Darius de Haas grew up in a family (immediate and extended) surrounded by music, theater, and art. His father is bassist Eddie de Haas, a musician in the classic jazz tradition made popular by such innovators as Oscar Pettiford and Ray Brown. Eddie was born in 1930 in Bandoeng on the island of Java, Indonesia, and moved to Amsterdam during the war. He started his musical career on the ukulele, and later, along with friend and band leader Rob Pronk, graduated to the upright bass. Coming to the US in the 1950's, de Haas soon became a valued sideman in many notable artists' rhythm sections including Chet Baker, Roy Haynes, Gene Krupa, Martial Solal, Miles Davis, Toshiko Akeyoshi, Blossom Dearie, and in the 1960's, Peter, Paul & Mary.
Eddie met Darius' mother, Geraldine Bey, in the early 1960's when she was part of the trio Andy and the Bey Sisters. Gerry, born 1935 in Newark NJ, sang in all-state choirs in high school and made her recording debut singing duets with her sister, Salome (a winner of the famed Apollo Contest). The two sisters joined forces with their baby brother, Andy, a gifted childhood prodigy on the piano and a singer with ability well beyond his years. Andy and the Bey Sisters was born, and they sang at choice New York hot spots, toured clubs and theaters in Europe and were represented by famed impresario, George Wein. The group stayed intact until 1966. By this time, Gerry, having married Eddie in 1962, had a baby girl, Aisha. In 1968, the young family moved to Chicago, where Darius was born in September.
Aisha and Darius were destined to follow in their parents' footsteps. Aisha sang with choirs throughout school, as did Darius, who also studied drama. Both siblings became entrenched in the thriving Chicago theater scene, while Aisha became a favorite singer in local clubs. Eventually, in 1990, Darius came to New York to attend AMDA, and to continue his theater and music career. Aisha soon followed Darius to New York, and she added being a vocalist with Oleta Adams to her long list of achievements.
Still in Chicago, Eddie is a thriving musician and Geraldine has become a producer of arts festivals, the main one being Jazz Unites, Inc. of which she is founder and president. Her brother, Andy Bey, is considered one of the finest musicians of his generation with many recordings and awards to his credit. Salome Bey added theater to her resume ("Your Arms too Short to Box With God," and "Dude"), and in her adopted home of Toronto, Canada, she is considered a music legend. Various cousins of Darius' are "in the business:" singers, songwriters, actors, sculptors, and authors. These talented family members include Salome's children, Tuku and Saidah Matthews, as well as Ronnell Bey, Marvin Jefferson, and Cara Page.
Darius continues to live in Manhattan, where his skills as an actor and singer, combined with a family history full of talent, have brought him many diverse projects. He received the Obie award for his portrayal of the title character in Diedre Murray and Cornelius Eady's "Running Man," and his debut CD, "Day Dream" received the 2003 Bistro award for outstanding achievement.
