Eddie Condon

Eddie Condon, born Albert Edwin Condon in 1905, was a pioneering American jazz banjoist, guitarist, and bandleader, renowned for his significant contributions to Chicago-style jazz. A major figure in the 1940s jazz scene, Condon was not just a brilliant musician but also a talented composer and entrepreneur. His expert rhythm playing, rooted in his early banjo days, made him one of the most influential jazz guitarists of the twentieth century. Condon's legacy extends beyond his music; he was a major propagandist for freewheeling Chicago jazz and ran three successive jazz venues in New York from 1945. Though he took few guitar solos and wrote only a couple of songs, his impact on jazz is undeniable. Condon passed away in 1973, leaving behind a rich musical heritage that continues to inspire.