Charles Wright

Charles "Specs" Wright (September 8, 1927 - February 6, 1963) was an American jazz drummer born in Philadelphia.

Wright played drums in an Army band until his discharge in 1947. Following this he played in a group with Jimmy Heath and Howard McGhee. In 1949 he joined Dizzy Gillespie's band alongside John Coltrane, remaining until it disbanded in mid-1950. Later in 1950 he was a member of Gillespie's sextet with Coltrane, Jimmy Heath, Percy Heath, and Milt Jackson. In the 1950s, Wright played with Earl Bostic, Kenny Drew, Cannonball Adderley, Art Blakey, and Carmen McRae, and gigged locally in Philadelphia. He was with Hank Mobley in 1958 with his septet alongside Billy Root, Curtis Fuller, Ray Bryant, Tommy Bryant, and Lee Morgan. Following this Wright played with Sonny Rollins, Betty Carter, Red Garland, Coleman Hawkins, and Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. He died in 1963. He was interred in Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, New Jersey.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 8, 1927 (Philadelphia), Died February 6, 1963 (Philadelphia)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1957 - 1958

Roles Represented in DAHR: drums

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 101873 3/6/1957 East of the sun (West of the moon) Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101874 3/6/1957 Guess who I saw today Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101875 3/6/1957 My funny Valentine Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101876 3/6/1957 Dream of life Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101877 3/6/1957 Perdido (Lost) Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101878 3/6/1957 Exactly like you Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101879 3/6/1957 I can't escape from you Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101880 3/6/1957 The little things that mean so much Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101881 3/7/1957 The moon looks down and laughs Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101882 3/7/1957 Just squeeze me Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101883 3/7/1957 I never felt this way before Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 101884 3/7/1957 All my life Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 102291 4/18/1957 All my life Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 102292 4/18/1957 Nice work if you can get it Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 102293 4/18/1957 Between the devil and the deep blue sea Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 102294 4/18/1957 I'm through with love Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 102703 6/18/1957 Zigeuner Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 102704 6/18/1957 I'll see you again Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 102705 6/18/1957 Some day I'll find you Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 102706 6/18/1957 I'll follow my secret heart Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 102707 6/19/1957 If love were all Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 102708 6/19/1957 Mad about the boy Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 102709 6/19/1957 World weary Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 102710 6/19/1957 A room with a view Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 102711 6/20/1957 I can't do anything at all Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 102712 6/20/1957 Never again Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 102713 6/20/1957 Poor little rich girl Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 102714 6/20/1957 Why does love get in the way Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 103307 9/13/1957 Rich man, poor man Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 103308 9/13/1957 Coax me Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 103309 9/13/1957 Passing fancy Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 104513 3/5/1958 Invitation Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 104514 3/5/1958 Free and easy Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 104515 3/5/1958 Moonray Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 104516 3/5/1958 Lo and behold Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 10646 12/5/1957 You're mine Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 10647 12/5/1957 I remember Clifford Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 10648 12/5/1957 A shoulder to cry on Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 10649 12/5/1957 Dreamy Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 10650 12/5/1957 Weak for the man Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 10668 12/16/1957 All the things you are Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 10669 12/16/1957 (What can I say) After I say I'm sorry Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 10670 12/16/1957 If I were a bell Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 10671 12/16/1957 Any old time Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 10672 12/16/1957 What's new Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 10673 12/16/1957 Without a word of warning Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  
Decca L 10674 12/16/1957 The night we called it a day Carmen McRae instrumentalist, drums  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Wright, Charles," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/211222.

Wright, Charles. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/211222.

"Wright, Charles." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/211222

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