gkynard Posted May 20, 2004 Report Posted May 20, 2004 The Organissimo forum popped up on a recent search on Charles Kynard. Dan Gould had posted Charles' album, Where It's At, as the Album of the Week to review in July of 2003. My cousin, Brett and I are currently collaborating on photo selection of Charles Kynard to submit for induction to the Jazz Museum and The Blue Room located at 18th and Vine in Kanas City, MO. A follow-up with Dan Gould has resulted in a treasure of Charles Kynard recordings the Kynard family does not have. Dan's generosity is second to none as he has offered to fill the gap of the family collection of Kynard recordings. The internet is remarkable! One crowd-pleasing tune that was always requested of Charles at any live performance was his rendition of Ebb Tide. The supreme showman, Charles would flail his arms as he crescendoed the tune during the howling winds and crashing surf of the ebbing tide. Although you'd really have to SEE it to appreciate it, I still wonder if he ever recorded the piece. Does anyone know? Thank you for being there as an active forum to allow us to connect with our past! Gary Kynard Quote
Jim R Posted May 20, 2004 Report Posted May 20, 2004 Dan's generosity is second to none I'll second that. Welcome, Gary! Quote
Eric Posted May 20, 2004 Report Posted May 20, 2004 Hi Gary, Indeed, welcome!!! You will discover there are several KC folks who are active on the board and probably fans of your brother (as am I). A question for you - how much time did he spend in KC before heading to the west coast? I have most of his in-print recordings - I really enjoy his music. I have also enjoyed reading about his non-jazz professional activities - sounds like he was a neat guy. The Ebb Tide story is great ... please share more at your convenience! Eric Quote
gkynard Posted May 20, 2004 Author Report Posted May 20, 2004 Thanks for the warm welcome to the forum. Charles spent time away from KC in the late 50's when he was in the Army band. He performed on the Ed Sullivan show during that time. After his return, he married and had his first son before pulling up stakes and heading to Los Angeles in 1963. Quote
JSngry Posted May 20, 2004 Report Posted May 20, 2004 Hi Gary, great to have you here! Did Charles do the Sullivan show w/that Army band, with somebody else, or as a single? The mind reels! Quote
gkynard Posted May 20, 2004 Author Report Posted May 20, 2004 Did Charles do the Sullivan show w/that Army band, with somebody else, or as a single? The mind reels! Charles appeared with the band and was featured on one of the two numbers they played. They gave him pretty good camera time. They were in their uniforms. Would love to find a copy of that show! Gary Quote
Brad Posted May 20, 2004 Report Posted May 20, 2004 Welcome Gary. Where It's At since Dan posted it has become a big favorite of mine. So thanks to Dan and you for keeping him alive. Quote
JSngry Posted May 20, 2004 Report Posted May 20, 2004 Did Charles do the Sullivan show w/that Army band, with somebody else, or as a single? The mind reels! Charles appeared with the band and was featured on one of the two numbers they played. They gave him pretty good camera time. They were in their uniforms. Would love to find a copy of that show! Gary Thanks for that info, Gary. I'd love to see it too. Any chance that some military archive might have a copy of that show? That's a long shot, I know, but stranger things have happened... Quote
Dan Gould Posted May 20, 2004 Report Posted May 20, 2004 Gary, Thanks for joining up and sharing things about your brother. But what "non-jazz Professional activities" is Eric referring to? Was Charles a multi-talented guy? Quote
Spontooneous Posted May 20, 2004 Report Posted May 20, 2004 Welcome to the party, Gary. I came up in KC, but too late to have heard Charles. There's an organist here in town who tells stories about him, though. Are you guys very closely related to Ben Kynard, composer of "Red Top"? Quote
Dan Gould Posted May 20, 2004 Report Posted May 20, 2004 Welcome to the party, Gary. I came up in KC, but too late to have heard Charles. There's an organist here in town who tells stories about him, though. Are you guys very closely related to Ben Kynard, composer of "Red Top"? Not to step on Gary's toes, but he already told me that Ben Kynard is his uncle. He's set up a family-website Here Which has info about both Charles and Ben. Quote
