Charlie Christian

Charlie Christian

Charles Henry Christian (July 29, 1916 – March 2, 1942) was an American swing and jazz guitarist. He was among the first electric guitarists and was a key figure in the development of bebop and cool jazz. He gained national exposure as a member of the Benny Goodman Sextet and Orchestra from August 1939 to June 1941. His single-string technique, combined with amplification, helped bring the guitar out of the rhythm section and into the forefront as a solo instrument. For this, he is often credited with leading to the development of the lead guitar role in musical ensembles and bands.

Birth and Death Data: Born Bonham (city in Texas, USA), Died March 2, 1942 (Staten Island (borough of New York City, New York, United States of America) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1939 - 1941

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar

= 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
Victor	BS-041408	10-in.	9/11/1939	Hot mallets	Lionel Hampton Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, guitar
Victor	BS-060331	10-in.	1/16/1941	Bugle call rag	Metronome All Star Band	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, guitar
Victor	BS-060332	10-in.	1/16/1941	One o'clock jump	Metronome All Star Band	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	25509	10-in.	10/31/1939	Deep sea blues	Ida Cox	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	25510	10-in.	10/31/1939	Death letter blues	Ida Cox	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	25511	10-in.	10/31/1939	One hour mama	Ida Cox	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	26239	10-in.	10/31/1939	Four day creep	Ida Cox	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	26240	10-in.	10/31/1939	Pink slip blues	Ida Cox	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	26241	10-in.	10/31/1939	Hard times blues	Ida Cox	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	26242	10-in.	10/31/1939	Take him off my mind	Ida Cox	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	CO29028	10-in.	11/7/1940	Royal Garden blues	Count Basie ; Benny Goodman Sextet	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	29278	10-in.	12/20/1940	I ain't gonna let nobody break my heart	Ida Cox	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	29279	10-in.	12/20/1940	I can't quit that man	Ida Cox	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	29280	10-in.	12/20/1940	You got to swing and sway	Ida Cox	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	CO29512	10-in.	1/15/1941	Breakfast feud	Benny Goodman Sextet	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	CO29514	10-in.	1/15/1941	I found a new baby	Benny Goodman Sextet	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	CO29865	10-in.	3/4/1941	Solo flight	Benny Goodman Orchestra ; Charlie Christian	Jazz/dance band, with guitar solo	instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	CO29942	10-in.	3/13/1941	A smo-o-o-oth one	Benny Goodman Sextet	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, guitar
Columbia	CO29943	10-in.	3/13/1941	Good enough to keep	Benny Goodman Sextet	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, guitar

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Christian, Charlie," accessed December 25, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103283.

Christian, Charlie. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 25, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103283.

"Christian, Charlie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 25 December 2025.

Fast: https://id.worldcat.org/fast/78319 - https://id.worldcat.org/fast/78319

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