bs, sax, 1916-1980 US, New York City
Musician of Jazz
Charlie Fowlkes (16 February 1916 – 9 February 1980) was an American baritone saxophonist, best known for his time with Count Basie, which lasted for more than twenty-five years.Fowlkes was born in New York, and studied alto and tenor saxophone, clarinet, and violin before settling on the baritone sax (he also played occasional flute). He spent most of his early career in New York, playing with Tiny Bradshaw (1938–1944), Lionel Hampton (1944–1948), and Arnett Cobb (1948–1951). This pattern of work was unusual for a jazz musician at the time; sidemen generally moved rapidly between bands, but Fowlkes had a sense of loyalty that kept him with bands for much longer periods.