Charlie Ventura
Charlie Ventura, born Charles Venturo on December 2, 1916, in Philadelphia, was
an American jazz tenor saxophonist and bandleader. He began his musical journey
playing the alto saxophone before switching to tenor in 1937. Ventura worked as
a clerk in a shipyard by day and played with local groups at night, including
those featuring Buddy DeFranco and Lou Stein. His breakthrough came when Gene
Krupa hired him for his orchestra in 1942. After Krupa disbanded the group,
Ventura rejoined him in 1944 and stayed until 1946. He then formed his own big
band, which later evolved into smal...
