DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #124: Cherokee

DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #124: Cherokee by Charlie Barnet

I often get asked what is a typical Balboa song. Well, I guess all the experienced Balboa DJs among us have discussed that topic a thousand times. The question should probably be, is there something like a typical Balboa song? I don’t wanna discuss that here in this post. All I can say right now is, that in my opinion, there are songs that work better for Balboa than other ones. This song of the week is for sure one of the “work great for Balboa” group. Cherokee Charlie Daly Barnet (Oct. 26, 1913 – Sept. 4, 1991) had a [...]

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #6: The Gal From Joe’s

The Gal From Joe's Charlie Barnet

Another great song is The Gal From Joe’s composed by Duke Ellington and Irving Mills, here in my preferred version by Charlie Barnet (1913-1991). Charlie Barnet was a son of wealthy parents who had hoped he would become a lawyer. However Charlie led his first orchestra on a transatlantic ocean liner at the age of 16 years! Charlie later led what was known as “The Blackest White Band Of Them All” and he was a great admirer of Duke Ellington (as well of Count Basie). He mainly played tenor sax, influenced by Coleman Hawkins, but also alto and soprano sax. [...]

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