Frank Christian (trumpeter)

In an interview for Tulane's Jazz Archives, he described his family ancestry as "cayudle", a Creole French term for a mutt or mongrel.

Frank showed musical versatility at a young age, and was playing trumpet, clarinet, violin, and tuba professionally by his teens.

In 1916 Frank Christian was the first choice of Alcide Nunez, Eddie Edwards, and Johnny Stein to play in a band they had been hired to bring north to Chicago.

Christian initially agreed and rehearsed with the band before it left for the north, but then backed down as he had a full schedular of job offers in New Orleans and thought this less risky than leaving town.

He then went to New York City in response to an offer to start a New Orleans style band to play at a Manhattan dance club called The Alamo.