Charlie Ventura

Who was Charlie Ventura?

Charlie Ventura was a tenor saxophonist and bandleader.

Ventura was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He had his first successes working with Gene Krupa. In 1945 he won the Down Beat readers' poll in the tenor saxophone division. In the late 1940 he ran a few successful ensembles and went on to be known for "bop for the people." with vocalists Jackie Cain, and Roy Kral.

After the 1950s he did few recordings. His first was the debut album for Gene Norman's GNP Crescendo label recorded live in concert in Los Angeles. In Las Vegas. he worked with Jackie Gleason. He died in Pleasantville, New Jersey at the age of 75, of lung cancer.