Charlie Douglas

• Active: '20s, '30s
• Genres: Jazz
• Instrument: Trumpet

Biography

The first recordings made by jazz bandleader Jimmie Lunceford have been described by some critics as containing all the ingredients of his mature style, meaning the musicians involved must have been on the case. Trumpeter Charlie Douglas was part of this outfit, known as the Chickasaw Syncopaters, with some reissues decades later placing the bandleader's name out front and others choosing not to. Other members of this group included clarinetist and alto saxophonist Willie Smith, Moses Allen laying down the Ten Commandments of tuba, the amusing drummer and singer Jimmy Crawford, and deep trombonist Henry Wells. Douglas took part in a pair of recording sessions with the group between 1928 and 1930, resulting in tracks such as "Chickasaw Stomp" and "Memphis Rag." These sides were part of an extensive effort by the Victor label to travel the country and find recording talent, in this case an absolute necessity since Lunceford was heading one of the many territory bands that worked in a specific area, generally three or four bordering states. If such a region did not include a large recording center, groups of this sort would have been out of luck in terms of documentation if it had not been for these exploratory recording scouts. Douglas basically played around Missouri, Arkansas, and eastern Tennessee, and does not show up on other recordings apart from his stint with Lunceford. He should not be confused with the country disc jockey of the same name, best friend of all truckers. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, All Music Guide