Bobby Charles R.I.P. 1938-2010

Godfather of swamp-pop wrote hits for, and hobnobbed with, the legends, while forging his own distinct musical legacy.

By Blurt Staff

Another classic American voice was silenced this week: Bobby Charles Guidry, known internationally as Bobby Charles, passed away on January 14. He reportedly collapsed at his home in Abbeville, Louisiana, for as-yet-undisclosed reasons, although he had diabetes and had previously suffered from kidney cancer. He was 71.

Charles helped launch the "swamp-pop" movement - the style, geographically identified with south Louisiana and southeast Texas, was characterized by bluesy bass, twitchy guitar, honky tonk piano and, frequently, robust horns. In addition to penning huge hits for other performers (such as "See You Later, Alligator" for Billy Haley; "Walking To New Orleans" for Fats Domino and "(I Don't Know Why I Love You) But I Do" for Clarence "Frogman" Henry), he signed with Chess Records and joined several of that label's package tours - with Chuck Berry, Frankie Lymon and others - as the only white man on the bus.

Charles wound up moving to Woodstock in the early ‘70s where he cut the cult-classic album Bobby Charles with The Band's Rick Danko producing; he subsequently appeared with the Band at the legendary Last Waltz in 1976. In general, though, he shunned the spotlight and was often referred to as reclusive, although his profile was certainly high enough to merit induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2007.

2004 saw him release the acclaimed Last Train to Memphis, which was followed in 2008 by Homemade Songs. At the time of his death he'd recently finished a new album, Timeless, produced by Dr. John; it's reportedly due for release in February.

BLURT profiled Charles in our third issue (September 2008) and we'll have a full tribute to the man at the BLURT site on Monday.