following year as trumpet players left the military school band, Charlie reluctantly switched to playing the trumpet.
Later he played with a jazz band in Philadelphia and found it difficult to get paid. Charlie then joined up with Tiny
Bradshaw's band in 1935 and two years later in 1937 he joined with Lucky Millinder's big band. Charlie enjoyed
playing with Tiny's band as "He always had a swinging band". Charlie's older brother played first trumpet with
Tiny's band and he helped Charlie get the initial gig with the band. Charlie really began to get serious about playing
the trumpet when he later joined John Kirby's sextet. Charlie became well known for his versatility in playing muted
crisp solos. Charlie later in life said "It's the best band I ever played with".Charlie was in great demand for recording
sessions and performed with New Orleans jazz greats Sidney Bechet, Johnny Dodds, and Jimmy Noone. Charlie
had a major hit with his composition "Undecided" which is a great jazz standard today. Charlie later left Kirby's band
and joined Raymond Scott's CBS staff orchestra in 1944. During the years of 1945 through 1950, Charlie toured
with Tommy Dorsey's band. During 1951 and 1952, Charlie played with jazz at the Philharmonic in New York.
After that, Charlie played with Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, and back to Tommy Dorsey's band again.
Charlie's personal best recording was the Bethlehem album "Shavers, Gershwin and Strings" which consisted
mainly of ballads. Charlie was well known for his exciting trumpet battles with Roy Eldridge. Dizzy Gillespie was
known for copying Charlie's licks and runs. Charlie was responsible for Dizzy Gillespie switching horns from his
well known Martin to the H. N. White King Super 20 trumpet for awhile. Charlie later led his own quartet and in the
1960's his playing declined. Charlie died several days after Louis Armstrong died and requested his personal
mouthpiece be buried with his beloved friend, Louis Armstrong. Charlie died of throat cancer.
on his H. N. White King Super 20 trumpet.
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