Buddy Christian
Narcisse J. "Buddy" Christian (1895? - 1958?) was an American jazz banjoist, guitarist, and pianist. Christian worked professionally as a pianist starting in the early 1910s. He played in New Orleans with Peter Bocage in 1912-1913 and with King Oliver at Lala's Cafe in the middle of the decade. Around 1920 he moved to New York City, where he began playing banjo in addition to piano. He played with Lucille Hegamin, June Clark, and the Red Onion Jazz Babies, and played in the studio on Clarence Williams's sessions, including Eva Taylor and the Blue Five (with Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet). He can also be heard on Bessie Smith recordings made in 1923. In 1926, he recorded under his own name, and continued working as a session musician for recordings with Charles Matson, New Orleans Willie Jackson, and blues musicians. He and Fred Jennings played in a banjo duo in 1929. After 1930 Christian left active performance. |
Birth and Death Data: Born July 21, 1885 (New Orleans), Died 1958 (New Orleans)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1928
Roles Represented in DAHR: banjo, leader, songwriter, guitar, composer
Notes: Given name: Narcisse Joseph Christian.
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 1-25 of 111 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor | BVE-36069 | 10-in. | 8/27/1926 | Goin' crazy with the blues | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble | instrumentalist, banjo | |
| Victor | BVE-36081 | 10-in. | 8/31/1926 | What have you done to make me feel this way | Mamie Smith | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble | instrumentalist, banjo | |
| Victor | BVE-36895 | 10-in. | 11/2/1926 | My baby doesn't squawk | New Orleans Blue Five | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Victor | BVE-36896 | 10-in. | 11/2/1926 | The king of the Zulus | New Orleans Blue Five | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Victor | BVE-36897 | 10-in. | 11/2/1926 | South Rampart Street blues | New Orleans Blue Five | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, guitar, composer | |
| Victor | BVE-36925 | 10-in. | 11/12/1926 | Blues from the Everglades | Morris' Hot Babies | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
| Victor | BVE-36926 | 10-in. | 11/12/1926 | P. D. Q. blues | Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
| Victor | BVE-36962 | 10-in. | 11/24/1926 | The mess | Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
| Victor | BVE-36963 | 10-in. | 11/24/1926 | The chinch | Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
| Victor | BVE-37572 | 10-in. | 1/26/1927 | Moaning sinner | Monette Moore | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | songwriter | |
| Columbia | 80953 | 10-in. | 4/11/1923 | Oh daddy blues | Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano (takes 1-3); with clarinet, banjo, and piano (takes 4 and 5) | instrumentalist, banjo | |
| Columbia | W140859 | 10-in. | 8/20/1925 | My two timing papa | Clara Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, banjo, and piano | instrumentalist, banjo | |
| Columbia | W140860 | 10-in. | 8/20/1925 | Kitchen mechanic blues | Clara Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, banjo, and piano | instrumentalist, banjo | |
| Columbia | W141046 | 10-in. | 9/25/1925 | Alley rat blues | Clara Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
| Columbia | W141047 | 10-in. | 9/25/1925 | When my sugar walks down the street | Clara Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
| Columbia | W141048 | 10-in. | 9/25/1925 | You never miss your water | Clara Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
| Columbia | W141049 | 10-in. | 9/25/1925 | Disappointed blues | Clara Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, banjo | |
| Columbia | W142588 | 10-in. | 9/3/1926 | Who'll chop your suey when I'm gone | Buddy Christian ; Willie Jackson | Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with banjo | instrumentalist, banjo | |
| Columbia | W142589 | 10-in. | 9/3/1926 | Numbers on the brain | Buddy Christian ; Willie Jackson | Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with banjo | instrumentalist, banjo | |
| Columbia | W142707 | 10-in. | 9/30/1926 | Tain't what you pay to get a thing | Willie Jackson | Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with banjo and piano | instrumentalist, banjo | |
| Columbia | W142708 | 10-in. | 9/30/1926 | Railroad man blues | Willie Jackson | Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with banjo and piano | instrumentalist, banjo | |
| Columbia | W142852 | 10-in. | 10/21/1926 | Dark eyes | Dixie Washboard Band ; Shufflin' Sam | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Columbia | W142853 | 10-in. | 10/21/1926 | Gimme blues | Dixie Washboard Band ; Shufflin' Sam | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Columbia | W144538 | 10-in. | 8/9/1927 | Hobo Bill | Martha Copeland | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with banjo and piano | instrumentalist, banjo | |
| Columbia | W144539 | 10-in. | 8/9/1927 | Nobody rocks me like my baby do | Martha Copeland | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with banjo and piano | instrumentalist, banjo |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Christian, Buddy," accessed October 31, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111966.
Christian, Buddy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111966.
"Christian, Buddy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 31 October 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Christian, Buddy, approximately 1895-approximately 1958 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2002115795
Wikidata: Buddy Christian - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q2927519
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/66653860
MusicBrainz: Buddy Christian - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/38d51e08-67ff-4274-889f-6bd32da9e13b
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