Charlie Byrd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charlie Byrd
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Charlie Byrd performing with his trio in July 1997
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Charlie Lee Byrd |
| Born | September 16, 1925 Suffolk, Virginia, U.S. |
| Origin | Washington, D.C. |
| Died | December 2, 1999 (aged 74) Annapolis, Maryland, U.S. |
| Genres | Bossa nova, Latin jazz, swing |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1957–1999 |
| Labels | Savoy, Riverside, Columbia, Concord Jazz |
Charlie Lee Byrd (born September 16, 1925 – died December 2, 1999) was a famous American jazz guitarist. He was best known for his connection to Brazilian music, especially a style called bossa nova.
In 1962, he worked with Stan Getz on an album named Jazz Samba. This recording helped make bossa nova very popular in North America. Charlie Byrd played the guitar using a special fingerstyle method on a classical guitar.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Charlie Byrd was born in 1925 in Suffolk, Virginia. He grew up in a place called Chuckatuck. His father played the mandolin and guitar. He taught Charlie to play the acoustic steel guitar when he was only 10 years old. Charlie had three brothers. One of them, Gene "Joe" Byrd, became a bass player.
In 1942, Charlie went to the Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He played in the school orchestra there. The next year, in 1943, he joined the United States Army. He fought in World War II. In 1945, he was stationed in Paris, France. While there, he played in an Army band. He even toured Europe in a show called G.I. Carmen.
After the war, Charlie came back to the United States. He studied music composition and jazz theory in New York City. During this time, he started playing the classical guitar. In 1950, he moved to Washington, D.C. There, he studied classical guitar with a teacher named Sophocles Papas. Later, in 1954, he became a student of the famous Spanish classical guitarist Andrés Segovia. He even studied with Segovia in Italy.
One of Charlie Byrd's biggest inspirations was the gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt. Charlie had seen him perform in Paris.
A Career in Jazz and Bossa Nova
In 1957, Charlie Byrd met double bassist Keter Betts in Washington, D.C. They started playing music together often. By 1959, they joined Woody Herman's band. They toured Europe for three weeks. This tour was part of a special trip sponsored by the U.S. government. Charlie also led his own music groups. Sometimes, his brother Joe played bass in these groups. Charlie also taught guitar students at his home in the late 1950s.
Discovering Brazilian Music
Charlie Byrd learned about Brazilian music from his friend, Felix Grant. Felix was a radio host who knew people in Brazil. In 1961, Charlie went on a trip to South America, including Brazil. He brought back some bossa nova recordings. These were by artists like João Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim.
When he returned, Charlie met Stan Getz. He invited Getz to his home to listen to the bossa nova music. Getz loved the sound. They decided they wanted to make an album together. Creating the right sound was harder than they thought.
The Success of Jazz Samba
Getz convinced Creed Taylor at Verve Records to produce the album. Charlie and Taylor gathered musicians. But the first recordings didn't sound right. So, Charlie got musicians who had been to Brazil with him. They practiced in Washington, D.C. The group included his brother Gene ("Joe") Byrd. It also had Keter Betts, Bill Reichenbach, and Buddy Deppenschmidt. Reichenbach and Deppenschmidt were drummers. Having two drummers helped them get the perfect samba rhythm.
Finally, the group was ready. Getz and Taylor came to Washington, D.C., in February 1962. They recorded the album in a building next to All Souls Unitarian Church. This building had excellent sound quality.
The album, Jazz Samba, came out in April 1962. By September, it was on the Billboard pop album chart. By March of the next year, it was the number one album! The album stayed on the charts for 70 weeks. One of its most popular songs was "Desafinado" by Jobim.
After Jazz Samba became a hit, Charlie Byrd signed with Riverside Records. This label re-released six of his earlier albums.
Later Career and Collaborations
In 1963, Charlie toured Europe with other jazz musicians. He also played at the Newport Jazz Festival. In 1967, Charlie Byrd sued Stan Getz and MGM. He felt he wasn't paid fairly for his work on Jazz Samba. The jury agreed with Charlie. They awarded him half of the album's earnings.
In 1973, Charlie moved to Annapolis, Maryland. That year, he recorded an album called Tambú with Cal Tjader. This was their only recording together. Also in 1973, Charlie joined guitarists Herb Ellis and Barney Kessel. They formed a group called the Great Guitars.
From 1980 to 1996, Charlie released many of his music arrangements. He also worked with the Annapolis Brass Quintet in the late 1980s. They performed over 50 concerts together. Charlie Byrd played for many years at a jazz club in Silver Spring, Maryland. He also regularly performed at the King of France Tavern in Annapolis.
Charlie Byrd loved sailboating. He owned a 26-foot boat called "I'm Hip." He sailed it to different places around the world.
Family Life
Charlie Byrd was married three times. His first wife was Virginia "Ginny" Marie Byrd. She sang on some of his early recordings. They had two children, Carol and Jeffrey. Sadly, Jeffrey died in a car accident in 1973. His second marriage to Maggie Byrd ended in divorce. They had one daughter, Charlotte.
At the time of his death, Charlie had been married to Rebecca Byrd for one year. He was survived by his wife, his two daughters, and two brothers. He also had a granddaughter.
Death
Charlie Byrd passed away from lung cancer on December 2, 1999. He was 74 years old. He died at his home in Annapolis, Maryland.
Awards and Recognition
- 1999 – The government of Brazil made him a Knight of the Rio Branco. This is a very special honor.
- 1997 – He was called a "Maryland Art Treasure." This was by the Community Arts Alliance of Maryland.
Images for kids
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Charlie Byrd performing with his trio in July 1997
See also
In Spanish: Charlie Byrd para niños
