Charley West

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Charley West (Andalusia, AL. September 27, 1914 - April 16, 1976) was a blues musician. Raised in Cincinnati, OH. He began singing in the mid-1920's with probable encouragement from Leroy Carr. In 1929 he moved to Chicago, IL. and began singing and playing piano in clubs. In 1937 Big Bill Broonzy got West a recording date at Bluebird Records where he recorded four sides in May. A few months later in July, he cut two more sides for Vocalion as "Poor Charlie". For unknown reasons, West didn't play piano on any of his recordings. The piano on the Bluebird recordings was played by Black Bob, while Joshua Altheimer manned the chair on the Vocalion sides. West didn't make any more recordings but kept playing in clubs up until the late 1940's. He stoppeed playing piano around 1949 or 1950 due to a wrist injury. He then held down a job in a steel mill for the next decade. Charley's daughter Dorothy married blues singer/harmonica player Carey Bell. In the 1960's Bell would let his father-in-law sit in and sing at gigs on occasion. Charley West:Vocals Either Big Bill Broonzy or Willie Bee James:Guitar Black Bob Hudson:Piano Unknown:Standup Bass Recorded in Aurora, IL. Tuesday May 4, 1937 Originally issued on Bluebird B8085 (78 RPM) Document CD "Rare 1930's and 40's Blues" User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

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