Dajos Béla - Biography

Internationally successful violinist (1897 Kiev, then Russia-1978 La Falda, Argentina).
(Bio)

Dajos Béla (or Bela Dajos) was born as Leon Golzmann on December 19, 1897 in Kiev, Russia (now Ukraine), and died on December 5, 1978 in La Falda, Argentina.
Dajos Béla was a Russian violinist and dance band leader. His father was of Russian origin and his mother had Hungarian roots. As a young boy he learned to play the violin. He served in the Russian army during the First World War. After the war he studied music with Professor Michail Press in Moscow, then he moved to Berlin for further musical studies with Professor Issay Barmas. His favorite instrument was the violin.

To make some money, Dajos Béla performed in Berlin at pubs or other small venues. Then he signed a contract with the Carl Lindström Record Company with its labels ODEON, BEKA and PARLOPHON. At that time it was helpful for a musician who wanted to sell a lot of records to have a Hungarian or Romanian name. So he chose the name Dajos Béla. Odeon Records promoted him as Dajos Béla with his Artist Orchestra (Dajos Béla und sein Künstler-Orchester). He played dance music and some classical tunes, too. He was very popular during the 1920 and millions of copies of his records sold worldwide.

Dajos Béla also played some jazz, but they were released under pseudonyms, such as: Clive Williams Jazzband, The Odeon Five, or Mac´s Jazz Orchestra. These records are now very collectible.

In the spring of 1933, Dajos Béla left Germany because of his Jewish origins and beliefs. He performed live concerts in Holland, France, and London. After that, he left Europe and returned to Germany only in the 1970s. He lived in Olivos in Buenos Aires, where he played live in coffee houses and bars. Dajos Béla organized employment contracts especially for other fellow Jewish musicians, and he saved their lives. At the age of 80, he was invited back to Germany to be honored. He is buried in the Jewish cemetery La Tablada in Buenos Aires.

« Back to Discography

Edit This Biography : Biography Credits