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Bobby Charles | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Robert Charles Guidry |
| Born | (1938-02-21)February 21, 1938 Abbeville, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | January 14, 2010(2010-01-14) (aged 71) Louisiana, U.S. |
| Genres | Swamp rock,roots rock,Blue-eyed soul[1] |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 1950s–1990s |
| Labels |
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Robert Charles Guidry (February 21, 1938 – January 14, 2010),[2] known asBobby Charles, was an American singer-songwriter.[3]
An ethnicCajun, Charles was born inAbbeville, Louisiana,[4] and grew up listening toCajun music and thecountry and western music ofHank Williams. At the age of 15, he heard a performance byFats Domino, an event that "changed my life forever," he recalled.[5]
Charles helped to pioneer the south Louisiana musical genre known asswamp pop. His compositions include the hits "See You Later, Alligator", which he initially recorded as "Later Alligator", but which is best known from the cover version byBill Haley & His Comets, and "Walking to New Orleans" and "It Keeps Rainin'", written for Fats Domino.[4]
"(I Don't Know Why) But I Do" was an early 1960s song that Charles composed, whichClarence "Frogman" Henry had a major hit with,[4] and which was on the soundtrack of the 1994 film,Forrest Gump.Junior Wells' rendition of his composition "Why Are People Like That?" was on the soundtrack of the 1998 film,Home Fries.[6]
Because of his south Louisiana–influencedrhythm and blues vocal style, Charles sometimes has been thought to be black, when he was white.[7]
Charles was invited to play withthe Band atThe Last Waltz, their November 26, 1976, farewell concert at theWinterland Ballroom in San Francisco. In the concert, Charles played "Down South in New Orleans", with the help ofDr. John and the Band. That song was recorded and released as part of the triple-LPThe Last Waltzbox set. The performance was captured on film by directorMartin Scorsese, but did not appear in the final, released theatrical version. Charles did, however, appear briefly in a segment of the released film—in the concert's final song "I Shall Be Released". In this segment, his image is largely blocked from view during the performance. That song, sung byBob Dylan and pianistRichard Manuel, featured backup vocals from the entire ensemble, including Charles.[8]
He co-wrote the song "Small Town Talk" withRick Danko of the Band.[4] "The Truth Will Set You Free (Promises, Promises)" was co-written withWillie Nelson.[9]
Charles continued to compose and record (he was based out of Woodstock, New York for a time) and, in 1995, he recorded a duet of "Walking to New Orleans" with Fats Domino.[9]
In September 2020, Bob Dylan featured Charles' song "He's Got All The Whiskey" from Charles' 1972 album,Bobby Charles, on Dylan'sTheme Time Radio Hour: the Whiskey episode.
A feature-length documentary film about Charles' life entitledIn a Good Place Now: The Life & Music of Bobby Charles [ja] directed by David DuBos was completed and released on February 29, 2024 in the United States[10] and September 6, 2024 in Japan.[11]
In September 2007, theLouisiana Music Hall of Fame honored Charles for his contributions to Louisiana music with an induction.
In 2005 the Museum of the Gulf Coast inPort Arthur, Texas, inducted Charles into their Music Hall of Fame, which includes over eighty artists from the Gulf Coast region, includingJanis Joplin,George Jones,Tex Ritter,ZZ Top, and others.
Charles collapsed in his home near Abbeville and died on January 14, 2010.[12][2]
