Charlie Barnet
Source: VK
Born to a wealthy family (banking, New York Central Railroad, et al) on 26 October 1913 in New York City, bandleader and saxophonist Charlie Barnet's father died when he was age two. Raised by his mother, he learned piano and saxophone as a child which interfered with schooling. He toured with a Jean Goldkette satellite band at age sixteen, then worked with Frank Winegar's Pennsylvania Boys in New York City. He wasn't yet eighteen when he headed to Hollywood to become a film extra. He was back on the East Coast at age eighteen putting a band together.
With Barnet it's easy to detect the contribution of swing jazz to the very early development of rhythm and blues, and rock n roll. Charlie began his recording career with his own orchestra in New York City in 1933 with Melotone Records. Those tracks were 'What Is Sweeter' (Banner 32876), 'I'm No Angel' (Banner 32875), 'I Want You-I Need You' (Banner 32875) and 'Buckin' the Wind' (Banner 32876) on which he contributed tenor sax and flugelhorn. Barnet attends to saxophone on all selections on this page.
'I'm No Angel' Charles Barnet and His Orchestra
Second track of Barnet's first recording session
9 Oct 1933 in NYC Matrix 14122-1 Banner 32875
Session personnel:
Trumpet: Frank "Stinky" Davis / Johnny Dillard / Nathan Van Cleave
Trombone: Wally Barron / Abe Lincoln
Reeds: Ralph Spangler / Stu Anderson / Charlie Barnet / Ted Choate
Piano: Bill Long / Horace Diaz Jr. Guitar: Scoop Thomson
Bass: Bill King Drums: Billy Gussak Vocal: Helen Heath
Composition:
Ben Ellison / Harvey Brooks / Gladys Dubois
'Infatuation' Charles Barnet and His Orchestra
23 March 1934 in NYC Matrix 14986-1 Banner 33015
Session personnel:
Trumpet: Toots Camarata / Benny Carter (arrangement) / Nathan Van Cleave
Trombone: Wally Barron
Reeds: Charlie Barnet / Nat Brown / Milton Laufer / Willard Brady / Ted Choate
Piano: Horace Diaz Jr. Vibes: Adrian Rollini Guitar: Marty Britt
Bass: George Nida or Tex Hurst Drums: Joe Dale Vocal: Helen Heath
Composition:
Walter Samuels / Leonard Whitcup
'I'm an Old Cowhand' Charles Barnet and His Glen Island Casino Orchestra
1 June 1936 in NYC Matrix 101645-1 Bluebird B-6448
Session personnel:
Trumpet: Frank Amaral / Kermit Simmons / Joe Hoste
Trombone: Bud Smith / Johnny Doyle
Reeds: Charlie Barnet / George Vaughn / Don Morris / Willard Brady / Bob Parks
Piano: Horace Diaz Jr. Guitar: Frank Klinger (steel)
Bass: Sid Weiss Drums: Julius Mendelson Vocal: Joe Hostetter
Composition:
Johnny Mercer for the film 'Rhythm on the Range' 1936
'Always' Charles Barnet and His Glen Island Casino Orchestra
3 Aug 1936 in NYC Matrix 102411-1 Bluebird B-6487
Session personnel:
Trumpet: George Kennedy / Kermit Simmons / Irving Goodman
Trombone: Buzz Smith / Johnny Doyle / Joe Hoste
Reeds: Willard Brady / Don Morris / Charlie Barnet / George Vaughn / Bob Parks
Piano: Horace Diaz Jr. (arrangement) Guitar: Buford Turner
Bass: Sid Weiss Drums: Billy Flanagan
Composition: I
rving Berlin
TsorT has Barnet's most popular title overall issued in 1940 per 'Where Was I?' with Mary Ann MccAll, that following his second best, 'Cherokee', in 1939. Barnet backed Billie Holiday on 19 December 1940 ('The Man I Love'). Come his third most favored title, 'I Hear a Rhapsody', in 1941. Edison supported Nat King Cole with Nellie Lutcher on 5 January 1950 ('For You My Love' and 'Can I Come in for a Second?').
