Also naming St. Albans Street between 7th and 8th Streets as "Eddie Lang Way".

WHEREAS, Eddie Lang

born Salvatore Massaro the son of an Italian American instrument maker

is known as the father of the jazz guitar; and

WHEREAS, Eddie Lang born in Philadelphia on October 25, 1902

pioneered the use of string instruments in jazz along with his childhood friend

Giuseppe

“Joe” Venuti throughout the 1920s and 1930s

; and

WHEREAS, The first instrument that Eddie learned to play was the violin that he was given when he was a mere 7 years old. He abandoned the violin for the banjo in 1920 and worked with

Charlie Kerr

and his orchestra around the Philadelphia area. He also worked with such jazz greats as Bert Estlow, Vic D'Ippolito, and

Billy Lustig

and his Scranton Siren Orchestra; and

WHEREAS,

A few years later Eddie started playing the guitar and became a member of the

Mound City Blue Blowers

led by

Red McKenzie

where he gave the guitar a place of prominence that it had never before known as a solo instrument. He recorded duets with guitarists

Lonnie Johnson

and

Carl Kress

and with jazz violinist

Joe Venuti

. Eddie also played rhythm guitar in the big bands of

Paul Whiteman

and

Bing Crosby

; and

WHEREAS,

Tragically Eddie died at the very young age of 30 in 1933 when he never awoke from routine tonsillectomy surgery at Park West Hospital in Manhattan. In honor of Eddie Lang and his tremendous influence and contributions to music in such a short lifetime

; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That St. Albans Street between 7th and 8th Streets is also named in honor of Eddie Lang.

End