Today in Music History - March 2
The Canadian Press
2021-03-02
Today in Music History for March 2:
In 1942, Charlie Christian, the man responsible for making the guitar a lead instrument rather than just a part of the rhythm section, died in New York of tuberculosis. He was only 25. Though Christian recorded for only three years, his single-string picking technique on the then-new electric guitar had a vast impact on both jazz and rock 'n' roll. Most of his recordings were with Benny Goodman's sextet, and he co-wrote such Goodman favourites as "Solo Flight," "Seven Come Eleven" and "Air Mail Special."