Charlie Green (musician)


Charlie Green was an American jazz musician, who was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and died in New York City. He was one of the early jazz trombonists and the soloist in the Fletcher Henderson orchestra.

Biography

He played locally in Omaha between 1920 and 1923, before his two stints with Henderson. Described as "A superior blues player who could also swing fairly early", Green played on several Bessie Smith recordings, notably "Trombone Cholly" featuring his trombone, along with biographical lyrics praising his playing.
Green also recorded in the 1920s with several other blues singers, and also worked with the bands of Benny Carter, Chick Webb, Jimmie Noone, Don Redman, and at the end with Kaiser Marshall. In 1928 Green played in the orchestra of the revue Keep Shufflin' together with Fats Waller and James P. Johnson.
According to jazz historian John Chilton Green's premature death was from passing out on his doorstep in Harlem on a cold February night after having been unable to get into his home, and thus freezing to death. This story was disputed by Frederick J. Spencer, M.D., in his book Jazz and Death, Medical Profiles of Jazz Greats.
A folk song, known by various names, was recorded as "Charlie Green, Play That Slide Trombone", performed by Jim Croce appears on the album Facets and on the album, The Faces I've Been. It has been also performed and recorded by Bessie Smith, Hoyt Axton, and Chicago area folksinger, Jim Craig.