Shony Alex Braun (born Sándor Braun; Cristuru-Secuiesc, Romania, July 14, 1924[1]– Los Angeles, California, October 4, 2002)[2] was a Romanian-born Hungarian Jewish violinist, Holocaust survivor, classical composer and actor. He played bit parts in the TV shows Perry Mason, WKRP in Cincinnati and the film '68.[3] He died of pneumonia on October 4, 2002, aged 78.[4][5]
Early life
editSándor Braun, nicknamed "Sanyi" or "Shony", was fourth of six children. He was also known by his Hebrew name, Yitzhak. He was a violin prodigy. He and his family were sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp. He was moved to several camps and ended up in Dachau, where he would regularly play the violin for SS officers in exchange for extra food rations.[6]
After the Holocaust he married Shari Mendelovitz, also a Holocaust survivor, and resumed his violin studies. He emigrated to the United States in 1950.[7] He composed the "Symphony of the Holocaust" and performed it with a live orchestra in 1992 in Dayton, Ohio. He recorded 11 albums of continental and Gypsy music. Many of the compositions were his original works.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ "Shony Alex Braun (1924-2002) - Find a Grave..." findagrave.com. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
- ^ "SANDOR (SHONY) ALEX BRAUN". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
- ^ "Shony Alex Braun profile". imdb.com. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ Claire Vereczky Malis. "Services held for local violinist". The Acorn. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17.
- ^ Obituary, latimes.com. October 9, 2002.
- ^ Brown, Kellie D. (2020). The sound of hope: Music as solace resistance and salvation during the holocaust and world war II. McFarland. p. 40. ISBN 978-1-4766-7056-0.
- ^ Vanderknyff, Rick (1986-12-05), "Gypsy-inspired : Holocaust Survivor To Perform", Los Angeles Times
Sources
edit- Shony Alex Braun with Emily Cavins, My Heart is a Violin: the Biography of Renowned Violinist and Holocaust Survivor, Shony Alex Braun, Author House, 2002