CHARLIE CREATH

Born Charles Cyril Creath, this multi-instrumentalist was active on the historic music scene of America in the late 19th century, playing in circus bands, roving theater troupes, and musical comedy shows before establishing a reputation as a jazzman. Even among performers who have active musical families, Creath can be said to have had double the trouble or pleasure, depending on one's point of view. Marge Creath might have preferred accompanying drummers to brothers, since she married Zutty Singleton and stayed his wife for 40 years. Then there was Pauline Creath, always available to pound out chords in music lessons as her brother struggled to learn alto saxophone, then trumpet. When the prodigal son returned from his wanderings in 1918 he had a solid résumé in groups such as the Hagen Beck-Wallace Circus Band and Walker's Musical Comedy Show as well as efforts to lead his own bands in Seattle. In 1921, read more...