|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZVENTURA, Charlie(b 2 Dec. '16, Philadelphia PA; d 17 Jan. '92, Pleasantville NY) Tenor sax, other reeds. A showman with a touch of vulgarity who was very popular with several Gene Krupa bands from '42, in between leading his own combos. Late '40s--early '50s combos were infl. by the jump bands of Illinois Jacquet and Louis Jordan, but also by modern jazz, though Ventura himself was not a bopper; his '51 quartet incl. Buddy Rich. He was a crowd-pleasing entertainer who deserves credit for showcasing the hip vocal duo Jackie and Roy. |