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 1-25 of 100 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	B-11406	10-in.	12/20/1911	When Sunday rolls around	"That Girl" Quartet	Female vocal quartet, with orchestra	composer
Victor	B-12237	10-in.	7/26/1912	Campin' on de old Suwanee	Van Eps Trio	Instrumental trio	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	B-12238	10-in.	7/26/1912	Florida rag	Van Eps Trio	Instrumental trio	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	B-12239	10-in.	7/26/1912	Persiflage	Fred Van Eps	Banjo solo, with piano	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	B-12300	10-in.	8/8/1912	The smiler	Felix Arndt	Piano solo	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	B-12301	10-in.	8/8/1912	Porto Rico	Felix Arndt	Piano solo	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	B-12302	10-in.	8/8/1912	Sumurun girl	Felix Arndt	Piano solo	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	B-12303	10-in.	8/8/1912	The merry-go-round	Felix Arndt	Piano solo	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	B-12304	10-in.	8/8/1912	The haunting rag	Felix Arndt	Piano solo	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	B-14419	10-in.	2/5/1914	Thanks for the lobster	Fred Van Eps	Banjo solo, with piano, drum, and traps (take 1); with piano and drums (take 2)	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	B-14420	10-in.	2/5/1914	Notoriety rag	Van Eps Trio	Instrumental trio	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	B-14493	10-in.	2/20/1914	Hacienda	Felix Arndt	Piano solo	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	B-14494	10-in.	2/20/1914	Hesitation waltz	Felix Arndt	Piano solo	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	B-14502	10-in.	2/20/1914	From soup to nuts	Felix Arndt	Piano solo	composer, instrumentalist, piano
Victor	B-14503	10-in.	2/20/1914	Humoresque rag	Felix Arndt	Piano solo	arranger, instrumentalist, piano
Victor	B-14541	10-in.	3/6/1914	Desecration rag (A classic nightmare)	Felix Arndt	Piano solo	arranger, instrumentalist, piano
Victor	B-14587	10-in.	3/19/1914	Too much ginger	Van Eps Trio	Instrumental trio	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	B-14588	10-in.	3/19/1914	The smiler rag medley	Van Eps Trio	Instrumental trio	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	B-14589	10-in.	3/19/1914	Chinese picnic	Van Eps Trio	Instrumental trio	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	C-15093	12-in.	9/4/1914	Old folks rag	Van Eps Trio	Instrumental trio	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	B-15093	10-in.	7/29/1914	Old folks rag	Van Eps Trio	Instrumental trio	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	B-15094	10-in.	7/29/1914	Too much trouble	Van Eps Trio	Instrumental trio	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	B-15141	10-in.	8/24/1914	Toots	Dr. Clarence J. Penney	Mandolin solo, with piano	composer, instrumentalist, piano
Victor	B-15142	10-in.	8/24/1914	Le trousseau	Dr. Clarence J. Penney	Mandolin solo, with piano	instrumentalist, piano
Victor	B-15143	10-in.	8/24/1914	Indianola patrol	Dr. Clarence J. Penney	Mandolin solo, with piano	instrumentalist, piano

(Results 1-25 of 100 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Arndt, Felix," accessed October 31, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103634.

Arndt, Felix. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103634.

"Arndt, Felix." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 31 October 2024.