Charlie Turner

Jazz bassist and tubaist, nicknamed "Fat Man", born early 20th century, died October 27, 1964. Played with Doc Cheatham in 1926, then recorded with Richard M. Jones 1927, moved to New York in 1929. By 1933 leading his own band, Charlie Turner's Arcadians, from 1935 to 1938 some of the members of this band, including Turner himself, formed the nucleus of Fats Waller's touring band. Thereafter he worked for Ethel Waters 1938-1939 and again with Waller in 1941-1942. Together with Eddy Mallory, he later opened a well known restaurant in Harlem, commemorated in Sy Oliver's song "At The Fat Man's".