Charlie Barnet (Various saxophones, 1913-91) Charlie Barnet led a successful big band from 1933 until the late 1940s and was one of the earliest white bandleaders to employ black musicians, beginning with Benny Carter as a guest soloist and arranger in 1934- He introduced singer Lena Home as an unknown in 1941 and featured many notable musicians in his lineups. His style was based on an energized Basie-like riff formula, but he was also an undisguised admirer of Duke Ellington, and attempted to graft elements of the Ellington band's sophisticated harmonies into his own band arrangements. He is best remembered for Billy May's arrangement of the much-covered 'Cherokee' in 1939, but enjoyed a number of hits with other riff-based favourites, including 'Pompton Turnpike' and 'Redskin Rhumba', both from 1940. Like Harry James, he attempted to move into acting, and was also involved in the restaurant business, but continued to perform intermittently until the 1970s.
Mario Bauza (Trumpet, 1911-93] Mario Bauza takes a large amount of credit for bringing music from his native Cuba into jazz. He worked with Noble Sissle and Chick Webb in New York in the 1930s before teaming up with Machito. While with Cab Calloway in 1939-40 he sparked Dizzy Gillespie's interest in Cuban music, which eventually led to 'Cubop'. He was musical director of Machito's Afro-Cubans for 35 years (1940-75), after which he formed his own group.
Earl Bostic (Alto saxophone, 1913-65] Earl Bostic was a soulful alto saxophonist from Tulsa who won a wide following in the late 1940s and 1950: for his accessible but technically accomplished style. He served a big band apprenticeship as a player and arranger, but then reinvented himself in more populis mode and made a series of bestselling records in the wake of his big 1951 hit 'Flamingo'. His bands nurtun future stars, including John Coltrane, Benny Golson and Stanley Turrentine.
Charles Brown (Piano, vocals, 1922-99) Charles Mose Brown was born in Texas City, Texas and had extensive classical piano training as a youth He moved to Los Angeles in 1943 and by Septembei 1944 had become the vocalist-pianist in Johnny Moore's Three Blazers. The Blazers had several hits before Brown went solo in 1948 and scored success with songs such as 'Trouble Blues' (1949) and 'Black Night' (1951). As a vocalist, Brown was equally at