Leslie "Les" Roy Strandt

This week's prompt was "music". I've found a few musical ancestors.

Both George and Malvina Henrickson played the church organ. Ray Henrickson and his sister Selma also played a bit too.

On my Thompson side I have a relative who was a drummer in the Civil War. I've also found some distant cousins who were part of a sisters singing group in the 1930's and 40's.

Probably the most famous musician in the family, though, is Leslie "Les" Roy Strandt, of the Chicago Strandts.

Les was the son of George Strandt, grandson of Carl Friedrich Strandt who was the older half brother of our William Strandt. 

George Strandt managed a theater and played the organ. His son, Les, took up the organ too.

Les became known as a jazz organist and played all around the country. He recorded 3 albums. 

I believe that both George and Les visited Carl and Mildred and family. There are stories of the "Chicago" Strandts coming to visit and playing the piano/organ at the farm and telling tales of Chicago and other towns. Their visits must have been exciting.

Here's the obituary of Leslie Strandt

An advertisement for one of his club appearances.