Charlie Monroe, born Charles Pendleton Monroe on July 4, 1903, in Rosine, Kentucky, was a pioneering American country and bluegrass musician. He was the older brother of Bill Monroe, known as the "Father of Bluegrass." Charlie's musical journey began in the 1920s when he played with his brothers Birch and Bill. The Monroe Brothers gained popularity by performing on radio starting in 1927. After their parents' deaths, Charlie and Birch moved to Detroit and later Indiana, where they worked in oil refineries while continuing to perform.

In 1932, Charlie and Bill joined a barn-dance touring show and formed the Monroe Brothers duo after Birch decided not to travel. Their radio program, sponsored by Texas Crystals and later Crazy Water Crystal Company, became a daily broadcast on WBT in Charlotte, North Carolina. The duo recorded for Bluebird Records in 1936 but split in 1938 due to personal differences.

Charlie then formed his own band, Charlie Monroe & the Kentucky Pardners, and recorded extensively with RCA Victor and Decca Records. His band included notable musicians like Lester Flatt and Ira Louvin. Charlie's music, characterized by his lead vocals and guitar, contributed to the evolution of country music, though he largely avoided the bluegrass style his brother Bill popularized.

Charlie retired in 1957 but briefly returned to music from 1972 to 1974. He passed away on September 27, 1975, in Reidsville, North Carolina. Despite not achieving the same level of fame as his brother, Charlie Monroe's contributions to country music, particularly through his recordings and performances with the Monroe Brothers, have left a lasting legacy.