gkynard Posted May 20, 2004 Author Report Posted May 20, 2004 http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=10309&hl= Glad to be here! I will look in the direction of military archives for Sullivan shows! Charles taught moderate to severely handicapped children for many years at a school in KC and also in a Los Angeles suburb. He was often lauded for his ability to "get through" and make a positive difference in the development and educational progress of the children. Music would enter his classroom on a regular basis to augment his efforts. Charles also operated a private music studio where he instructed organ lessons for students 8 years old to adult. He was the Minister of Music at the First AME church of Los Angeles and then First AME church of Pasadena. He was known for conducting in his tails and white tie during standing room only concerts featuring his operetic choir. We launched CGP Records (Charles, Gary, Paul) to record old traditional gospel tunes (organ only) for direct sale to the many churches across the nation that requested his performance. Charles left us as he loved to live his life, in the spotlight. He had a heart attack while performing on stage during the play Evolution of the Blues at the Westwood Theater across the street from the UCLA medical center. Help arrived almost immediately, but to no avail. At the time of his death in July of 1979, he was survived by his wife Alice and three kids, Jeff, Kimberly and Bradley. Quote
Eric Posted May 20, 2004 Report Posted May 20, 2004 Gary, Thanks for joining up and sharing things about your brother. But what "non-jazz Professional activities" is Eric referring to? Was Charles a multi-talented guy? Dan, If I remember correctly, he worked with disabled kids in the (LA?) area. Hopefully Gary can share a little more. Eric Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted May 20, 2004 Report Posted May 20, 2004 Cool! The brother of Charles Kynard here on the Organissimo Forums! Welcome, from a fan and player of Hammond B3! "Where It's At" is a fine record, and one I am grateful to Dan for turning me on to! My cousin, Brett and I are currently collaborating on photo selection of Charles Kynard to submit for induction to the Jazz Museum and The Blue Room located at 18th and Vine in Kanas City, MO. It would be cool to do a website with this stuff on it, too! A virtual tribute to Charles Kynard on the web! There are not enough infomational sites about jazz music and players out there. That would be way cool! Quote
Dan Gould Posted May 20, 2004 Report Posted May 20, 2004 Gary, Thanks for joining up and sharing things about your brother. But what "non-jazz Professional activities" is Eric referring to? Was Charles a multi-talented guy? Dan, If I remember correctly, he worked with disabled kids in the (LA?) area. Hopefully Gary can share a little more. Eric As he just did, while you were composing your post. Charles sounds like a great, giving guy! Quote
Hardbopjazz Posted May 20, 2004 Report Posted May 20, 2004 (edited) One of my all time favorite albums of Charles Kynard is one call "Soul Brotherhood" with Grant Green I so excited when it got released on CD. I had played the LP to death. Edited May 20, 2004 by Hardbopjazz Quote
gkynard Posted May 20, 2004 Author Report Posted May 20, 2004 QUOTE]One of my all time favorite albums of Charles Kynard is one call "Soul Brotherhood" Quote
Noj Posted May 20, 2004 Report Posted May 20, 2004 Welcome Gary! Your brother's album Soul Brotherhood is a favorite of mine too. I also have the (Legends Of Acid Jazz) Fantasy twofer containing the albums Afro-Disiac and Wa-Tu-Wa-Zui (Beautiful People)--soulful, funky music! Quote
Hardbopjazz Posted May 21, 2004 Report Posted May 21, 2004 Gary, do you know of any organ players that your brother was inspired by or like to listen to? Quote
JSngry Posted May 21, 2004 Report Posted May 21, 2004 (edited) We launched CGP Records (Charles, Gary, Paul) to record old traditional gospel tunes (organ only) for direct sale to the many churches across the nation that requested his performance. I've been looking for solo organ Gospel records for YEARS, but with very little luck. More information, please, including how to order this material! Edited May 21, 2004 by JSngry Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted May 21, 2004 Report Posted May 21, 2004 I'm with Sangry. Me want solo gospel organ music!! Quote
gkynard Posted May 21, 2004 Author Report Posted May 21, 2004 Gary, do you know of any organ players that your brother was inspired by or like to listen to? Charles would always mention Jimmy Smith as one who inspired him. While in Kansas City, he would often draw crowds to a series of "Battle of the Organs" where Charles and another great organist, Reginald Buckner would challenge one another like tap dancers often do. The crowd would be worked into a frenzy and long-extended standing ovations at their completion. Strangely, I've never heard any Reginald Buckner recordings. Quote
gkynard Posted May 21, 2004 Author Report Posted May 21, 2004 We launched CGP Records (Charles, Gary, Paul) to record old traditional gospel tunes (organ only) for direct sale to the many churches across the nation that requested his performance. I've been looking for solo organ Gospel records for YEARS, but with very little luck. More information, please, including how to order this material! I will have to make an appointment with my storage unit to search for a remaining LP from the CGP records days. The name of the albums: Nostalgic Trip Vol I and II. I'll let you know what I find, although it will take a little while to move the mountain of belongings. Quote
Hardbopjazz Posted May 21, 2004 Report Posted May 21, 2004 Do you recall how your brother selected the organ as his instrument of choice? Did he also play piano? Quote
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