Art Christmas was a Canadian dance band and jazz musician.
17 Facts About Art Christmas
1.
2.
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.
3.
Art Christmas left Canada to play trumpet with the Dumbells Orchestra, touring all over the United States and then on to Britain.
4.
Art Christmas, the first trumpet, is a red-hot 'dirt' sax player.
5.
Still in Britain, Art Christmas went on to play with the New Prince's Toronto Band in 1926.
6.
The publication British Dance Bands on Record shows Art Christmas playing tenor sax but he doubled on alto sax and trumpet.
7.
The band actually left for the continent in August 1926 and by now consisted of Dave Caplan, Les Allen, Ken Kenney, Art Lousley, Jack Collins, John Whittaker, Laurie Day and of course Art Christmas who played mostly alto sax but doubled on tenor sax, clarinet, trombone and trumpet.
8.
Art Christmas worked extensively in Britain and Europe during the late 1920s and led his own band in Budapest, Berlin and London.
9.
Art Christmas was with the Savoy Orpheans for a brief time and then joined Billy Mason in 1930.
10.
Art Christmas played and recorded with Percival Mackey and Dave Frost during the latter half of 1931 and was now playing baritone sax as well as the other instruments with these groups.
11.
From 1940 until late 1946, Art Christmas played with his dear friend Jack Payne.
12.
In 1952, Art Christmas 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.
13.
Art Christmas bought "The Warburton Arms" an east end pub in Hackney, London.
14.
Art Christmas had been away from his mother and father for nearly 30 years and soon after he bought the pub in Hackney, his father died.
15.
In 1954, determined not to let his mother die without seeing her again, Art Christmas sold the pub and moved back to Canada with his wife Maisie and son Art Christmas Jr.
16.
Art Christmas 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.
17.
The experience of playing with his 15-year-old son was the biggest thrill Art Christmas had ever experienced in his entire musical career.