Charlie Russo’s Playful and Swingin’ 45

Charlie Russo and His Orchestra “Goofin” (Port, 1964)
  • Listen to this song in a Spotify playlist here (though note, spotify doesn’t have all / many of the songs featured on the site so some playlists may be incomplete or feature slightly different versions than the original 45s I’m referring to here).
  • Listen to the song on Youtube: Goofin
  • Download the songs here: Goofin

Welcome back everyone, with all the turmoil that’s going on I hope this finds you well and able to recharge. Today we’ve got a nice jazzy side for you. This 1964 release was one of three 45s put out by saxophone, clarinet and oboe player Charlie Russo. Russo was born in the Bronx in 1910 and lived in Greenville SC from 1967 onward. Other than today’s 45 he released a single in 63 on the Diamond label and his last in 67 on Laurie. This record is always a winner when I (used to, pre-covid) play out. The percussion winding around the slinky sax and the bar room piano all mixed up with the mostly unintelligible vocals are a winning mixture for good energy in a room.

Though there aren’t any recordings I know of after the late 60’s, Russo was a mainstay in the live music scene playing regularly with big band trumpeter Charles Spivak as early as the 1940’s and was so well liked- Spivak called him his “top man” – he stuck with Spivak as he trimmed down his big band to five people. Sadly, Russo was killed during a robbery in 1975 after a gig with Spivak where they were in residence- part of a strange and brutal period of crime in Greenville, SC- which was never solved, bring his life to a tragic end at the age of 70.

Billboard review of the Charlie Spivak Orchestra from 1948 referencing Russo’s inspiring playing.

While he was taken tragically, he was noted as being a source of great joy in his performances and we have the upbeat and celebratory “Goofin” side he left us to prove it.

See you on Friday for something a little different, some countrified sunshine pop.

Peace,
-George / Snack Attack

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