Charlie Barnet

Biography

Charlie Barnet, born Charles Daly Barnet on October 26, 1913, in New York City, was a prominent American jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader best known for his contributions to the swing era. Raised in a wealthy family, Barnet was expected to pursue a career in law, but he chose music instead, learning piano and saxophone as a child. He began performing professionally as a teenager, working with Jean Goldkette’s band and later forming his own big band in New York. Barnet’s career flourished in the late 1930s and 1940s, with his orchestra gaining acclaim for its energetic performances and adventurous arrangements. His band was notable for its strong brass section and for incorporating a variety of musical styles, including blues and swing, which gave it a distinctive sound often described as having a 'black sound' despite being a white-led ensemble.

Barnet’s major recordings include 'Cherokee,' 'Skyliner,' 'Nagasaki,' 'The Wrong Idea,' 'Scotch and Soda,' 'In a Mizz,' and 'Southland Shuffle.' He was known for pushing boundaries in both performance and arrangement, helping to shape the evolution of jazz during the big band era. Barnet’s orchestra was the first white band to play the Apollo Theater in Harlem, breaking house records and earning critical acclaim. In the late 1940s, he formed a progressive concert jazz orchestra, but eventually retired from active bandleading in 1949 due to changing musical tastes. He remained involved in music through management and occasional performances, and his legacy endures as a pioneering figure in swing and big band jazz.

Fun Facts

• Charlie Barnet was married eleven times, a fact he openly discussed in his autobiography.
• He was the first white bandleader to perform at Harlem's Apollo Theater, where his band broke attendance records.
• Barnet's arrangement of 'Cherokee' inspired the creation of 'Redskin Rhumba,' a derivative piece that became popular in its own right.
• Despite his family's wealth and expectations, Barnet chose a career in jazz over law, often skipping school to listen to jazz bands.

Associated Acts

• Charlie Barnet and His Orchestra
• California Ramblers
• Art Tatum’s All Stars - tenor saxophone

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Coleman Hawkins - Principal influence on Barnet's tenor saxophone playing (Barnet's early recordings and performances) [1930s]

Key Collaborators

• Billy May - Arranger for Barnet's band, notably for 'Cherokee' (RCA Victor recordings, 'Cherokee') [1930s-1940s]
• Doc Severinsen - Trumpeter in Barnet's late 1940s orchestra (Capitol Records recordings) [1948-1949]
• Maynard Ferguson - Trumpeter in Barnet's late 1940s orchestra (Capitol Records recordings) [1948-1949]
• Eddie Bert - Saxophonist in Barnet's band (Various Barnet recordings) [1940s]
• Bernie Glow - Trumpeter in Barnet's band (Various Barnet recordings) [1940s]

Artists Influenced

• Doc Severinsen - Early career development as a trumpeter in Barnet's orchestra (Capitol Records recordings) [1948-1949]
• Maynard Ferguson - Early career development as a trumpeter in Barnet's orchestra (Capitol Records recordings) [1948-1949]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Skyliner (Alternate Take) (Hop on the Skyliner)
2. Skyliner (Hop on the Skyliner)
3. Drop Me Off In Harlem (Drop Me Off In Harlem)
4. Spanish Kick (Hop on the Skyliner)
5. West End Blues (Drop Me Off In Harlem)
6. Shake Rattle and Roll (Hop on the Skyliner)
7. The Right Idea (Hop on the Skyliner)
8. Wichita Windstorm (Hop on the Skyliner)
9. Shake, Rattle 'N Roll (Afternoon of a Moax) (Hop on the Skyliner)
10. Between 18Th and 19Th on Chestnut Street (Hop on the Skyliner)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #jazz, #swing