Viola player born in New York.

A musical prodigy from an young age, Hyams attended the Juilliard School and later played with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. He first joined the Champagne Music Makers in 1961, when the string section consisted of six violinists, one cellist and and a viola, and was a mainstay until 1982 when the Welk show ended its run on television. He also performed as a session musician, supporting artists such as Frank Zappa, Harry Nilsson and Bobby Darin.

He was a member of the Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra around 1967 when Frank Zappa recorded the orchestral parts for Lumpy Gravy. As a concert musician, he was in constant demand to play in several symphony orchestras both in the United States and in Europe.

He continues to live and perform in the Los Angeles area.