Erwin Trojan was born in Carlsbad on September 13, 1888. As it was common at that time he learned to play the violin as a child and his family even sent him to a music school in Königsberg. In the following he was a music pupil of the 1st Regiment of the Tyrolean Imperial Rifles. Their director Karl Rühlberger fostered young Trojan's talent so he could study trumpet at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. Trojan was trumpeter of the military band in Innsbruck until 1910. Then he returned to his hometown and became a member of the famous spa orchestra in Carlsbad. He didn't stay there for a long time, but left his home again to play entertaining music on the shipping route between Hamburg and New York. During long home leaves he performed at the opera in Brussels or played dance music.
