Introduction
Charlie Singleton (born around 1930) is an American former Jazz and Jump Blues musician. He played alto and tenor saxophone, was also a vocalist, and was a fixture in the New York Jazz/Blues circuit.
During his tenure with Atlas Records; one of the first New York-based, Black-owned independent record labels of the early fifties, Singleton recorded a number of highly influential jump blues instrumentals and also backed many of the groups who recorded for Atlas, including H-Bomb Ferguson.
Early life and education
Singleton was born around 1930 in Kansas City, Missouri. He attended Lincoln High School and had music lessons from Charlie Parker's music teacher Leo Davis.
Career
Singleton made his first recordings in 1949, aged 19, for the R&B record label Apollo. The album featured such acclaimed artists as saxophonists Jackie McLean and Charlie Parker and pianist Gildo Mahones.
In the early 1950s, he formed his own orchestra named the Charlie Singleton Combo or, sometimes, the Charlie Singleton Orchestra, which over the years featured various known jazz and jump blues musicians as saxophonist and clarinetist Eddie Barefield, saxophonist Lou Donaldson, trumpeter Jesse Drakes, saxophonist Big John Greer, pianist Jimmy Neely, pianist Herbie Nichols, and saxophonist Lucky Thompson.
During this time he recorded a number of singles such as "Elephant Rock," "Pyramid," and "These Foolish Things" for Saturn, Atlas, Sunset, and Decca labels.
In addition, he made recordings with singer Joe August the Budd Johnson All Stars (including trumpeter Howard McGhee, trombonist J. J. Johnson, and cellist Oscar Pettiford).
In 1955/1956, he recorded Club Session With Charlie Singleton in Paris with trumpeter Bernard Hulin, trombonist Charles Verstraete, trombonist Charles Verstraete, pianist André Persiany, bassist Eddie de Haas and drummer Reggie Jackson.
His last recordings for Camden and Chase were made in the early 1960s with saxophonist Sam "The Man" Taylor, guitarist Kenny Burrell, guitarist Wally Richardson, guitarist Everett Barksdale, and drummer Sticks Evans.
From 1949 to 1963, Singleton was involved in 23 jazz recording sessions.