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 76-100 of 105 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
OKeh 73574 10-in. Aug. 1925 I am leaving you Sippie Wallace Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 73575 10-in. Aug. 1925 I'm sorry for it now Sippie Wallace Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 73576 10-in. Aug. 1925 Suitcase blues Sippie Wallace Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 73577 10-in. Aug. 1925 I must have it Sippie Wallace Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 73686 10-in. 10/6/1925 Just wait 'til you see my baby do the Charleston Clarence Williams’ Blue Five ; Eva Taylor Jazz/dance sextet, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 73687 10-in. 10/6/1925 Living high (Sometimes) Clarence Williams’ Blue Five ; Eva Taylor Jazz/dance sextet, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 73694 10-in. 10/8/1925 Coal cart blues Clarence Williams’ Blue Five ; Eva Taylor Instrumental sextet, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 73695 10-in. 10/8/1925 Santa Claus blues Clarence Williams’ Blue Five ; Eva Taylor Instrumental sextet, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 73721 10-in. 10/16/1925 Santa Claus blues Clarence Williams’ Trio Female vocal solo, with male vocal duet and instrumental trio instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 73738 10-in. 10/26/1925 Squeeze me Clarence Williams’ Blue Five ; Eva Taylor Instrumental sextet, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 73739 10-in. 10/26/1925 You can't shush Katie (The gabbiest girl in town) Eva Taylor Female vocal solo, with instrumental sextet instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 73906 10-in. Jan. 1926 Oh me! Oh my! blues Mary Mack Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 73907 10-in. Jan. 1926 You gotta quit your low down ways Billy Mack ; Mary Mack Female-male vocal duet, with jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 73908 10-in. Jan. 1926 Fetch it when you come Billy Mack ; Mary Mack Female-male vocal duet, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 73909 10-in. Jan. 1926 How could my good man turn his back on me now Clarence Williams’ Trio ; Mary Mack Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 73911 10-in. Jan. 1926 You don't want much Clarence Williams’ Trio ; Billy Mack ; Mary Mack Female-male vocal duet, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 74057 10-in. Mar. 1926 Sunset blues Buddy Christian's Creole Five ; Louise Vant Jazz/dance ensemble, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo, leader, songwriter  
OKeh 74058 10-in. Mar. 1926 Texas mule stomp Buddy Christian's Creole Five ; Louise Vant Jazz/dance ensemble, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, banjo, leader, songwriter  
OKeh 74059 10-in. Mar. 1926 Sugar house stomp Buddy Christian's Creole Five Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, banjo, composer, leader  
OKeh 74066 10-in. 3/24/1926 What's the matter now? Clarence Williams’ Blue Five ; Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with instrumental quintet instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 74067 10-in. 3/24/1926 I want every bit of it—I don't like it second hand Clarence Williams’ Blue Five ; Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with instrumental quintet instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 74072 10-in. 3/25/1926 Brother Ben Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with instrumental quintet instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 74073 10-in. 3/25/1926 The prisoner's blues Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with instrumental quintet instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 74074 10-in. 3/25/1926 Careless man blues Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with instrumental quintet instrumentalist, banjo  
OKeh 74075 10-in. 3/25/1926 How could I be blue Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with instrumental quintet instrumentalist, banjo  
(Results 76-100 of 105 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Christian, Buddy," accessed April 23, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111966.

Christian, Buddy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111966.

"Christian, Buddy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 23 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.