Oklahoma Musicians

Jazz history

Charlie Christian

The Oklahoma Historical Society identifies Christian as born in Bonham, Texas, moving to Oklahoma City as a child, learning multiple instruments, playing in Deep Deuce, and developing electric-guitar technique before his national work with Benny Goodman. The Gateway archive separately records a Charlie Christian photograph in Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma connection

OHS documents his Oklahoma City upbringing, school and Deep Deuce musical development, and Oklahoma-based early work.

Musical work and relationships

Electric guitarist; family band; Alphonso Trent; Eddie Durham and Jim Daddy Walker; Benny Goodman Sextet and Orchestra; Minton's Playhouse.

Hall of Fame account

The Hall catalog lists Charlie Christian as a guitarist inducted in 1989.

Evidence and remaining questions

Gateway rights record says image rights are undetermined; no copied image is included in this batch.

Sources

  1. www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry
  2. gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1476911/
  3. gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1476911/citation/
  4. www.okjazz.org/charlie-christian/

Related source accounts

These records use the same display name in different source contexts. They remain separate accounts.