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 Such
talent, coupled with an affable personality and sincere respect
for others possessing a similar musical bent, meant that Cy
was known (and loved) throughout the café society of
the thirties, forties, fifties, and sixties.
Before settling down after the war years
at the New York City Drake Hotel's Drake Room (with which his
name became synonymous), Cy played at dozens of intimate rooms
across the country. While Cy's primary performance venue
was always New York, he performed in San Francisco, Cape Cod,
Colorado, and Minneapolis, among other locales; and he was
heard on radio programs across the country. And, as accompanist
in both live and recorded contexts for such great performers
as Greta Keller, Lee Wiley, and Mabel Mercer, Cy evinced a
nuanced style which beautifully complemented his partner's
talents.
Born on 16 September 1915,
Cy had the earmarks of a child prodigy, graduating with honors
at age fifteen from the Minneapolis, Minnesota West High School. He
then proceeded through a year of college at the University
of Minnesota. After initially pursuing the cello, Cy's
first professional performance, as a classically‑trained
pianist, was at age fifteen. When he thereafter elected
to try his hand as a musician in New York City during the Spring
of 1934, he initially obtained a coaching job with a singer
through Johnny Green, and then, during that Summer, played
piano on the New York to Boston night boat cruise.
In the Fall, Cy transferred to New York
University; but two weeks after enrollment, Eddie Lane heard
Cy perform on his fifteen‑minute solo radio show, and
asked him to join the Eddie Lane Orchestra for an engagement
at the DeWitt Clinton Hotel in Albany, New York. So ended
Cy's formal education and began a four-year association. George T. Simon,
of Metronome magazine, in reviewing Eddie Lane's orchestra
in the April, 1935 issue, stated: "Eddie Lane uncovered
a nice pianist in Cy Walter ... coming from the Shadowbox
in Pittsburgh (NBC), the rest of the band sounded like any
average, well‑rehearsed unit".
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