JAN AUGUST
Piano, Cocktails & Conversation, Jan August
The Piano of Jan August
Burlesque
100 Instrumental Versions
100 Piano LatinoBiography
Jan August (born Jan Auggustoff 24 September 1904, New York City died 9 January 1976, New York City) was an American pianist and xylophonist.
He had a hit with his version of “Misirlou” in 1947 with Carl Frederick Tandberg. He had with several other songs that blended classical styles and Latin beats. Early in his career August recorded on the Diamond label (“Misirlou” is on the Piano Magic album on Diamond).
In the early 1950s he was recording on Mercury; one notable Mercury side is a swinging and thoughtful arrangement of “Hot Lips”. Later LP albums demonstrated a shift away from August’s distinctive earlier style, toward the semi-satirical “honky-tonk” style of the late 50s personified by such artists as Joe “Fingers” Carr.
