Charlie Ventura

Charlie Ventura
Charlie Ventura, c. October 1946
Background information
Birth name	Charles Venturo
Born	(1916-12-02)December 2, 1916 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	January 17, 1992(1992-01-17) (aged 75) Pleasantville, New Jersey
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Saxophone
Labels	GNP Crescendo

Charlie Ventura (born Charles Venturo; December 2, 1916 – January 17, 1992) was a tenor saxophonist and bandleader from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Ventura had his first taste of success working with Gene Krupa. In 1945 he won the Down Beat readers' poll in the tenor saxophone category. In the late 1940s he led several popular groups and went on to become known for his "bop for the people," with vocalists Jackie Cain and Roy Kral.

After the early 1950s he made only a few recordings. His first was the debut album for Gene Norman's GNP Crescendo label (GNPD No. 1) recorded live in Los Angeles. In Las Vegas, he worked with Jackie Gleason and was the featured soloist on four albums Gleason produced : Riff Jazz (1958), on which he played alto, tenor, and bass saxophones; Silk and Brass (1965); A Taste of Brass for Lovers Only (1967); and Doublin' in Brass (1968)

Ventura died of lung cancer in Pleasantville, New Jersey at the age of 75.

With Dizzy Gillespie

With Gene Krupa