Charley Pride (1934 - 2020)

Charley Pride Born on March 18, 1934, in Sledge, Mississippi, the singer was a sharecropper’s son who rose to become country music’s first black superstar. His baritone voice was featured on more than 50 Top 10 country hits and he was the first Black member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. He fell in […]

Charlie Bachman (1892 - 1985)

In 1919, at age 26, Charlie Bachman began his head coaching career at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Bachman brought a number of former players returning from World War I military service to Northwestern, but his team posted a disappointing 2–5 record. He moved on to Kansas State College in Manhattan, Kansas following this season, […]

Charlie Barnett (1954 - 1996)

Actor, Comedian. A native of Bluefield, West Virginia, Barnett is best remembered for his role as “Neville ‘Noogie’ Lamont” on the television series, “Miami Vice” from 1984 to 1987. Barnett also appeared in the television series, “T.J. Hooker”, and several films including, “D.C. Cab” (1983), “Beer” (1985), “My Man Adam” (1985), “Charlie Barnett’s Terms Of […]

Charlie Callas (1924 - 2011)

Charlie Callas was born in Brooklyn, New York, as Charles Callias and served in the United States Army during World War II. He began his career as a drummer playing in groups with Bernie Cummins, Tommy Dorsey, Claude Thornhill, and Buddy Rich. He dropped a vowel from his legal name, Callias, when he took to […]

Charlie Chaplin (1889 - 1977)

Charles Spencer Chaplin was born on 16 April 1889. He was the only child of singers Charles Chaplin, Sr. and Hannah Hill. There is no official record of his birth, although Chaplin believed he was born at East Street, Walworth, in South London. His mother and father had married four years previously, at which time […]

Charlie Conacher (1909 - 1967)

Signed the next season by the Maple Leafs with Jackson, Toronto manager Conn Smythe paired the two with former farmhand Joe Primeau.  The trio, nicknamed the “Kid Line” for their inexperience – Primeau was 23, Charlie Conacher and Jackson both 18 – became an immediate sensation in Toronto, as Conacher scored his first NHL goal […]

Charlie Dale (1881 - 1971)

Actor. He was a performer in vaudeville theatre, stage, radio, motion pictures and television. In 1898 he teamed up with friend Joe Smith and became the legendary comedy team of “Smith and Dale.” In the early days of vaudeville they entertained the crowds with such skits as “Hungarian Rhapsody” and “Dr. Kronkheit.” In the 1950s […]

Charlie Daniels (1936 - 2020)

Charlie Daniels From his Dove Award winning gospel albums to his genre-defining Southern rock anthems and his CMA Award-winning country hits, few artists have left a more indelible mark on America’s musical landscape than Charlie Daniels.  An outspoken patriot, beloved mentor to young artists and still a road warrior at age 81, Charlie has parlayed […]

Charlie Fowlkes (1916 - 1980)

Charlie Fowlkes (16 February 1916 – 9 February 1980) was an American baritone saxophonist, best known for his time withCount Basie, which lasted for more than twenty-five years. Charlie Fowlkes was born in New York, and studiedalto and tenor saxophone, clarinet, and violinbefore settling on the baritone sax (he also played occasional flute). He spent most of his early career in New York, playing with Tiny […]

Charlie Hall (1899 - 1959)

Actor and Vaudevillian. At the age of fifteen he left school in Birmingham, England, to become a carpenter like his father. While still in his teens he joined Fred Karno’s famous vaudeville troupe, whose members also included Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel. In the early Twenties he went to New York to visit his sister, […]

Charlie Parker (1920 - 1955)

Charlie Parker Charles Parker, Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), also known as “Yardbird” and “Bird”, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Parker was a highly influential jazz soloist and a leading figure in the development of bebop, a form of jazz characterized by fast tempos, virtuosic technique and improvisation. Parker introduced […]

Charlie Poole (1892 - 1931)

Charlie Poole Charlie Poole & the North Carolina Ramblers were one of the most popular string bands of the 1920s. If they didn’t have the foot-stomping exuberance of their chief competitors, Georgia’s Skillet Lickers, they offered a debonair precision that was equally infectious. Infused with ragtime and pop, their music almost seemed to swing at […]

Charlie Rich (1932 - 1995)

Charlie Rich Musician Charlie Rich had several No. 1 country songs in the 1970s, including “Behind Closed Doors” and “The Most Beautiful Girl.” Commercial success came at a considerable personal price for Charlie Rich. His drinking and resulting bad behavior had spiraled out of control. His behavior came to a head in a shocking on-stage […]

Charlie Ruggles (1886 - 1970)

Charlie Ruggles was born in Los Angeles, California in 1886. Despite training to be a doctor, Ruggles soon found himself on the stage, appearing in a stock production of Nathan Hale in 1905. At Los Angeles’s Majestic Theatre, he played the romantic lead Private Jo Files in L. Frank Baum and Louis F. Gottschalk’s musical, […]

Charlie S. Abbey (1866 - 1926)

Abbey began his professional career with the independent league Beatrice, Nebraska baseball team in 1888. In 1889, Abbey played for the independent league Kearney, Nebraska baseball team and the Des Moines Prohibitionists of the Western Association. During the 1890 season, Abbey played for the St. Paul Apostles of the Western Association. In 1891, Abbey played […]

