Jerry
Vicars is the leader, guitarist
and musical arranger for the
Hip Swingers. Jerry
began playing guitar at age
14 in Ohio. He played in the
high school dance band and, at
16, formed his own band with
3 friends. They were popular
locally playing in the Akron,
Youngstown, and Cleveland area.
After graduating from high school,
they disbanded and Jerry moved
to Los Angeles. In
L.A., he took formal lessons
with John Collins, who
had been the guitarist for Nat “King” Cole.
In Los Angeles, Jerry played
with Blues, Jazz, and show
groups, working with Johnny
Mathis, the Platters, The
Shirelles, Freda Payne,
Sue Byers and some of the best
sax players on the planet-- big
Jay McNeely, Matt Constantine
and Joe Polen. He also had his
own groups and did studio sessions.
He then started traveling overseas
on tour, working with such show
groups as The