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 76-100 of 100 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 39574 10-in. 9/25/1914 Soup to nuts Van Eps Banjo Orchestra Banjo orchestra composer  
Columbia W140610 10-in. 5/16/1925 Nola Charles Bourne ; Phil Ellis Piano duet composer  
Columbia W140777 10-in. 7/21/1925 Nola Walter Feldkamp ; Alan Moran Piano duet composer  
Columbia W141519 10-in. 1/19/1926 Nola Hotel Hollenden Orchestra ; Carl Rupp Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia W143148 10-in. 11/24/1926 Nola Carson Robison Whistling solo, with piano composer  
Columbia W148028 10-in. 3/7/1929 Nola Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh S-70555 10-in. Mar. 1922 Nola Hotel Pennsylvania Orchestra ; Vincent Lopez Jazz/dance band, with piano solo composer  
OKeh W80207 10-in. 11/11/1926 Nola Carson Robison Whistling solo, with piano composer  
Brunswick 8149 10-in. approximately May 1922 Nobody loves me now Benny Krueger’s Orchestra ; Margaret Young Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick 7700-7702 10-in. approximately Mar. 1922 Nola Carl Fenton’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick 9977-9979 10-in. 2/23/1923 Nola Fredric Fradkin Violin solo, with piano composer  
Brunswick 10148-10150 10-in. 3/19/1923 Nola Fredric Fradkin Violin solo, with piano composer  
Brunswick E27306 10-in. 4/9/1928 Nola Fredric Fradkin Violin solo, with piano composer  
Brunswick E24455-E24457 10-in. 9/15/1927 Nola Victor Arden ; Phil Ohman Piano duet composer  
Brunswick E25330-E25331 10-in. 11/29/1927 Nola Victor Arden ; Phil Ohman Piano duet composer  
Brunswick C1862 10-in. 4/2/1928 Nola Sid Williams Piano solo composer  
Edison 3482 10-in. between 12/21/1914 and 12/29/1914 Kakuda Van Eps Banjo Orchestra Banjo orchestra composer  
Edison 6211 10-in. 6/13/1918 Clover club Imperial Marimba Band Marimba band composer  
Edison 8386 10-in. 3/17/1922 Nola Vincent Lopez Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 11189 10-in. 9/10/1926 Nola Ernie Anderson ; Jacob Louis Merkur Banjo solo, with piano composer  
Edison 11190 10-in. 9/10/1926 Marionette Ernie Anderson ; Jacob Louis Merkur Banjo solo, with piano composer  
Edison 11466 10-in. 1/25/1927 Nola Carson Robison Whistling solo composer  
Edison 11828 10-in. 8/1/1927 Nola Murray Kellner Dinner Music Ensemble Instrumental ensemble composer  
Columbia (U.K.) CA15885 10-in. between June and October 1936 Nola Walter Landauer ; Maryan Rawicz Piano duet composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WL429 10-in. 5/6/1927 Nola Clément Doucet Piano solo composer  
(Results 76-100 of 100 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Arndt, Felix," accessed November 25, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103634.

Arndt, Felix. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103634.

"Arndt, Felix." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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