This is an article about the singer-songwriter. For the Maine gubernatorial candidate, see Robert B. Charles

'' 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 US state of Louisiana and surrounding Gulf Coast states. Whi ...

, Charles was born in

Abbeville, Louisiana Abbeville is a city in, and the parish seat of, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 12,257 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. At the 2020 Population Estimates Program, populat ...

, and grew up listening to

Cajun music Cajun music (), 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 tandem with the Creole-based ...

and the

country and western music Country (also called country and western) is a music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is primarily focused on singing stori ...

Hank Williams Hiram "Hank" Williams (September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. An early pioneer of country music, he is regarded as one of the most significant and influential musicians of the 20th century. W ...

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

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

, 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 music, countr ...

. 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 (credited as Robert Guidry). The song was a Top Ten hit for Bill Haley and His Comets in 1956 in the United States, ...

", 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 formed in 1947 and continuing 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" and " It Keeps Rainin'", 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 ...

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

Clarence "Frogman" Henry Clarence Henry II (March 19, 1937 – April 7, 2024), known as Clarence "Frogman" Henry, was 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). Life a ...

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. An adaptation of the Forrest Gump (novel), 1986 novel by Winston Groom, the screenplay of the film is written by Eric Roth. It stars Tom Hanks in the title rol ...

''.

Junior Wells Junior Wells (born Amos Wells Blakemore Jr.; December 9, 1934January 15, 1998) was an American singer, harmonica player, and recording artist. He is best known for his signature song " Messin' with the Kid" and his 1965 album '' Hoodoo Man Blues ...

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

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

''. 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 within African American communities in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predomina ...

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

the Band The Band was a Canadian-American rock music, rock band formed in Toronto, Ontario, in 1957. It consisted of the Canadians Rick Danko (bass, guitar, vocals, fiddle), Garth Hudson (organ, keyboards, accordion, saxophone), Richard Manuel (piano, d ...

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

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, songwriter and pianist. His music combined New Orleans blues, jazz, R&B, soul and funk. Active as a session mus ...

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

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

. The performance was captured on film by director

Martin Scorsese Martin Charles Scorsese ( , ; born November17, 1942) is an American filmmaker. One of the major figures of the New Hollywood era, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Martin Scorsese, many accolades, including an Academ ...

, 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. Described as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture over his nearly 70-year ...

and pianist

Richard Manuel Richard George Manuel (April 3, 1943 – March 4, 1986) was a Canadian musician, singer, 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 Roll Hall of F ...

, 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 singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor and activist. He was one of the main figures of the outlaw country subgenre that developed in the late 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restr ...

. 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 "He's Got All The Whiskey" 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 ...

'': the Whiskey episode. A feature-length documentary film about Charles' life entitled ' directed by David DuBos was completed and released on February 29, 2024 in the United StatesIn a Good Place Now: The Life & Music of Bobby Charles - 2024 (IMDB)
as of June 26, 2024 and September 6, 2024 in Japan.「Peter Barakan's Music Film Festival 2024」9月6日から開催　日本初公開作6本、「アメリカン・ユートピア」「バビロン」など再上映も
as of Dec. 13, 2024

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 sta ...

honored Charles for his contributions to Louisiana music with an induction. In 2005 the Museum of the Gulf Coast in

Port Arthur, Texas Port Arthur is a city in the state of Texas, United States of America, located east of metro Houston. Part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur metropolitan area, the city lies primarily in Jefferson County, with a small extension in Orange County. ...

, inducted Charles into their Music Hall of Fame, which includes over eighty artists from the Gulf Coast region, including

Janis Joplin Janis Lyn Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) was an American singer and songwriter. One of the most iconic and successful Rock music, rock performers of her era, she was noted for her powerful mezzo-soprano vocals and her "electric" ...

George Jones George Glenn Jones (September 12, 1931 – April 26, 2013) was an American Country music, country musician, singer, and songwriter. He achieved international fame for a long list of hit records, and is well known for his distinctive voice an ...

Tex Ritter Woodward Maurice "Tex" Ritter (January 12, 1905 – January 2, 1974) was a pioneer of American country music, a singer, and an actor from the mid-1930s into the 1960s. He was the patriarch of the Ritter acting family (son John Ritter, grandso ...

ZZ Top ZZ Top is an American rock band formed in Houston, Texas, in 1969. For almost 56 years, it consisted of vocalist-guitarist Billy Gibbons, drummer Frank Beard (musician), Frank Beard, and bassist-vocalist Dusty Hill prior to his death in 2021. ZZ ...

, and others.

Death

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

Discography

Albums

*', 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