(1916 – 1942) Charlie Christian, inventor of the electric guitar, was born into a family of musicians on 29 July 1916, in Bonham (Texas). His father became blind when Charlie was still a young boy, but the child found solace in music, and it was then he discovered the guitar. The family moved to Oklahoma City, where Charlie perfected his technique and made his debut as double bass player in Alphonso Trent’s band in 1934. He then opted for amplified guitar, an invention created by Eddie Durham (or so it would seem) who played trombone in Jimmie Lunceford’s band. Christian developed a new style suitable for this instrument, and joined Bennie Goodman’s sextet in 1939. He was close to all the major names of bebop – Charlie Parker, Dizzie Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Kenny Clarke, Don Byas – and was soon making a name for himself as a jazz and blues soloist on electric guitar. The amplified sound changed the technical characteristics of the instrument, enabling it to be part of a band, whereas before, its sound had always been drowned out by the keyboards, brass and percussions. Charlie Christian’s meticulous style is incisive and precise, with a technique adopted by many other musicians, e.g. Fred Guy (with Ellington), Freddy Green (with Count Basie), Billy Mackel (with Hampton) and Tony Grimes (with Art Tatum). Christian opened the way for the ‘purist’ blues musicians, B.B. King being one memorable example; and later on, the electric guitar became the favourite rock ‘n roll instrument. Charlie Christian, the ‘King of swing guitar’ in the opinion of many, died of tuberculosis in 1942. His short but impressive career created a legend around his name that is still vividly alive today.