Charlie Biddle facts for kids

Charles Reed Biddle (July 28, 1926 – February 5, 2003) was a talented jazz bassist. He was born in the United States but spent most of his life in Montreal, Canada. Charlie Biddle was known for organizing and performing in many jazz music events. He played a huge role in making Montreal a famous city for jazz.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Charlie Biddle was born and grew up in West Philadelphia. When he was 18, he joined the United States Army in 1945. He served during World War II in places like China, India, and Burma. After the war, he went to Temple University in Philadelphia. This is where he started to learn and play the bass.

A New Home in Montreal

In 1948, Charlie Biddle came to Montreal while on tour with a band. He was very impressed by how black and white jazz musicians played together as friends in Canada. This was especially true in Quebec. Because of this, he decided to stay and make Montreal his home.

He met and married a French-Canadian woman named Constance. They had three daughters, Sonya, Stephanie, and Tracy, and a son, Charles Biddle Jr. His daughters Sonya and Stephanie also became musicians.

Playing and Promoting Jazz

Charlie Biddle worked as a car salesman for many years, but he always kept playing music. He performed with many great pianists in Montreal nightclubs. Some of these included Charlie Ramsey, Milt Sealey, and Oliver Jones.

He also became a promoter, which means he helped arrange concerts for other musicians. He brought famous jazz artists like John Coltrane and Bill Evans to perform in Montreal. Charlie Biddle also played often with guitarist Nelson Symonds for many years. They performed in different clubs and resorts.

The Montreal Jazz Festival

Charlie Biddle was a big supporter of jazz music in Montreal. He often organized outdoor jazz festivals for local musicians. In 1979 and 1983, he held a festival called Jazz Chez Nous. These events helped create the idea for the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Today, this festival is one of the largest jazz festivals in the world!

Biddle's Jazz Club

In 1981, a jazz club in downtown Montreal was named after him: Biddle's. This was a special place where he often performed. He would introduce himself as 'Charlie Biddle on the fiddle' (a playful way to say he played the bass). He led his own groups there, often with pianists like Oliver Jones. The club is now known as House of Jazz. It was even shown in the movie The Whole Nine Yards, featuring his daughter Stephanie Biddle singing.

Charlie Biddle became a Canadian citizen in 2000. He continued to play at his club almost every week. He played up until a few months before he passed away on February 4, 2003. He died at home in Montreal, surrounded by his family.

Charlie Biddle recorded several music albums with other musicians. He also appeared in a few movies, including The Whole Nine Yards.

Awards and Recognition

Charlie Biddle received many awards for his contributions to jazz music:

• In 1989, he got the Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award.
• In 2000, he received the Oscar Peterson Prize.
• In 2003, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is one of the highest honors a civilian can receive in Canada.
• Also in 2003, he was honored with the Prix Calixa-Lavallée.

The Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society once said that without him, people in Quebec might not have learned to love jazz so much. They believed he helped make Montreal a host of one of the greatest jazz festivals in the world.

Discography

• 1962 Ted Curson, Live at La Tête de L'Art (Trans World Records)
• 1991 Charlie (Unidisc)
• 2002 In Good Company (Justin Time)
• 2007 Oliver Jones & Charlie Biddle: Live at Festival International de Jazz de Montreal (Justin Time)

See also

• Montreal music scene
• List of Montreal musicians