Charlie Christian
Charlie Christian, born Charles Christian on July 29, 1916, in Bonham, Texas, was a pioneering American jazz guitarist who played a crucial role in elevating the guitar from a rhythm to a solo instrument in jazz music. Raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, he learned music from his father, a blind guitarist and trumpet player. In the 1930s, Christian studied with Eddie Durham, who inspired him to use an amplified guitar, leading to his innovative improvised performances.
Christian's talent caught the attention of jazz producer John Hammond in 1939, who introduced him to Benny Goodman. Despite initial reluctance, Goodman was impressed by Christian's performance during a live show, which led to Christian becoming a permanent member of Goodman's group. Christian's recordings with Goodman, including "Air Mail Special" and "Seven Come Eleven," showcased his ability to create single-line solos with sustain and bent notes, influenced by tenor saxophonist Lester Young.
Christian was also a forerunner of the bebop movement, frequently jamming with legends like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie at Minton’s Playhouse in New York. Despite his career being cut short by tuberculosis, which led to his death on March 2, 1942, in New York at the age of 25, Christian's roughly 100 recordings continue to influence guitarists. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
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