Soon after graduating from college in Ohio with a Bachelor's Degree in music, pianist and bandleader Edgar Hayes (1904 - 1979) spent the latter part of the 1920's playing in various hotel orchestras and touring with smaller groups.
In 1931 he joined the Mills Blue Ribbon Band, staying with the group for several years as it passed into the leadership of Lucky Millinder.
Hayes formed his own orchestra in 1937, which he led until 1941.
He led quartets through the rest of the '40's, and played mostly solo in piano lounges after that.
Listen to:
Edgar Hayes and his Orchestra -
Sophisticated Swing
(Decca 78, 1938)
(click for audio)
Listen to:
Edgar Hayes and his Orchestra - Fugitive From A Harem
(Decca 78, 1938)
(click for audio)
See also: Hayes bio page at Solid! The encyclopedia of big band, lounge, classic jazz and space-age sounds
Hayes formed his own orchestra in 1937, which he led until 1941. 
