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Biography · Music

Charlie Christian

1916–1942

United States

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Biography

Charles Henry Christian (July 29, 1916 – March 2, 1942) was an American swing and jazz guitarist. He was among the first electric guitarists and was a key figure in the development of bebop and cool jazz. He gained national exposure as a member of the Benny Goodman Sextet and Orchestra from August 1939 to June 1941.

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Biography text · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

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