Eddie South, born Edward Otha South on November 27, 1904, in Louisiana, Missouri, was a distinguished American jazz violinist. A child prodigy, South pursued classical music studies in Budapest, Paris, and Chicago. However, due to racial barriers in classical music, he transitioned to jazz, performing in vaudeville and with jazz orchestras led by notable musicians such as Charlie Elgar, Erskine Tate, and Jimmy Wade in the 1920s.

In 1927, South formed his own group, Eddie South and his Alabamians, and toured Europe from 1928 to 1930, where he was influenced by Hungarian and Roma music, integrating these styles into his jazz performances. He recorded with prominent musicians like Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli during his subsequent European visits in the 1930s.

Despite his technical brilliance and versatility in styles such as swing, gypsy, and Latin, South's career in America did not achieve significant commercial success, partly due to racial discrimination. He continued to perform in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, and appeared on radio and television during the 1950s. South's recordings span from the 1920s to the 1950s, with notable albums like "The Distinguished Violin of Eddie South" and "Music for the Birds."

Eddie South passed away on April 25, 1962, in Chicago, leaving behind a legacy as one of the top jazz violinists of the pre-bop era. His work remains celebrated for its lyrical warmth and technical prowess.