BLACKWELL, CHARLIE
Charlie Blackwell, circa 1975, courtesy Chafay Records
Homebase: Seattle, WA.
Stats: 1921-
Misc Notes: Born in Seattle on May 11, 1921, Charlie Blackwell was the younger piano-playing brother of band-leader Robert A. "Bumps" Blackwell. While attending Garfield High School, he played guitar and sang with the Four Sharps quartet which formed in order to perform at the Garfield Fun Fest talent show. By 1935 he was playing drums with Bump's Rhythm Maniacs. Like brother Bumps, he also headed off to Los Angeles where each of their careers thrived. Charlie scored gigs playing drums with various prominent jazz bands, including those led by Kid Ory (1945), Count Basie, Shelly Manne, Stan Kenton, Dave Brubeck, and Eddie Heywood. In the 1950s he began a recording career as a pop singer and his 1959 record, "Midnight Oil" -- which was penned by the Walt Disney writers, Bob & Dick Sherman -- climbed to Billboard Magazine's #55 slot in 1959. Blackwell also enjoyed a nightclub career, leading the Charlie Blackwell Trio -- which included onetime Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra drummer, Tommy Widdecomb -- and singing and playing his guitar well into the 1970s. Blackwell's Here's Charlie LP was issued while he had an extended booking at the Villa Hotel in San Mateo, CA.
MISC NOTES: The song publishing company for these two songs is Fayed Music Co. Interestingly, the song publisher for Blackwell's Here's Charlie album in 1975 was the Ed Fay Music Co. And, the name of the label for that LP was Chafay Records -- which we presume is a conflation of Charlie and Fay.
LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Charlie Blackwell (guitar? / drums? / vocals?);
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:
A-SIDE MATRIX: A-15054
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Charlie Blackwell
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: Fayed Music Co, (BMI)
B-SIDE MATRIX: B-15054
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Charlie Blackwell
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: Fayed Music Co, (BMI)
MISC NOTES: Song composers are the same as on Blackwell's Warner Bros. 45, "None Of 'Em Glow Like You."
LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Charlie Blackwell (vocals); "Orchestra Conducted by Ray Johnson"
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:
Known Label Designs:
1.) A - B promo label. Pink background. Black numerals and lettering including: SAMPLE COPY - NOT FOR SALE
2.) A - B retail label. Black background. Silver numerals and lettering
A-SIDE MATRIX:
1.) 104,207
2.) 104,207
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
1.) 45 104207 2 (stamped)
2.) 45 105207 5 (stamped)
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Hal Winn - Jay Gettie
A-SIDE PUBLISHER:
1.) Suncrest Music Co. (BMI)
2.) No Listing
B-SIDE MATRIX:
1.) 104, 208
2.) 104, 208
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
1.) 45 104208 2 (stamped)
2.) 45 104208 5 (stamped)
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Hal Winn - Jay Gettie
B-SIDE PUBLISHER:
1.) Suncrest Music Co. (BMI)
2.) No Listing
MISC NOTES: Charting for nine weeks, "Midnight Oil" peaked at #55 on the Billboard charts in February 1959. B-side composers are the same as on Blackwell's "Glory" single.
LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Charlie Blackwell (vocals);
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:
A-SIDE MATRIX: A10,166
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Bob and Dick Sherman
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: Music World Corp. (BMI)
B-SIDE MATRIX: A10,167
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Gettie - Winn
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: Moonbeam Music Co. (BMI)
MISC NOTES:
LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Charlie Blackwell (vocals);
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:
A-SIDE MATRIX: B10,430
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Kahn - King - Bivens
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: Leo Feist, Inc (ASCAP)
B-SIDE MATRIX: B10, 432
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Harmati - Heyman - Davies
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: T.B. Harms Co. (ASCAP)
MISC NOTES:
LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Charlie Blackwell (vocals);
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:
A-SIDE MATRIX: B10,431
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Jack Kohen
A-SIDE PUBLISHER:
B-SIDE MATRIX: B10, 434
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Bob and Dick Sherman
B-SIDE PUBLISHER:
MISC NOTES:
LOCATION: Los Angels
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Charlie Blackwell (vocals); Don Ralke Orchestra
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:
A-SIDE MATRIX: BX11,111
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Ross - Barry
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: Hill & Range Songs, Inc (BMI)
B-SIDE MATRIX: BX11,113
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Hilliard - Ballard
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: E.H. Morris & Co.,Inc. (ASCAP)
MISC NOTES: The name of the Chafay Records company would seem to be based on the names of Charlie Blackwell and his song publisher, Ed Fay.
SIDE A
- Voodo Man (C. Blackwell)
- My Song (C. Blackwell)
- Believe Me Girl (C. Blackwell)
- Baby Come To Me (C. Blackwell)
- I Won't Cry Anymore
- You Take Care Of Him (C. Blackwell)
- Stagger Lee
SIDE B:
- Pack She Back (C. Blackwell)
- Tomorrow Night (C. Blackwell)
- Say Hello to the Sun (C. Blackwell)
- Six Days on the Road
- I Understand
- My Sunshine's Gone Away (C. Blackwell)
- Kansas City
- 99 Years (C. Blackwell)
LOCATION: Hollywood, CA
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Charlie Blackwell (vocals, guitar);
RECORDING STUDIO: Conway Recorders
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 12"
SPEED: 33 1/3 rpm
DISC NOTES:
A-SIDE MATRIX: S-4585
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE: S 4585 MHS
A-SIDE COMPOSER:
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: Ed Fay Music Co. (BMI)
B-SIDE MATRIX: S-4586
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE: S 4586 MHS
B-SIDE COMPOSER:
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: Ed Fay Music Co. (BMI)