Charles Avery (pianist)

Charles Avery (February 2, 1892 – September 11, 1974)[2] was an American blues and boogie-woogie pianist. Although he only recorded one commercially released track in his own name, Avery played piano accompaniment to a number of high-profile blues musicians in the 1920s and 1930s. Details of his life outside the recording studio are limited.

Charles Avery
Birth nameprobably Charles Anderson Avery[1]
Born(1892-02-02)February 2, 1892
Brighton, Alabama, U.S.
DiedSeptember 11, 1974(1974-09-11) (aged 82)
possibly Chicago, Illinois, U.S.[2]
Genres
Occupation(s)Pianist
Years active1920s–1930s

Life and career

There appears to be little information about Avery's early life, although it is known that he was born in Brighton, Alabama, United States.[3] It seems that Avery spent most of his life in Chicago, Illinois, and drew a strong connection to the city and its music. This is exemplified in his only title he recorded n his own name, "Dearborn St. Breakdown" (1929), which was released by Paramount Records.[3][4] It was played in a style typical of Chicago musicians of that time, plus it is known that Avery played alongside, and backed, a number of musicians with connections to Chicago. AllMusic noted that Avery had "a prodigious piano technique".[4]

Avery was primarily active in the late 1920s and 1930s, when he was utilised regularly as a session musician by record labels, when piano accompaniment was required for musicians without that attribute. Pianist credits for Avery include work with Leroy Carr, Tampa Red, Lucille Bogan (1930), Victoria Spivey (1931), Lil Johnson (1929), Red Nelson (1935), and the more obscure singer, Freddie "Redd" Nicholson (1930) (who recorded eight sides, although only five were issued).[2][3][5][6]

Avery's backing work was primarily issued by Brunswick Records and Decca Records between 1929 and 1935.[7]

His work with Lucille Bogan, when she was using her pseudonym, Bessie Jackson, included Avery's boogie-woogie style accompaniment on the March 1930 recording of "Alley Boogie".[2] This was one of the earliest instances of a song title using the term 'boogie', following on from Pinetop Smith's "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie" (1928).[8][9] This was not Avery's only recording with Bogan, as he was also the pianist playing on her recording of "My Georgia Grind", which was also recorded in late March 1930.[10]

Lil Johnson, when recording "House Rent Scuffle" (1929), complimented Avery when stating on the recording, "Somebody buy the piano player a drink... He's just too tight. I wish you'd play that at my house every Saturday night!".[11]

Avery's own track, "Dearborn St. Breakdown", is included on the compilation album, The Boogie Woogie Masters (1996), among many others.[12]

Charles Avery died in September 11, 1974, at the age of 82.[2] He was interred in Lincoln Cemetery in Blue Island, Illinois.[2]

He is not to be confused with another Charles Avery (May 28, 1873 – July 23, 1926), who was an American silent film actor, film director, and screenwriter.[13]

Solo discography

Singles
YearTitleRecord label
1929"Dearborn St. Breakdown"Paramount Records

[2][3]

References
  1. Eagle, Bob L.; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. ABC-CLIO. p. 43. ISBN 9780313344244.
  2. "Charles Avery". Wirz.de. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  3. "Charles Avery". Discogs.com. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  4. "Charles Avery Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  5. "Charles Avery | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  6. D'Souza, Ajay. "Charles Avery | Big Road Blues". Sundayblues.org. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  7. "Charles Avery". Adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  8. "Boogie Woogie". Oldtimeblues.net. 24 April 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  9. "The Life of Lucille Bogan". Vocal.media. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  10. "Lucille3". Earlyblues.com. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  11. Oliver, Paul (April 12, 1990). Blues Fell This Morning: Meaning in the Blues. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521377935. Retrieved November 13, 2022 – via Google Books.
  12. "Charles Avery". Retrieved November 13, 2022 – via Apple Music.
  13. "Celebrities who died in July 1926". Famousfix.com. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
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