Robert Charles Guidry (February 21, 1938 – January 14, 2010), known as Bobby Charles, was an American singer-songwriter.

Early life

An ethnic

Cajun The Cajuns (; French: ''les Cadjins'' or ''les Cadiens'' ), also known as Louisiana ''Acadians'' (French: ''les Acadiens''), are a Louisiana French ethnicity mainly found in the U.S. state of Louisiana. While Cajuns are usually described as ...

, Charles was born in

Abbeville, Louisiana Abbeville is a city in, and the parish seat of, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, United States, west of New Orleans and southwest of Baton Rouge. The population was 12,257 at the 2010 census. At the 2020 population estimates program, the populati ...

, United States, and grew up listening to

Cajun music Cajun music (french: Musique cadienne), an emblematic music of Louisiana played by the Cajuns, is rooted in the ballads of the French-speaking Acadians of Canada. Although they are two separate genres, Cajun music is often mentioned in tande ...

and the country and western music of

Hank Williams Hank Williams (born Hiram Williams; September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century, he reco ...

. At the age of 15, he heard a performance by

Fats Domino Antoine Dominique Domino Jr. (February 26, 1928 – October 24, 2017), known as Fats Domino, was an American pianist, singer and songwriter. One of the pioneers of rock and roll music, Domino sold more than 65 million records. Born in New O ...

, an event that "changed my life forever," he recalled.

Career and highlights

Charles helped to pioneer the south Louisiana musical genre known as

swamp pop Swamp pop is a music genre indigenous to the Acadiana region of south Louisiana and an adjoining section of southeast Texas. Created in the 1950s by young Cajuns and Creoles, it combines New Orleans–style rhythm and blues, country and weste ...

. His compositions include the hits "

See You Later, Alligator "See You Later, Alligator" is a 1950s rock and roll song written and first recorded by American singer-songwriter Bobby Charles. The song was a Top Ten hit for Bill Haley and His Comets in 1956 in the United States, reaching no. 6 on ''Billboa ...

", which he initially recorded as "Later Alligator", but which is best known from the cover version by

Bill Haley & His Comets Bill Haley & His Comets were an American rock and roll band founded in 1947 that continued until Haley's death in 1981. The band was also known as Bill Haley and the Comets and Bill Haley's Comets. From late 1954 to late 1956, the group record ...

, and "

Walking to New Orleans "Walking to New Orleans" is a 1960 song by Bobby Charles, written for and recorded by Fats Domino. The record was a hit, released on Imperial Records, reaching #6 on the pop chart and #2 on the R&B chart. Background Domino was a hero of Charl ...

" and "

It Keeps Rainin' "It Keeps Rainin'" is a song recorded by Fats Domino in 1961 and written by Domino, Dave Bartholomew and Bobby Charles. It was released in the US on Imperial 5753, and in the UK on London HLP-9374, as the B-side of "I Just Cry". The song was cove ...

", written for Fats Domino. "

(I Don't Know Why) But I Do "(I Don't Know Why) But I Do" is an R&B song written by Paul Gayten and Bobby Charles (as Robert Guidry), and performed by Clarence "Frogman" Henry. Original version It was Henry's biggest U.S. hit, reaching No. 4 in early 1961. The B-side on ...

" was an early 1960s song that Charles composed, which

Clarence "Frogman" Henry Clarence Henry II (born March 19, 1937), known as Clarence "Frogman" Henry, is an American rhythm and blues singer and pianist, best known for his hits " Ain't Got No Home" (1956) and " (I Don't Know Why) But I Do" (1961). Career Clarence Henry ...

had a major hit with, and which was on the soundtrack of the 1994 film, ''

Forrest Gump ''Forrest Gump'' is a 1994 American comedy-drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Eric Roth. It is based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom and stars Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson ...

''. His composition "Why Are People Like That?" was on the soundtrack of the 1998 film, ''

Home Fries Home fries (US, Canada), house fries (US), American fries (US), fried potatoes (UK, Canada and regional US), Bratkartoffeln (German), bistro potatoes (southeastern US), or peasant potatoes are a type of basic potato dish made by pan- or skillet ...

''. Because of his south Louisiana–influenced

rhythm and blues Rhythm and blues, frequently abbreviated as R&B or R'n'B, is a genre of popular music that originated in African-American communities in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly ...

vocal style, Charles sometimes has been thought to be black, when he was white. Charles was invited to play with the Band at

The Last Waltz ''The Last Waltz'' was a concert by the Canadian-American rock group The Band, held on American Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1976, at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. ''The Last Waltz'' was advertised as The Band's "farewell concert a ...

