Frank Christian (jazz musician)
Frank Joseph Christian (* 3. September 1887 in New Orleans ; † 27. November 1973 ) was an American jazz - cornet .
Frank Christian's brothers Emile Christian and Charles Christian (1886–1964) were also musicians. In his youth he played many instruments (trumpet, clarinet, violin, tuba); from 1908 he worked for Papa Jack Laine . He also played in the band of Tom Brown , Johnny Fischer and in his own band. In 1916 he was actually the first choice to go to Chicago with Johnny Stein , from which the Original Dixieland Jass Band emerged, which made the first jazz recordings in 1917. He also rehearsed with the band but then preferred to stay in New Orleans, where he was busy. Instead, Nick LaRocca was in the first formation of the ODJB.
After the success of the ODJB and other bands from New Orleans in the north, he also went to Chicago, where he played with Johnny Fischer and Anton Lada , and then to New York, where he played with a New Orleans band at Club The Alamo . He turned down an offer from Nick LaRocca - who wanted to get rid of competition - to return to New Orleans for 200 dollars and instead founded the Original New Orleans Jazz Band , with which he recorded in 1918/19. In 1920 he handed over the leadership of the band to Jimmy Durante . After the band ended, he played in vaudeville with Gilda Gray and in theater bands and dance bands. He later returned to New Orleans.
Lexical entry
- John Chilton : Who's who of Jazz , Da Capo 1985
Web links
- Frank Christian at Discogs (English)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Christian, Frank |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Christian, Frank Joseph (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American jazz cornetist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 3, 1887 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | New Orleans |
| DATE OF DEATH | November 27, 1973 |
| Place of death | New Orleans |