![]() ![]() So quickly." Soon after the meeting, Christian bought his first electric guitar, Remarked," I never saw anyone learn so fast, nor have I seen anyone rise to the top With the electric guitar and sought Durham out for some basic pointers. Recorded one of the earliest amplified guitar solos. Back in Oklahoma City, he was playing pianoĪnd met Count Basie's guitarist Eddie Durham, who is credited with having Regularly featuring amplified steel guitars and soloists who used a swing-basedĪ breakthrough occurred for Charlie in 1937. He probably encountered Delta blues players, as well as Western-Swing bands which were now Winburn Orchestra, and worked with the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra in St.Louis. The Jolly Jugglers (with his brother Edward), toured the Southwest with the Anna Mae In the next three years, Christian also played with The group toured throughout the area, playing venues in Kansas City, Dallas,įort Worth, Little Rock, and Tulsa. In 1934, Charlie secured his first professional music job, as a bassist, with the Alphonso During this time, Walker and Christian, while learning together, played shows as That he had any influence on either Christian's or Walker's single-note soloĪpproach. Hamilton played in the typical chordal style of the period, and it is doubtful Christian introduced hisīoyhood friend, T-Bone Walker, to Hamilton, who taught them ![]() He learned to read music and some basic music theory. In 1933, Charlie Christian began to study guitar with Ralph "Big-Foot Chuck" "Rose Room"-most likely holding his acoustic guitar up to a microphone. ![]() He took solos on "Sweet Georgia Brown," "Tea For Two," and Was known to scat sing his solos throughout his life.Ĭharlie Christian's first public performance as a guitarist was in 1930 at around ageġ4 when he sat in with the Don Redman Orchestra at Honey Murphy's Club in OklahomaĬity. Young's linear style hadĪ strong effect on Christian, who remained a permanent "addict" to his music and When tenor saxophonist Lester Young arrived in Kansas City. In 1928, and it is thought that his earliest jazz influence was instilled a year later Charlie's interest in the guitar was revived A couple of years later he briefly took up The instrument when his father died in 1926. Interestingly, this coincided with the first knownĮxperiments of amplified "electric" guitar.Īt this time, Charlie Christian took informal guitar lessons from his father, but dropped There, during the early 1920s, Charlie attended elementary grades in Douglass School, In 1918, the Christian family moved from the Dallas area to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Both were musically inclined, though to a lesser extent than Charlie. He had two older brothers,Įdward and Clarence. While his mother, Willie Mae, accompanied him on the piano. ![]() His family had a musical background.Ĭharlie's father, Clarence James Christian, played trumpet in a silent movie theatre, Was born in Bonham, Texas, on July 29, 1916. Guitarlore influencing blues, rock, country and popular electric guitarists for decades to His music is embedded in the very core of all Christian's legacy today is larger and more pervasive than ever, and hisĬontributions more profound and revered. Following Christian's initial appearanceĪnd short career, a school of stylistic disciples emerged and spread his influence far and Jazz specifically and in music generally. Pioneering efforts with the electric guitar resulted in a liberating of the instrument, in Trumpet or clarinet, and capable of the same levels of expressiveness and intensity. WithĬhristian, the electric guitar became a distinct solo voice equivalent to a saxophone, He was the first major soloist on the electric guitar. Riff Interactive lessons are LESS expensive and MORE interactive than alternatives!Ĭharlie Christian (1916-1942) was the founding father and primary architect of Please subscribe to get full access to all lessons for only $7.95/month PLUS 1 week free trial. ![]()
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