, their November 26, 1976, farewell concert at the

Winterland Ballroom Winterland Ballroom (more commonly known as Winterland Arena or simply Winterland) was an ice skating rink and music venue in San Francisco, California. The arena was located at the corner of Post Street and Steiner Street. It was converted for ...

in San Francisco. In the concert, Charles played "Down South in New Orleans", with the help of

Dr. John Malcolm John Rebennack Jr. (November 20, 1941 – June 6, 2019), better known by his stage name Dr. John, was an American singer and songwriter. His music encompassed New Orleans blues, jazz, funk, and R&B. Active as a session musician from ...

and the Band. That song was recorded and released as part of the triple-LP ''The Last Waltz''

box set A box set or (its original name) boxed set is a set of items (for example, a compilation of books, musical recordings, films or television programs) traditionally packaged in a box and offered for sale as a single unit. Music Artists and bands ...

. The performance was captured on film by director

Martin Scorsese Martin Charles Scorsese ( , ; born November 17, 1942) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter and actor. Scorsese emerged as one of the major figures of the New Hollywood era. He is the recipient of many major accolades, incl ...

, 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 "I Shall Be Released" is a 1967 song written by Bob Dylan. Dylan recorded two primary versions. The first recording was made in collaboration with the Band during the Basement Tapes sessions in 1967, and released on '' The Bootleg Series Volu ...

". In this segment, his image is largely blocked from view during the performance. That song, sung by

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...

and pianist

Richard Manuel Richard George Manuel (April 3, 1943 – March 4, 1986) was a Canadian singer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter, best known as a pianist and one of three lead singers in The Band, for which he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and ...

, featured backup vocals from the entire ensemble, including Charles. He co-wrote the song "Small Town Talk" with

Rick Danko Richard Clare Danko (December 29, 1943 – December 10, 1999) was a Canadian musician, bassist, songwriter, and singer, best known as a founding member of the Band, for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. During ...

of the Band. "The Truth Will Set You Free (Promises, Promises)" was co-written with

Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American country musician. The critical success of the album ''Shotgun Willie'' (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of ''Red Headed Stranger'' (1975) and ''Stardust'' (1978 ...

. 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. In September 2020, Bob Dylan featured Charles' song "All the Money" from Charles' 1972 album, ''Bobby Charles'', on Dylan's ''

Theme Time Radio Hour ''Theme Time Radio Hour'' (''TTRH'') was a weekly one-hour satellite radio show hosted by Bob Dylan that originally aired from May 2006 to April 2009. Each episode had a freeform mix of music, centered on a theme (such as "Weather", "Money" or "F ...

'': the Whiskey episode. A feature-length documentary film about Charles' life entitled "In a Good Place Now: The Life & Music of Bobby Charles" completed production in 2022 and will be released soon.

Honors

In September 2007, the

Louisiana Music Hall of Fame The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame (LMHOF) is a non-profit hall of fame based in Baton Rouge, the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana, that seeks to honor and preserve the state's music culture and heritage and to promote education about the state ...

honored Charles for his contributions to Louisiana music with an induction.

Death

Charles collapsed in his home near Abbeville and died on January 14, 2010.

Discography

Albums

*''Bobby Charles'', 1972 (Bearsville Records) *''Clean Water'', 1987 (Rice 'n' Gravy Records/Zensor Records) *''Wish You Were Here Right Now'', 1994 (Rice 'n' Gravy Records) *''Secrets of the Heart'', 1998 (Rice 'n' Gravy Records/Stony Plain Records) *''Last Train to Memphis'', 2004 (Rice 'n' Gravy Records/Proper Records UK) *''Homemade Songs'', 2008 (Rice 'n' Gravy Records) *''Timeless'', 2010 (Rice 'n' Gravy Records) *''Better Days: Rare Tracks On Bearsville'', 2011 (Bearsville Records) – Recorded 1974

References

Sources

*John Broven, ''South to Louisiana: Music of the Cajun Bayous'' (Gretna, La.: Pelican Press, 1983). *Shane K. Bernard, ''Swamp Pop: Cajun and Creole Rhythm and Blues'' (Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1996).

External links

Allmusic biography of Bobby Charles"Lost Legend," ''New Orleans Times Picayune'', 28 April 2007.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Charles, Bobby 1938 births 2010 deaths People from Abbeville, Louisiana American male singer-songwriters Cajun musicians Swamp pop music Imperial Records artists Jewel Records artists Chess Records artists Singer-songwriters from Louisiana Bearsville Records artists Stony Plain Records artists Proper Records artists