Biography
Philip d'Arcy
American multi-instrumentalist, born in 1909, known best for his work as one of the most prominent sidemen in Fred Hall's Sugar Babies and the other groups led by Fred Hall.
D'Arcy's main instrument was the violin, which he played in a style very similar to that of a country fiddle, but he also played the harmonica and piano, which are heard on many Fred Hall recordings. Additionally, d'Arcy occasionally whistled on recordings, using his own improvizational genius to articulate the whistle. D'Arcy's red-hot piano, violin, and harmonica playing feature on nearly all Sugar Babies recordings as well as most of those by Hall's bands on other labels, and they usually comprise at least half of the instrumental solo time during these recordings (if not half of all playing time per record).
D'Arcy joined Fred Hall's Sugar Babies in late 1927. He remained as a member of Fred Hall's groups during their hillbilly days on radio throughout the 1930s.
D'Arcy's main instrument was the violin, which he played in a style very similar to that of a country fiddle, but he also played the harmonica and piano, which are heard on many Fred Hall recordings. Additionally, d'Arcy occasionally whistled on recordings, using his own improvizational genius to articulate the whistle. D'Arcy's red-hot piano, violin, and harmonica playing feature on nearly all Sugar Babies recordings as well as most of those by Hall's bands on other labels, and they usually comprise at least half of the instrumental solo time during these recordings (if not half of all playing time per record).
D'Arcy joined Fred Hall's Sugar Babies in late 1927. He remained as a member of Fred Hall's groups during their hillbilly days on radio throughout the 1930s.