Alfred Shaddick Burt (April 22, 1920 – February 7, 1954) was an American jazz musician who is best known for composing the music for fifteen Christmas carols between 1942 and 1954. Only one of the carols was performed in public outside his immediate family circle during his lifetime.
Early life
Burt was born in Marquette, Michigan. His family moved to Pontiac, Michigan when he was two after his father, Bates G. Burt (1878–1948), became rector of All Saints Pontiac, an Episcopal church in Pontiac. At the age of 10, having shown an early interest in music, Alfred received his first musical instrument, a cornet, as a present from his parents. Though he would learn to play several other instruments, including the piano, Alfred spent most of his life playing cornet and trumpet in bands and orchestras, with a special interest in jazz.
Burt studied music at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, with an emphasis on Music Theory. He graduated as an outstanding music theory student with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1942.
A tradition that the elder Burt had begun prior to moving to Pontiac in 1922, was the creation of a Christmas card, which he sent to family members and parishioners. On these cards were original Christmas carols, with both the words and music by the Reverend Burt. After Alfred graduated from college, his father asked him to take over as composer and write the music for the family Christmas card in 1942, "Christmas Cometh Caroling". From then on, Alfred would write the music for the family's Christmas cards.
World War II and aftermath
During World War II, Burt served as an officer in the United States Army, stationed at San Angelo, Texas. While there, he served with the Army Air Force Band and filled in with the Houston Symphony as a trumpeter. His father sent him the lyrics for the carols from Michigan, first in 1943 ("Jesu Parvule") and then in 1944 ("What Are The Signs"). Burt completed the music from his base.
Burt married his childhood sweetheart, Anne Shortt (August 14, 1922 – November 30, 2000), on October 13, 1945. Finally earning his discharge in early 1946, he formed a short-lived band; after the group disbanded, he and Anne returned to Michigan to spend time with his father. The 1947 Christmas card, "Nigh Bethlehem," was the last collaboration between Alfred and Bates Burt. Reverend Burt died of a heart attack early in 1948. Alfred and his wife chose to continue the family Christmas card tradition in his honor.
Burt resumed his career in New York as a musician and arranger/composer. He also worked as a teacher at The American Theatre Wing professional school, where he collaborated with Helen Hobbs Jordan (April 6, 1907 – April 26, 2006) on a sight-reading book.
Professional life
Burt joined the Alvino Rey Orchestra in 1949. Meanwhile, Anne remained in Michigan, where the Burts' only child, Diane Bates Burt, was born on March 8, 1950. While she was pregnant, Anne, in consultation with Alfred, asked an old family friend, Wihla Hutson (1901–2002), the organist at Rev. Bates Burt's church, to write the lyrics for the annual Christmas card, which Alfred then would set to music. This carol, entitled "Sleep, Baby Mine" (or "Carol of the Mother") was a lullaby for their unborn child. In the spring of 1950, Alfred, Anne and six-week-old Diane moved to Los Angeles, California.
Burt continued his professional career as an arranger and musician for bands such as Hal Richards, Horace Heidt and Alvino Rey.
Over the next several years and, as the Burts' circle of friends grew, the Christmas card list grew from 50 to 450 people. But still, the Alfred Burt Carols remained unknown outside the Burts' growing mailing list.
That changed with the 1952 carol, "Come, Dear Children". Burt finished writing the music during a rehearsal with the Blue Reys, the vocal group with Alvino Rey's orchestra. He asked them to sing it so he could make sure the harmonies worked; they liked it so much that they asked Burt if they could sing it at The King Sisters annual Christmas party. It proved to be a hit among the party guests, and served to introduce Burt's carols to Hollywood.
The Burt-Hutson collaboration continued until Alfred Burt's death in 1954.
Illness and death
Through the early part of 1953, Burt complained of a persistent virus and fatigue. Eventually agreeing to a thorough medical examination, he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. He spent his final months at home in Pacoima, California.