Justin Gariga Sexias was born in Fresno on 6 June 1900; his father, Frank Seixis, was born in the Virgin Islands, West Indies of a German father and a West Indian mother and his mother was born In Louisiana of a Brazilian father and a Louisiana born mother.  In the Fresno City Directories for 1919/22/23 he is described as a “Laborer” but by 1927 he had moved to Oakland and the City Directory lists him as a “Musician” and also says he was married to Grace B. Sexias.  The Voter Registration of 1928 shows him living in Berkeley and also described as a “Musician.”  In 1930, still in Berkeley, he was an “Auto Washer” and from 1932 to 1942 he was divorced, living in Richmond and described variously as a “Car Washer,” a “Gas Station Attendant” and a “Service Station Worker.”  In 1944 he was back in Berkeley and described as a “Government Employee.”  He died in Guadalajara Mexico on 8 October 1987.
The International Musician of October 1925 records J. G. Sexias as a new member of Local No. 648 Oakland. but the earliest reference to his musical activity which I have found is in a broadcast on KLX (Oakland) in which ‘the regular Monday night meeting of the Lake Merritt Ducks, who on this occasion will have as assistant entertainers the “Rhythmasters,” directed by J. G. (Sax) Sexias and Burt O’Leen, prominent vaudevillians who will sing a song or two.’  The first public performance of his band that I have come across is at the Toyon In  San Leandro in June 1927.  1928 is a blank but from 1929 to 1934 he and his band appear all over the greater Bay Area, going as far north as Vichy Springs and south to Gilroy.   As well as Oakland and San Francisco they appeared in Niles (a regular gig at the Garden of Allah in 1929-31), Livermore, Brown’s Valley, Danville, Fresno, Martinez, Pleasanton, Pacheco, Calistoga and Oakley.  Things become a bit sporadic after that until May 1938.  On July 2 1929 the Berkeley Daily Gazette carried a report that the rehearsals of the band were disturbing their neighbours.  On 25 December 1930 the San Francisco Examiner reported the election of J. G. Sexias as vice president of Local 648 of the A.F.M.  Wallace, They were usually described as the Rhythmasters - at the Toyon Inn they were billed as ‘Sexias and his Creole Rhythm Masters.  The new sensational dance orchestra - every member a soloist,’ but in the very last reference I have found in May 1938 they have become ‘Sax Sexias and his famous Melody Boys.’ I have found no information on the members of the band.  An ad for the Toyon Inn (Oakland Tribune 10 June 1927)  says ‘They Sing - They’re Jazz All Over!  They’re from New Orleans and they’re plenty hot,’ and another in the California Eagle 12 May 1932 claims then to be ‘Another Hot Colored band from the Sunny South.’  In a Brown’s Valley ad (Napa Valley Register 28 March 1930)  they are described as ‘The newly crowned kings of jazz.  Winners of this year’s silver cup,’ and in the Township Register 17 July 1930 as ‘Cup Winners of Jazz Music.’