Charlie Beal

The Beal brothers hailed from the West Coast, where both were established as professional musicians by the outset of the '30s. Charlie Beal was a pianist, while younger brother Eddie Beal started out on drums but also switched to the piano a few years into his gigging career. After a period of quite casual freelancing around Los Angeles, Charlie Beal became connected with the Les Hite band, and in 1932 relocated to Chicago. Beal became known for his regular solo spot at the posh Grand Terrace, but also was a combo pianist behind leaders such as Jimmie Noone, Erskine Tate, and Frankie Jaxon. Solid swingers all, these leaders helped prepare Beal for possibly one of the ultimate jazz band jobs. In 1933, buds beginning to open on the trees outside, the pianist was hired by Louis Armstrong. Beal shows up on a large stack of Satchmo sides as a result, including quite a few of the best retrospective collections. Beal had many other musical connections, however. He toured with Noble Sissle after leaving Armstrong, and by 1934 had hopped cities again. Now based out of New York City, Beal began to work primarily as a soloist and was associated with jazz piano bars such as Adrian's Tap Room and the Onyx. Eddie South nabbed Beal for an engagement at the French Casino, but perhaps being around so much lost money depressed him, as the pianist fled north to Canada, then wound up joining the U.S. Army. He next appears as a musician back on the West Coast, again holding down a solo pianist residency at the Jococo Room. In 1946, he was in Armstrong's company again, appearing as part of the band in the film New Orleans. Billie Holiday also appeared in this somewhat stereotypical Hollywood portrait of jazz, and anecdotes from the filming indicate it was Beal who taught the great singer...