Sid Page

Funny thing, the music business. A glance at the discography of this artist should create the impression that he is one of the most famous violinists in the world. After all, the list of records he has played on is longer than some essays. Audiences at countless blockbuster films have had his violin in their ear. Yet we have this comment, in a rave review of a soundtrack he participated on for a film that wasn't such a hit, the 1997 Nick Nolte vehicle Afterglow. Waxing enthusiastically over the jazzy Mark Isham soundtrack featuring the likes of pianist Geri Allen, the critic reports "Violinist Sid Page is an unknown..." No, he didn't amass all those recording credits since 1997. Page is the perfect example of the many types of musicians who, although reaching the top echelon of their professional world, remain almost completely unknown not only to the general public, but to serious, inquisitive music listeners as well. His goal seems to be one of the best or at least busiest collaborators in history. In a recording career that basically kicked off in the late '60s, there seems to be no evidence in four decades of any kind of project released under his own name. If he has led any bands on his own, this activity has been extremely sideline and has left very little documentation in the media or Internet. It is difficult to determine where he was born and he has done a minimum of interviews over the years. One of his off and on employers over the years, West Coast goofball Dan Hicks, maintains an extensive website of his own, but doesn't provide any background information on any of his regular sidemen. It was in the outfit Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks that some music listeners were introduced to the playing of Page. Particularly effective was the band's appearance on a segment...