This is a biography on the career of jazz guitarist Charlie Christian, who was raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma during the Depression era in the Southwestern region of the United States. This book provides an in-depth analysis of the details surrounding the events that shaped Christian's musical development, beginning with his early influences of 'Territory bands' and 'western swing' groups. The book documents Christian's performances in the urban area of Oklahoma City on Second Street, better known as 'Deep Deuce', as well as his travels with both Anna Mae Winburn and the Alphonso Trent Orchestra. Christian's discovery by producer John Hammond led to Christian's membership in the Benny Goodman Sextet in August of 1939. The book also chronicles Christian's most significant radio broadcasts, live performances, and recordings for Columbia Records, and also includes facts regarding Christian's pioneering guitar style during the early 1940's, as his performances at Minton's Playhouse in Harlem represented the connection between swing and bebop. The biography finally uncovers details into Christian's private life, and his untimely death during the apex of the Goodman era

(Signature Licks Guitar). Explore the riffs, solos and sounds of the original electric jazz guitar virtuoso with this comprehensive book/CD pack! Wolf Marshall uses excerpts from 15 of Christian's classics to demonstrate his groundbreaking techniques, including: Air Mail Special * Benny's Bugle * Good Enough to Keep (Air Mail Special) * Grand Slam * Honeysuckle Rose * I've Found a New Baby (I Found a New Baby) * Seven Come Eleven * Shivers * Solo Flight * Stardust * Wholly Cats * and more. Includes an introduction and foreword, and a Charlie Christian biography and axology.

For many, the story of jazz guitar begins with Charlie Christian. In 1939, at 23 years old, Charlie joined the Bennie Goodman Sextet, already one of the most famous jazz bands in the world. Over the next two years of his all-too-brief life Charlie redefined the role of jazz guitar, expanding it from its role in the rhythm section to that of lead instrument on par with the great horn players. Simultaneously, his late-night jam sessions alongside Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and Kenny Clarke at Harlem's renowned Minton's jazz club led to a revolutionary new jazz called Bebop. To best understand Charlie Christian's approach to improvising, for each song this book provides multiple examples of his soloing. Comparing and contrasting these different solos---taken from alternate takes, various recording sessions, and live radio broadcasts---will give you a better sense of not only Charlie's core concepts, but also how he developed a variety of ideas out of them. Each song is presented with performance notes that include information about the recordings (date, place, personnel, etc.), a lead sheet for the composition, and transcriptions of the live and studio performances placed in chronological order---in both standard notation and tablature. In addition, there is a full analysis of his improvisation style to give you ideas on what to look out for. We've also included a bio, a discussion of his gear, and tributes from over 30 jazz greats. Featuring multiple solos from: * As Long as I Live * Benny's Bugle * Boy Meets Goy (Grand Slam) * Flying Home * Gone with "What" Wind * Good Enough to Keep (Air Mail Special) * Honeysuckle Rose * I've Found a New Baby * Rose Room * The Sheik of Araby

Countless musicians have been inspired upon hearing Charlie Christian for the first time. In this exciting book, the author has compiled 39 precise solo transcriptions (in notation only), as well as a thorough analysis of each. There is also a complete "how to" section that is a book in itself. The author has recorded each transcription in slow and fast versions. The book contains some of Charlie's best work including the Jam Sessions at Minton's, John Hammond's Spirituals to Swing concert and the Celestial Express Blue Note Recordings. Charlie Christian was the first to popularize the use of the electric guitar in jazz. He was the pioneer who led the way. Includes access to online audio.

Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts comic strip franchise, the most successful of all time, forever changed the industry. For more than half a century, the endearing, witty insights brought to life by Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, and Lucy have caused newspaper readers and television viewers across the globe to laugh, sigh, gasp, and ponder. A Charlie Brown Religion explores one of the most provocative topics Schulz broached in his heartwarming work--religion. Based on new archival research and original interviews with Schulz's family, friends, and colleagues, author Stephen J. Lind offers a new spiritual biography of the life and work of the great comic strip artist. In his lifetime, aficionados and detractors both labeled Schulz as a fundamentalist Christian or as an atheist. Yet his deeply personal views on faith have eluded journalists and biographers for decades. Previously unpublished writings from Schulz will move fans as they begin to see the nuances of the humorist's own complex, intense journey toward understanding God and faith. "There are three things that I've learned never to discuss with people," Linus says, "Religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin." Yet with the support of religious communities, Schulz bravely defied convention and dared to express spiritual thought in the "funny pages," a secular, mainstream entertainment medium. This insightful, thorough study of the 17,897 Peanuts newspaper strips, seventy-five animated titles, and global merchandising empire will delight and intrigue as Schulz considers what it means to believe, what it means to doubt, and what it means to share faith with the world.

Charlie Christian is regarded by many jazz historians as one of the major voices who shaped modern jazz in the early 1940s. Even though he tragically died before reaching his 26th birthday, his brilliant improvisations, phenomenal rhythmic drive, and blues influenced guitar playing had already changed the course of jazz, and the guitar's place in jazz, for all time. This second, updated and expanded, edition of his book details the full importance of Charlie Christian's known recordings for over 30 years. His well-researched jazz genius reveals many new facts about Charlie Christian's short life, and career in music. The discography in this book is certainly the most complete and accurate to be published to date. It corrects for the first time many errors in previous discographies and books. Also included is an impressive and unique collection of photographs and documents to illustrate this important work. --