Bud Averill

Throughout his life, Cyrus Edward Averill, Jr. was involved with vocal music, song-writing and entertainment. A native of Elberton, WA, he lived in Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and settled in Los Angeles in the 1930s. In concerts and vaudeville, he sang tenor (later baritone) solos, with orchestras. In 1917 he left his job as a clerk for the Northern Pacific Railway Co. in Rathdrum, Idaho, to join the U.S. Navy, fighting in France and becoming an aviator. During his time in the Navy he performed in a quartet consisting of E.C. Swann, J.L. Sether and Dudley Mecum, with whom he collaborated on writing songs. Tragically, within a short period his first wife, Willie Shaw died in 1917, within 3 months of their wedding day, and his mother lost her life at sea in 1921, off the coast of Eureka, California. After returning from the War, Averill worked in vaudeville in Salt Lake City for many years, singing at the Pine Lake Club, and was once advertised as "Salt Lake's Best-Known Entertainer." In 1920 he married Virginia Nelson (1895-1977), with whom he formed a sextet in Salt Lake City called The Melody Bugs ("a dancing harmony brainstorm"), popular with Elks Club and other lodges. In 1919 he wrote a song with Dudley Mecum, "The World's Great War Is Won!" with a French translation by Averill. His most successful song was "Saxophone Man" (1920), also written with Mecum. He attempted a political statement when he wrote "Taps For The Japs," issued on a Decca record during World War II. Throughout the decade he performed mostly in Salt Lake City Utah and Casper, Wyoming, where he led the Powder River Band. He was eventually recruited and hired by the Fanchon & Marco Vaudeville Circuit. In 1930 he lived in Los Angeles and developed acts for Fanchon and Marco, playing theatres in many cities. During this time he developed an interest in the Theremin, a modern electronic musical instrument developed in Russia by Leon Theremin. He was one of the few musicians in the country who specialized in this ethereal instrument, controlled without contact from the player. In 1932, with his RCA-Victor Theremin, he returned to Salt Lake City's Old Mill Dancing Club. With dance orchestras he was billed as singer and Theremin specialist ("Music That Is Different"). In 1933 Averill opened his own Los Angeles nightclub, Averill's Paradise Gardens (674 South Vermont Street), featuring sandwiches, music, and newly-legalized alcoholic beverages. His matchbooks featured an illustration of himself playing the Theremin. At some point the name of the establishment was changed to Bud Averill's Airport, which may have attracted off-duty pilots during the War. He advertised it as "Prop and Wing Club For The Flying Fraternity." He also owned a restaurant in Santa Monica (2nd and Broadway) called Bud Averill's Carmel Gardens. In 1936 his wife gave birth to a son, John Nelson Averill (1936-2005), who became known as Jack. Between 1936-1938 Averill had daily afternoon and evening radio broadcasts, and also performed in Boos Brothers Beer Garden on Hill Street. In 1941 Averill recorded a 3-disc record set of Theremin music, devoted entirely to the songs of Stephen Collins Foster. Issued by Tech-Art Records, he was accompanied by Bob Thompson on the Hammond Organ. Interest in Theremin music was revived in 1945 when composer Miklós Rózsa used the instrument in his scores for two films, Spellbound (1945) and The Lost Weekend (1945). He also recorded a comedy song, "Two Old Maids In A Folding Bed" for the Hollywood Hot Shots label. A mish-mosh of popular cliches, this may be the only commercial recording of his singing. It was reported that Averill played some bit parts in movies, such as The Devil's Mask (1946) (museum guard) and Her Majesty, Love (1931). More than one newspaper article claims he doubled for Paul Whiteman for the 1930 film "King of Jazz," but this must have been stand-in work. In 1947 he made national news when he sued the National Broadcasting Company for not allowing his song, "Union Pacific Streamliner" to be played on the radio as a popular song. The network claimed it was strictly a "free commercial" for the railway, and therefore ineligible for popular song status. He cited Morey Amsterdam's "Rum and Coca-Cola" as an example of a song accepted in the category he desired. The outcome of the suit is unknown. Still a Theremin specialist, Averill traveled to Salt Lake City and Casper, Wyoming for appearances in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Just two months prior to his death he was a guest on the Los Angeles television show, "Rowe's Get Together" (May 9, 1956). He died in Los Angeles July 20, 1956. The cause of death was cirrhosis of the liver. At the time of his death he was a member of the Latter Day Saints Church, in charge of drama activities in the southern California stakes. Funeral services were held in the Latter Day Saints Ward Chapel in Mar Vista. His gravesite at Inglenook Park Cemetery is marked by a bronze marker, furnished by the U.S. Navy.