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

 

 


 

 

 

Smart Set, Jack Costanzo and the lovely singer Gerrie Woo. Later he formed his own groups for overseas tours. Jerry later moved to Japan where he has lived and worked for several years, fronting both a Jazz and Swing group.

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