Christian, Charlie (1916-1942), an American musician, established the guitar as a solo instrument in jazz. Before Christian, jazz guitarists usually limited themselves to rhythmic chord backgrounds or accompaniments in rhythm sections. Christian’s playing freed them from these limitations and paved the way for later generations of solo guitarists.
Charles Christian was born on July 29, 1916, in Dallas and grew up in Oklahoma City. In 1939, a New York talent scout and jazz enthusiast named John Hammond arranged for Christian to audition for the Benny Goodman band. Goodman hired Christian and featured him on weekly broadcasts and recordings. He can be heard on such Goodman records as “Flying Home,” “Seven Come Eleven,” “Air Mail Special,” and “Solo Flight.” He also played with such jazz experimenters as trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and pianist Thelonious Monk. Christian died of tuberculosis on March 2, 1942. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
See also Montgomery, Wes.
