Felix Arndt

Felix Arndt (May 20, 1889 – October 16, 1918) was an American pianist and composer of popular music. His mother was the Countess Fevrier, related to Napoleon III. His father, Hugo Arndt, was Swiss-born.

Educated in New York (his music teachers included Carl Lachmund), Arndt composed songs for the famous vaudeville team of Jack Norworth and Nora Bayes, and recorded over 3000 piano rolls for Duo-Art and QRS Records. He died in New York City from the "Spanish flu" influenza. Arndt is interred at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Tarrytown, NY.

Arndt is best remembered for his 1915 composition "Nola," written as an engagement gift to his fiancée (and later wife), Nola Locke. It is sometimes considered to be the first example of the novelty piano or "novelty ragtime" genre, published by Sam Fox Publishing Company. It was the signature theme of the Vincent Lopez orchestra, and a top ten hit for Les Paul in 1950. A vocal recording by Billy Williams, featuring lyrics by Sunny Skylar, became a minor hit in 1959.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 20, 1889 (New York City), Died October 16, 1918 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1911 - 1951

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, piano, celeste, arranger

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 100 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-15144 10-in. 8/24/1914 Love in June Felix Arndt Piano solo composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-15161 10-in. 8/31/1914 Go to it! Van Eps Trio Instrumental trio instrumentalist, piano  
Victor C-15162 12-in. 8/31/1914 Kakūda Van Eps Trio Instrumental trio composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-15163 10-in. 8/31/1914 Azalea waltz Dr. Clarence J. Penney Mandolin solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-15375 10-in. 11/10/1914 Scotch songs Felix Arndt Celeste solo instrumentalist, celeste  
Victor B-15376 10-in. 11/10/1914 Home, sweet home Felix Arndt Celeste solo instrumentalist, celeste  
Victor B-15377 10-in. 11/10/1914 Entr'acte gavotte Dr. Clarence J. Penney Mandolin solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-15432 10-in. 11/25/1914 Old folks at home Felix Arndt Celeste solo instrumentalist, celeste  
Victor B-15433 10-in. 11/25/1914 Old black Joe Felix Arndt Celeste solo instrumentalist, celeste  
Victor B-15434 10-in. 11/25/1914 When you and I were young, Maggie Felix Arndt Celeste solo instrumentalist, celeste  
Victor B-15435 10-in. 11/25/1914 Silver threads among the gold Felix Arndt Celeste solo instrumentalist, celeste  
Victor B-15439 10-in. 11/30/1914 Drink to me only with thine eyes Felix Arndt Celeste solo instrumentalist, celeste  
Victor B-15440 10-in. 11/30/1914 To a wild rose Felix Arndt Celeste solo instrumentalist, celeste  
Victor B-15441 10-in. 11/30/1914 My old Kentucky home Felix Arndt Celeste solo instrumentalist, celeste  
Victor B-15558 10-in. 12/31/1914 Nearer, my God, to Thee Felix Arndt Celeste solo instrumentalist, celeste  
Victor B-15559 10-in. 12/31/1914 Silent night, holy night Felix Arndt Celeste solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-15632 10-in. 1/27/1915 The original fox trot Van Eps Trio Instrumental trio instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-15633 10-in. 1/27/1915 I wonder what will William Tell Van Eps Trio Instrumental trio instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-15634 10-in. 1/27/1915 At an old trysting place Felix Arndt Celeste solo instrumentalist, celeste  
Victor B-15635 10-in. 1/27/1915 Whispering hope Felix Arndt Celeste solo instrumentalist, celeste  
Victor B-17399 10-in. 3/30/1916 Nola Felix Arndt Piano solo composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-17400 10-in. 3/30/1916 An operatic nightmare Felix Arndt Piano solo arranger, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-19200 10-in. 2/19/1917 Marionette Felix Arndt Piano solo composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-19238 10-in. 3/5/1917 Humoresque Felix Arndt Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-19290 10-in. 3/19/1917 Valse bleue Felix Arndt Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 26-50 of 100 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Arndt, Felix," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103634.

Arndt, Felix. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103634.

"Arndt, Felix." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103634

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