Charlie Barnet
A dashing bandleader and brilliant saxophonist who brought sleek, swinging jazz to the forefront of American pop culture in the 1930s and 40s.
1913–1991 (age 78)·American jazz saxophonist, composer & bandleader·Birthday: October 26·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Charlie Barnet was jazz aristocracy with a rebellious streak. Born into immense wealth, he rejected a conventional future for the life of a musician, forming his first big band in 1932. His orchestra stood out for its polished, driving sound and Barnet's own fiery saxophone work. He was an early and enthusiastic integrator, hiring Black musicians like Lena Horne and Frankie Newton at a time when most bands were segregated. His 1939 recording of 'Cherokee' became an instant classic and his signature theme, a rocket-fueled anthem of the swing era. Barnet rode the big band wave to fame, playing to packed ballrooms and scoring hits like 'Skyliner.' But his restlessness led him to disband his group in 1949, and though he led smaller combos later, his heart remained in the swing he helped define. He lived life on his own terms, a playboy and pilot whose greatest legacy was the sophisticated, infectious energy he brought to the bandstand.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Charlie was born in 1913, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Charlie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1913
Charlie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1913Born
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1918Started school
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1926Became a teenager
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1929Could drive
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1931Could vote
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1934Turned 21
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1943Turned 30
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1953Turned 40
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 50
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 60
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 70
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Died at 78
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
Key Achievements
- Scored a massive, career-defining hit with his 1939 recording of Ray Noble's 'Cherokee.'
- Led one of the first commercially successful white big bands to actively hire and feature Black musicians.
- Recorded the popular hit 'Skyliner,' which became another enduring theme for his orchestra.
- Maintained a top-tier touring big band throughout the peak of the swing era, from the mid-1930s to the late 1940s.
Did You Know?
He was heir to a railroad fortune but chose music over a life of inherited wealth.
He was married eleven times.
He was a licensed pilot and often flew himself to gigs.
He cited Duke Ellington as his primary musical influence and championed Ellington's compositions.
“The only thing I ever wanted to be was a jazz musician.”