Charlie Trotter (1959 - 2013)

For five years after college, he worked and studied in Chicago, San Francisco (at the California Culinary Academy), Florida and Europe.  Trotter was the host of the 1999 PBS cooking show The Kitchen Sessions with Charlie Trotter, in which he details his recipes and cooking techniques. He likened cooking to an improvisational jazz session in […]

Charlie Waller (1935 - 2004)

Charlie Waller Founder and leader of the Country Gentlemen, died Wednesday (Aug. 18) of an apparent heart attack in the garden of his home in Gordonsville, Va. He was 69. Although Waller had been ailing the past several years, he and his group have maintained a busy concert schedule and were preparing to go on […]

Charlotta Bass (1874 - 1969)

Charlotta Amanda Spears Bass was born in Sumter, South Carolina, on February 14, 1874, to Hiram and Kate Spears. She was the sixth child of eleven. When she was twenty years old, she moved to live with her brother in Providence, Rhode Island, where she worked for the Providence Watchman. Spears worked for the Providence […]

Charlotte Boisjoli (1970 - 2001)

Actress. Boisjoli appeared in the films, “Zero Patience” (1993), “La Ligne De Chaleur” (1987), “It Can’t Be Winter, We Haven’t Had Summer Yet” (1980), “Monsieur Zero” (1977), “The Awakening” (1970), “Phedre” (1963), and as the narrator for, “Saint-Denys Garneau” (1960). Boisjoli also played in the television shows, “Sous Un Ciel Variable” in 1995, “Bonjour Docteur” […]

Charlotte Bridgwood (1861 - 1929)

Stage actress using the name Lotta Lawrence, Bridgwood was the mother of the “world’s first movie star,” Florence Lawrence.  Charlotte was the inventor of the automobile turn signal as well as the windshield wiper, which she patented in 1917.  She also invented an application that would prevent glass from fogging, which was offered to the […]

Charlotte Bridgwood (1861 - 1929)

Stage actress using the name Lotta Lawrence, Bridgwood was the mother of the “world’s first movie star,” Florence Lawrence.  Charlotte was the inventor of the automobile turn signal as well as the windshield wiper, which she patented in 1917.  She also invented an application that would prevent glass from fogging, which was offered to the […]

Charlotte Bronte (1816 - 1855)

British Novelist and Poet. Charlotte Bronte was the oldest of the three Bronte sisters who became renowned authors, the others being Emily and Anne Bronte. Additionally, she was also an accomplished artist. She was born the fourth of six children in Thornton, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, the daughter of Patrick and Marie Bronte. Her […]

Charlotte Dawson (1966 - 2014)

Dawson grew up in Auckland, New Zealand, after being adopted at birth. She dropped out of high school at age 16 to model in Europe and with Ford Models in New York City. A decade later she relocated to Australia where she became a familiar face on the Australian fashion scene.  In 1997, she became […]

Charlotte Greenwood (1890 - 1977)

Charlotte Greenwood (June 25, 1890 – December 28, 1977) was an American actress and dancer. Born in Philadelphia, Greenwood started in vaudeville, and starred on Broadway, movies and radio. Standing around six feet tall, she was best known for her long legs and high kicks. She earned the unique praise of being, in her words, […]

Charlotte Henry (1914 - 1980)

Charlotte Virginia Henry was born in Brooklyn and began modelling at a very early age and was always fascinated by the theatre. Her family were astonished when, at only 14 years of age, she was cast in an important role in Courage, a hit Broadway play in 1928. The following year, Charlotte’s mother brought her […]

Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744 - 1818)

Sophia Charlotte was born on 19 May 1744. She was the youngest daughter of Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Prince of Mirow and his wife Princess Elizabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Mecklenburg-Strelitz was a small north German duchy in the Holy Roman Empire.  The children of Duke Charles were all born at the Untere Schloss […]

Charlotte Saunders Cushman (1816 - 1876)

Actress. Born in Boston Massachusetts, she is known as the first American born international star. She first attempted a career in opera but voice troubles forced her to look to acting. In 1836 she received rave reviews for her debut performance as Lady Macbeth. She went on to star as Meg Merrilies in “Guy Mannering” […]

Charlotte Shelby (1877 - 1957)

Actress. Born Lily Pearl Miles Reilly, mother of Mary Miles Minter and Margaret Shelby, Charlotte is best remembered as ‘Mrs. Goodwin’ in “Always in the Way.” (1915) She was one of the major suspects in the 1922 Taylor murder. Is reported that she owned an old .38 caliber pistol. Apparently the same Pistol that killed […]

Charlotte Virginia Henry (1914 - 1980)

Actress. She is best remembered for her role of ‘Alice’ in the 1933 version of “Alice in Wonderland.” She is also well-known for playing ‘Little Bo-Peep’ the next year in the Laurel and Hardy classic “Babes in Toyland.” She went on to appear in several motion pictures into the 1940s. (bio by: A.J. Marik) Cause […]

Charlotte Walker (1876 - 1958)

Walker made her stage debut as a teen. At nineteen she performed in London, England in a comedy called The Mummy. She performed with Richard Mansfield. Later returned to her native Texas.  Walker appeared as June in Trail of the Lonesome Pine, in 1911. She would later reprise the role in Cecil B. DeMille’s 1916 […]