Bohumir Kryl (May 3, 1875 – August 7, 1961) was a Czech-American financial executive and art collector who is most famous as a cornetist, bandleader, and pioneer recording artist, for both his solo work and as a leader of popular and Bohemian bands.

[3][6] He also performed as an aerialist acrobat with the Rentz Circus in Germany,[7] but an accident in 1886 ended this line of work.

Bohumir followed Saunders to Indianapolis[1] and was soon employed, along with his brother,[10] as a sculptor by General Lew Wallace and also working on the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument.

[9] This band, led by Frederick Innes, was not as well known, but he was hired as soloist, and the heavy touring schedule and two solos per concert gained him wide exposure.

[13] Studying bandleaders Creatore and Vessela, he adopted a wild "lionesque" hairstyle that became his trademark.

[16] An even older brother Jan Křtitel (John) was president of the Pilsen Foundry & Iron Works there.

[3] Here he attained the rank of Lieutenant and was given the title "Bandmaster of all the Military Camp Bands in the country".

He also formed and conducted the "Kryl Symphony Orchestra", which featured soloists such as Florian ZaBach[22] and vocalist Mary McCormic.

[27] Aside from the United States, he toured Canada, Cuba, and Mexico with his bands and orchestras[1] and America and Europe with his daughters.

[1] Before his death he was President of the Berwyn (Illinois) National Bank, and was also involved in several savings and loans around the Chicago area.

[28] He died at his summer home in Wilmington, New York,[29] on August 7, 1961, leaving an estate valued at over 1 million dollars.

[1] While never a jazz player, his technique was an influence on Louis Armstrong[citation needed] and Harry James.

[19] Josephine Kryl (1897–1960), a pupil of Eugène Ysaÿe,[36] spurned this offer in order to marry Dr. Paul White, director of the Rochester Civic Orchestra, in 1924,[37][38] even though Bohumir managed to delay the wedding twice.

"[1] His band furthered the career of many Czech musicians, including Vlasta Sedlovská, Jaroslav Cimera on trombone, Leo Zelenka-Lerando on harp, František Kuchynka on double-bass, J. Frnkla on French horn, Jaroslav Kocián on violin, and multi-instrumentalist Alois Bohumil Hrabák.