'Cherokee' Charles Barnet and His Orchestra
17 July 1939 in NYC Matrix 38276-1 Bluebird B-10373 / Victor 20-1756
Session personnel:
Trumpet: Bob Burnet / John Mendell / John Owens
Trombone: Ben Hall / Don Ruppersberg / Bill Robertson
Reeds: Charlie Barnet / Gene Kinsey / Donald McCook / Kurt Bloom / James Lamare
Piano: Horace Diaz Jr. (arrangement) Guitar: Bus Etri
Bass: Phil Stephens Drums: Ray Michaels
Composition: Ray Noble
'Where Was I' Charles Barnet and His Orchestra
21 March 1940 in NYC Matrix 47986-1 Bluebird B-10669
Session personnel:
Trumpet: Bob Burnet / Billy May / John Owens / Lyman Vunk
Trombone: Spud Murphy / Don Ruppersberg / Bill Robertson
Reeds: Charlie Barnet / Gene Kinsey / Skip Martin / Kurt Bloom / James Lamare
Piano: Bill Miller Guitar: Bus Etri
Bass: Phil Stephens Drums: Cliff Leeman
Composition: Al Dubin / W. Frank Harling
'Rockin' in Rhythm Charles Barnet and His Orchestra
19 June 1940 in NYC Matrix 51532-1 Bluebird B-10785
Session personnel:
Trumpet: Bob Burnet / Billy May (arrangement) / John Owens / Lyman Vunk
Trombone: Spud Murphy / Don Ruppersberg / Bill Robertson
Reeds: Charlie Barnet / Gene Kinsey / Leo White / Kurt Bloom / James Lamare
Piano: Bill Miller Guitar: Bus Etri
Bass: Phil Stephens Drums: Cliff Leeman
Composition:
Duke Ellington / Harry Carney / Irving MillsThis title first recorded by Ellington and His Harlem Footwarmers at the Cotton Club on 8 Jan 1931
'Pompton Turnpike' Charles Barnet and His Orchestra
19 June 1940 in NYC Matrix take two 54601-1R HMV B-9498
Session personnel:
Trumpet: Bernie Privin / Billy May / Sam Skolnick / Lyman Vunk / T.C. Murphy
Trombone: Don Ruppersberg / Bill Robertson
Reeds: Charlie Barnet / Gene Kinsey / Leo White / Kurt Bloom / James Lamare
Piano: Bill Miller Guitar: Bus Etri
Bass: Phil Stephens Drums: Cliff Leeman
Composition: Dick Rogers / Will Osborne
'Ring Dem Bells' Charles Barnet and His Orchestra
19 July 1940 in NYC Matrix 54605-1 Bluebird B-10862
Session personnel:
Trumpet: Bernie Privin / Billy May (arrangement) / John Owens / Lyman Vunk
Trombone: T.C. Murphy / Don Ruppersberg / Bill Robertson
Reeds: Charlie Barnet / Gene Kinsey / Leo White / Kurt Bloom / James Lamare
Piano: Bill Miller Guitar: Bus Etri
Bass: Phil Stephens Drums: Cliff Leeman
Composition: Dick Rogers / Will Osborne
'Southern Fried' Charles Barnet and His Orchestra
17 Sep 1940 in NYC Matrix 56129-1 Bluebird B-10944
Session personnel:
Trumpet: Bernie Privin / Billy May (arrangement) / John Owens / Lyman Vunk
Trombone: Spud Murphy / Don Ruppersberg / Bill Robertson
Reeds: Charlie Barnet / Gene Kinsey / Leo White / Kurt Bloom / James Lamare
Piano: Bill Miller Guitar: Bus Etri
Bass: Phil Stephens Drums: Cliff Leeman
Composition: Harlan Leonard / James Ross / Freddy Culliver
'Redskin Rhumba' ('Pow-Wow') Charles Barnet and His Orchestra
14 Oct 1940 in NYC Matrix 56486-1 Bluebird B-10944
Session personnel:
Trumpet: Bernie Privin / Billy May / John Owens / Lyman Vunk
Trombone: Ford Leary / Spud Murphy / Don Ruppersberg / Bill Robertson
Reeds: Charlie Barnet / Gene Kinsey / Leo White / Kurt Bloom / James Lamare
Piano: Bill Miller Guitar: Bus Etri
Bass: Phil Stephens Drums: Cliff Leeman
Composition: Dale Bennett
'Afraid to Say Hello' Charles Barnet and His Orchestra
15 or 23 Jan 1941 in NYC Thesaurus transcription 57972-6
See Joyce JRCC1521 or Bluebird B-11051
Session personnel:
Trumpet: Bernie Privin / Bob Barnet / Lyman Vunk
Trombone: George Esposito / Spud Murphy / Don Ruppersberg / Bill Robertson
Reeds: Ford Leary / Charlie Barnet / Leo White / Conn Humphreys / Kurt Bloom / James Lamare
Piano: Bill Miller Guitar: Bus Etri
Bass: Phil Stephens Drums: Cliff Leeman Vocal: Bob Carroll
Composition: Dale Bennett
'The Moose' Charles Barnet and His Orchestra
21 Oct 1943 in NYC 1 of 2 takes issued on either Brunswick 06301 or MCA MCA2-4069
Session personnel:
Trumpet: Jimmy Pupa / Al Killian / Lyman Vunk / Peanuts Holland
Trombone: Spud Murphy / Bob Swift / Eddie Bert / Ed Fromm
