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.

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 aged 29 during the Spanish flu pandemic.

Arndt is best remembered for his 1915 composition "Nola," written as an engagement gift to his fiancee (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.

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

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1911 - 1951

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 97 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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 97 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Arndt, Felix," accessed April 11, 2021, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103634.

Arndt, Felix. (2021). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 11, 2021, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103634.

"Arndt, Felix." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2021. Web. 11 April 2021.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

External Sources

Wikipedia: Felix Arndt

Discogs: Arndt, Felix

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Arndt, Felix, 1889-1918 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n82063875

Wikidata: Felix Arndt - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q777367

VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/106990277/

MusicBrainz: Arndt, Felix, 1889-1918 - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/9f3de31e-10bd-404e-a449-a9ee575e0741

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