Oskar Joost (9 June 1898 – 29 May 1941) was a German musician, who played violin, tenor saxophone and clarinet, as well as directing a dance orchestra.
Biography
Joost was born into a musical family in
Wissembourg,
Alsace on 9 June 1898. His father, Albert Joost, was a
cellist
The cello ( ; plural ''celli'' or ''cellos'') or violoncello ( ; ) is a bowed (sometimes plucked and occasionally hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually tuned in perfect fifths: from low to high, C2, G2, D3 ...
in the military. Oskar attended high school in
Leipzig and participated in the
First World War as a volunteer.
In 1924, Oskar and his brother Ali formed the Oscar Joost Dance Orchestra, with Oskar spelling his name with a 'c' instead of a 'k'. Oscar played first violin, and his brother percussion. From 1930, the Orchestra began playing in the Berlin Eden hotel, which led to a recording contract with
Electrola, followed by subsequent contracts with other record labels: Pallas (1931), Crystal (1931–1934),
Ultraphon/
Telefunken (1932),
Grammophon/
Polydor (1934–1941). In this time, he was also involved in film work.
In 1933, Oskar Joost joined the
Nazi Party, again spelling his name with a 'k'. When Oskar was enlisted in January 1940, his orchestra continued under Rudi Juckeland. Oskar rose to the rank of
lieutenant, continuing his musical activities by composing a piece of music for his army unit, a 'Bohemian Polka'. In 1940, he was severely wounded during the Battle of France. He died in a hospital in
Berlin from
flu on 29 May 1941.
Discography
*1929: ''Grüß' mir mein Heimatland'' (''Say Hello to my Country'')
*1930: ''Herr Ober - zwei Mokka'' (''Waiter - Two Mochas'')
*1933: ''Fensterpromenade'' (''Window Promenade'')
*1937: ''Hofkonzert im Hinterhaus''
References
*Michael H. Kater, ''Different Drummers''
*Rainer E. Lotz, ''Discographie der deutschen Tanzmusik, Band 1''
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Joost, Oskar
Alsatian-German people
German military personnel of World War I
German Army officers of World War II
Deaths from influenza
1898 births
1941 deaths
20th-century German male musicians
German military personnel killed in World War II
20th-century German musicians