Art Christmas
(December 22, 1905 – September 24, 1961) was a Canadian dance band and jazz
musician. For many years during the exciting dance band and jazz era of the
1920s, 1930s and 1940s, Art Christmas was often said to be Britain's leading
saxophone player and multi-instrumentalist.
Art's professional music career really started when he
was 19 years old. He left Canada to play trumpet with the Dumbells Orchestra,
touring all over the United States and then on to Britain. While in Britain, he
was given the opportunity to play trumpet with Paul Specht's Canadian Club
Orchestra in 1926 and really never looked back.
Still in Britain, Art went on to play with the New
Prince's Toronto Band also in 1926. This band was the resident band at the New
Prince's restaurant in Piccadilly. The band was made up of fellow Canadians and
was directed by Hal Swain. It was when Hal Swain left the band that at Alfie
Noakes' behest; Art joined and took Hal Swain's place. The band was about to
embark on a continental tour but first took some time fulfilling a recording
contract again for Columbia. This band had recorded about 50 titles since
November 1924, but just one more session took place on February 25, 1926, while
Art was with them. Here's "I Love My Baby" from that very session.
The band actually left for the continent in August 1926 eventually becoming known as "The Toronto
Band from Canada, featuring Art Christmas" and from about the first week
in September they played at the Faun des Westens in Berlin. During November
they also appeared at The Scala Theatre, assisting the dance pair Annette Mills
and Bobby, who were demonstrating the Charleston dance. While in Berlin,
Germany, the band recorded about 56 titles for Deutsche Grammophon/Polydor.
This band had a very strong jazz component thanks mainly to Art Christmas'
style.
Art's big break came when he joined the Roy Fox Band in
February 1933, staying with this band until 1938. It was while he was with The
Roy Fox Band, that Art Christmas became a household name around the music scene
in both Britain and Europe. Art soon became billed as Britain's 'Leading sax
and multi-instrumentalist' as he not only played lead alto sax for Roy Fox but
was often featured on trumpet, trombone, xylophone, drums, piano and even a
routine with the bagpipes and sousaphone.
After Roy Fox was forced to disband due to health problems in 1938, Art worked with various bands before joining Jack Jackson. From 1940 until late 1946, Art played with his dear friend Jack Payne. After Jack Payne turned impresario and launched a new variety show called "For The Fun of It", he asked Art to join up with Donald Peers, Frankie Howerd and Max Bygraves along with many other entertainers. Thus Art's multi instrumentalist stage act began and Art teamed up with his wife Maisie (a dancer and show girl), and "For The Fun of It" opened at the Sheffield Empire in Sheffield for sixteen weeks, followed by a different major city every week. One of Art's fondest memories was the performance of "Cinderella" for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at the Palladium in London.
In this photo of the Roy Fox band taken in 1936, Art Christmas is on the extreme right, middle row |
After Roy Fox was forced to disband due to health problems in 1938, Art worked with various bands before joining Jack Jackson. From 1940 until late 1946, Art played with his dear friend Jack Payne. After Jack Payne turned impresario and launched a new variety show called "For The Fun of It", he asked Art to join up with Donald Peers, Frankie Howerd and Max Bygraves along with many other entertainers. Thus Art's multi instrumentalist stage act began and Art teamed up with his wife Maisie (a dancer and show girl), and "For The Fun of It" opened at the Sheffield Empire in Sheffield for sixteen weeks, followed by a different major city every week. One of Art's fondest memories was the performance of "Cinderella" for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at the Palladium in London.
In 1952, Art was searching for his next adventure and
much to the disappointment of his many fans decided to retire from show
business and become a publican. He bought "The Warburton Arms" (now
known as London Fields) an east end pub in Hackney, London. Art had been away
from his mother and father for nearly 30 years and soon after he bought the pub
in Hackney, his father died. In 1954, determined not to let his mother die
without seeing her again, Art sold the pub and moved back to Canada with his wife
Maisie and son Art Jr.
After returning to Canada, Art performed a great deal
around Kingston and Toronto with his own band from 1955 to 1958 when he decided
to try his hand at teaching music at the high school level. He moved to Blind
River, Ontario, again with his wife Maisie and his son Art, and taught until
his death in 1961 in both Blind River, Ontario and Elliot Lake, Ontario.
Although Art was enjoying his new teaching career a great deal, he still had the
desire and drive to play. This time he played in and around Elliot Lake,
Ontario and for the first time Art Jr. was at his side. The experience of
playing with his 15-year-old son was the biggest thrill Art had ever
experienced in his entire musical career. This experience was short lived
however. He was 55 when he died of a massive heart attack at home in Blind River,
Ontario, Canada. (Edited mainly from Wikipedia)
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