Reeds: Charlie Barnet / Rae De Geer / Buddy DeFranco / Mike Goldberg / Kurt Bloom
Piano: Dodo Marmarosa Guitar: Turk van Lake (arrangement)
Bass: Russ Wagner Drums: Harold Hahn
Composition:
Ralph Burns
'Pow-Wow' ('Redskin Rumba') Charles Barnet and His Orchestra
21 Oct 1943 in NYC Matrix 71462-A
Coral 60029 / Brunswick 03527 / Decca DL8098 / MCA1927
Composition: Dale Bennett
'East Side, West Side' Charles Barnet and His Orchestra Film
1948 20th Century Fox in NYC
Trumpet: Doc Severinsen / Tony DiNardi / John Howell / Dave Burns
Trombone: Ken Martlock / Dick Kenney / Obie Massingill
Reeds: Charlie Barnet / Vinnie Dean / Dave Matthews / Kurt Bloom / Danny Bank
Piano: Claude Williamson Guitar: Turk van Lake (arrangement)
Bass: Nelson Boyd Drums: Cliff Leeman Vocal: Bunny Briggs
Music: Charles B. Lawlor Lyrcs:
James W. Blake
'For You My Love' Charles Barnet
5 Jan 1950 in Las Angeles Matrix 5366-3 Capitol F/847
Trumpet: Ernie Royal Tenor sax: Charlie Barnet
Piano: Nat King Cole (vocal) Guitar: Irving Ashby
Bass: Joe Comfort Drums: Earl Hyde Vocal: Nellie Lutcher
Composition: Paul Gayton
'Dancing Party' Album by Charles Barnet
Issued 1956 on Verve Records MG V-2027
Titles on this album recorded on various dates from 1946-56
Barnet was a fairly hard driving band director into the sixties. Come recorded broadcasts from Basin Street East in New York City in 1966-67 to see issue on HEP2005, et al. On 5 July 1968 Barnet played alto and soprano sax in Duke Ellington's band at the Newport Jazz Festival [audio]. Lord tracks Barnet's last sessions as a leader to as late as December 1 and 2 of 1969 in Hollywood for titles like 'A Hard Day's Night' and 'The Girl from Ipanema' toward issue on Reader's Digest RDS6872 and RA-112.
'Jazz Skyliner' Charles Barnet
24 May 1962 in Hollywood Matrix 5105-C
From the album 'Charlie Barnet !?!?!?!?!?!?!' on Ava Records AS-10 1962
Session personnel:
Trombone: Gil Falco
Sax: Charlie Barnet / Don Raffell (tenor) / Bob Jung (baritone)
Piano / organ: Ernie Freeman Vibes: Larry Bunker
Bass: Max Bennett Drums: Jack Sperling
Composition: Dale Bennett
'Clap hands! Here Comes Charlie' Charles Barnet and His Ochestra
29 Oct 1966 in Hollywood
From the album 'Charlie Barnet Big Band - 1967' on Vault 9004 1967
Trumpet: Conte Candoli / Jack Laubach / Larry McGuire / Al Porcino / Dalton Smith
Trombone: Bob Fitzpatrick / Richard Hyde / Ernie Tack / Peter Meyers
Sax: Charlie Barnet / Allen Lasky / Willie Smith / Willie Maiden / Lennie Mitchell / Bob Jung
Piano: Jack Wilson Jr. Bass: Max Bennett Drums: Jack Sperling
Composition: Ballard MacDonald / Billy Rose / Joseph Meyer Arrangement: Bill Holman
Barnet's autobiography, 'The Swinging Years', was published in 1984. He died of Alzheimer's disease and pneumonia in San Diego on 4 September 1991.
Sources & References for Charlie Barnet:
VF History (notes)
Scott Yanow (All Music)
Audio of Barnet: Internet Archive Internet Archive
Collections: Library of Congress (arrangements) Library of Congress (arrangements)
Barnet in Film: IMDb
Interviews:
23 April 1978 (Patricia Willard / audio)
24 Nov 1986 (Joe Smith / audio)
Recordings: Catalogs:
45 Worlds
Discogs (Charlie Barnet)
Discogs (Charlie Barnet and his Orchestra)
Recordings: Compilations:
Chronological Classics (7 volumes: #1133 '1933-36' / #1159 '1936-37' / #1194 '1937-39' / #1226 '1939' / #1266 '1939-40' / #1318 '1940 Vol 1' / #1439 '1940 Vol 2')
Skyliner: 1940-1945 (Giants of Jazz / 1998)
Swing Street Strut (Membran / Quadromania 222406-444 / 2006)
Recordings: Sessions:
DAHR (1935-46) Tom Lord (leading 192 of 209 sessions 1933-69)
Repertoire:
Cherokee (Ray Noble / 1938)
Introduction to an Ending (Bill Holman / 1967)
Mother Fuzzy (Charlie Barnet / 1941)
Reviews: Paghat the Ratgirl
Further Reading: Steven A. Cerra (Big Band Fun / 2016)
Other Profiles:
Steve Bowie (Portrait of Charlie Barnet / Part I)
Steve Bowie (Portrait of Charlie Barnet / Part II)
Donald Clarke (Music Box)
Autumn Lansing (BandChirps)
Classical Main Menu Modern Recording