Charlie Alexander (May 29, 1890 – February 4, 1970) was an American jazz pianist from Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1917, he was the Band Sergeant for the 370th Infantry Regiment's band. Alexander played in theater orchestras accompanying silent films in the early 1920s. Later that decade he moved to Chicago and found work touring with the band of J. Rosamond Johnson. Following this he played with Baby Dodds and

Johnny Dodds Johnny Dodds (; April 12, 1892 – August 8, 1940) was an American jazz clarinetist and alto saxophonist based in New Orleans, best known for his recordings under his own name and with bands such as those of Joe "King" Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, ...

; he and Johnny formed a trio with bassist Bill Johnson in 1928. He also played in Johnny Dodds's Washboard band alongside

Lil Hardin Lillian Hardin Armstrong (née Hardin; February 3, 1898 – August 27, 1971) was an American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, singer, and bandleader. She was the second wife of Louis Armstrong, with whom she collaborated on many recordings in ...

on vocals. At the end of the 1920s he joined

Louis Armstrong Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed "Satchmo", "Satch", and "Pops", was an American trumpeter and vocalist. He was among the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned five decades and several era ...

's big band, playing with him until 1932. At live performances, Armstrong sometimes jokingly described Alexander as his pianist from New Orleans. Later in his life Alexander settled in California.

References

* Charlie Alexanderat Allmusic American jazz pianists American male pianists Musicians from Cincinnati 1890 births 1970 deaths 20th-century American pianists Jazz musicians from Ohio 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians {{US-jazz-pianist-stub