic Discography of Victor Recordings|access-date=2011-07-17}} published 1909 by Carl Fischer Music
• Hoch Habsburg Marsch
• Josephine Waltz, published 1909 by Carl Fischer

File:Bohumir Kryl Marconi Velvet Tone.jpg

File:Victor Kryl's Bohemian Band.JPG

{{Reflist|group=nb}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.bohumirkryl.com/ The Bohumir Kryl Project]
• [http://www.tinfoil.com/cm-0710.htm#e09005 Tinfoil.com July 2010 cylinder of the month] Kryl performs "O Promise Me"
• [https://www.loc.gov/jukebox/artists/detail/id/3774 Library of Congress: National Jukebox – Bohumir Kryl] 3 Kryl performances available as of July 17, 2011.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110927085903/http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/exhibits/panam/essays/cipolla/kryl.html Photograph]
• {{Gutenberg author |id=3441| name=Bohumir Kryl}}
• {{Internet Archive author |sname=Bohumir Kryl}}
• [https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102189 Bohumir Kryl recordings] at the Discography of American Historical Recordings.

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Category:1875 births

Category:1961 deaths

Category:People from Hořice

Category:People from the Kingdom of Bohemia

Category:Emigrants from Austria-Hungary to the United States

Category:American people of Czech descent

Category:Columbia Records artists

Category:American cornetists

Category:Edison Records artists

Category:Pioneer recording artists

Category:Victor Records artists

Category:Zonophone Records artists

Category:People from Wilmington, New York

Category:United States Army personnel of World War I

Category:Burials at Bohemian National Cemetery (Chicago)