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 26-50 of 105 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Columbia	W145560	10-in.	1/21/1928	Kansas City blues	Willie Jackson	Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano	instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	W145561	10-in.	1/21/1928	T. B. blues	Willie Jackson	Male vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano	instrumentalist, guitar
OKeh	S-71306	10-in.	February 1923	E flat blues no. 2	Thomas Morris Past Jazz Masters	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, banjo
OKeh	S-71307	10-in.	February 1923	Original Charleston strut	Thomas Morris Past Jazz Masters	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, banjo
OKeh	S-71531	10-in.	May 1923	Lonesome journey blues	Thomas Morris Past Jazz Masters	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, banjo
OKeh	S-71532	10-in.	May 1923	When the jazz band starts to play	Thomas Morris Past Jazz Masters	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, banjo
OKeh	S-71582	10-in.	June 1923	Just blues that's all	Thomas Morris Past Jazz Masters	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, banjo
OKeh	S-71583	10-in.	June 1923	The bull blues (E flat no. 1 blues)	Thomas Morris Past Jazz Masters	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, banjo
OKeh	S-71739	10-in.	August 1923	Those blues	Thomas Morris Past Jazz Masters	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, banjo
OKeh	S-71740	10-in.	August 1923	Beaucoup de jazz	Thomas Morris Past Jazz Masters	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, banjo
OKeh	S-71910	10-in.	September 1923	Irresistible blues	Eva Taylor	Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio	instrumentalist, banjo
OKeh	S-71911	10-in.	September 1923	Jazzin' babies blues	Clarence Williams’ Trio ; Eva Taylor	Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio	instrumentalist, banjo
OKeh	S-71928	10-in.	October 1923	Tain't nobody's business if I do	Clarence Williams’ Blue Five	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, banjo
OKeh	S-71929	10-in.	October 1923	New Orleans hop scop blues	Clarence Williams’ Blue Five	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, banjo
OKeh	S-71930	10-in.	October 1923	Oh daddy! blues	Clarence Williams’ Blue Five	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, banjo
OKeh	S-71945	10-in.	October 1923	Down on the levee blues	Rosetta Crawford	Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio	instrumentalist, banjo
OKeh	S-71946	10-in.	October 1923	Lonesome woman blues	Rosetta Crawford	Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio	instrumentalist, banjo
OKeh	S-71961	10-in.	10/11/1923	Graveyard dream blues	Clarence Williams' Harmonizing Four ; Sara Martin	Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet	instrumentalist, banjo
OKeh	S-71962	10-in.	10/11/1923	A green gal can't catch on	Clarence Williams' Harmonizing Four ; Sara Martin	Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet	instrumentalist, banjo
OKeh	S-71972	10-in.	10/19/1923	If I let you get away with it once, you'll do it all of the time	Clarence Williams’ Blue Five ; Margaret Johnson	Female vocal solo, with instrumental quintet	instrumentalist, banjo
OKeh	S-71973	10-in.	10/19/1923	E flat blues	Clarence Williams’ Blue Five ; Margaret Johnson	Female vocal solo, with instrumental quintet	instrumentalist, banjo
OKeh	S-72857	10-in.	Sept. 1924	Things done got too thick	Sara Martin	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance quintet	instrumentalist, banjo
OKeh	S-72858	10-in.	Sept. 1924	Eagle Rock me, papa	Clarence Williams’ Blue Five ; Sara Martin	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance quintet	instrumentalist, banjo
OKeh	S-72897	10-in.	Oct. 1924	I can always tell when my man don't want me 'round	Laura Smith	Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio	instrumentalist, banjo
OKeh	S-72898	10-in.	Oct. 1924	Lake Ponchartrain blues	Laura Smith	Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio	instrumentalist, banjo

(Results 26-50 of 105 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Christian, Buddy," accessed April 20, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111966.

Christian, Buddy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 20, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111966.

"Christian, Buddy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 20 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111966

External Sources

Wikipedia: Buddy Christian

Discogs: Buddy Christian

Allmusic: Buddy Christian

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

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

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