MUSICIAN
Charlie Christian
1916 - 1942

Charlie Christian
Charles Henry Christian (July 29, 1916 – March 2, 1942) was an American swing and jazz guitarist. He was among the first electric guitarists and was a key figure in the development of bebop and cool jazz. He gained national exposure as a member of the Benny Goodman Sextet and Orchestra from August 1939 to June 1941. His single-string technique, combined with amplification, helped bring the guitar out of the rhythm section and into the forefront as a solo instrument. Read more on Wikipedia
His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Charlie Christian is the 989th most popular musician (down from 891st in 2019), the 5,147th most popular biography from United States (down from 4,375th in 2019) and the 326th most popular American Musician.
Memorability Metrics
Page views of Charlie Christian by language
Among MUSICIANS
Among musicians, Charlie Christian ranks 989 out of 3,175. Before him are Duško Gojković, John Lewis, Rosalyn Tureck, Tuomas Holopainen, Sam Rivers, and Aphex Twin. After him are Al Jardine, S. D. Burman, Corey Taylor, Oscar Hammerstein II, Johann Gottfried Piefke, and Kyung Wha Chung.
Most Popular Musicians in Wikipedia
Go to all RankingsDuško Gojković
1931 - 2023
HPI: 59.01
Rank: 983
John Lewis
1920 - 2001
HPI: 59.00
Rank: 984
Rosalyn Tureck
1914 - 2003
HPI: 58.99
Rank: 985
Tuomas Holopainen
1976 - Present
HPI: 58.99
Rank: 986
Sam Rivers
1923 - 2011
HPI: 58.99
Rank: 987
Aphex Twin
1971 - Present
HPI: 58.99
Rank: 988
Charlie Christian
1916 - 1942
HPI: 58.99
Rank: 989
Al Jardine
1942 - Present
HPI: 58.98
Rank: 990
S. D. Burman
1906 - 1975
HPI: 58.97
Rank: 991
Corey Taylor
1973 - Present
HPI: 58.97
Rank: 992
Oscar Hammerstein II
1895 - 1960
HPI: 58.97
Rank: 993
Johann Gottfried Piefke
1815 - 1884
HPI: 58.96
Rank: 994
Kyung Wha Chung
1948 - Present
HPI: 58.95
Rank: 995
Contemporaries
Among people born in 1916, Charlie Christian ranks 145. Before him are Wan Li, Benjamin Libet, Anton Diffring, Svend Asmussen, Bill Melendez, and Françoise Giroud. After him are Rong Yiren, Robert H. Dicke, Julian Rotter, Adriana Caselotti, Werner Bischof, and Penelope Fitzgerald. Among people deceased in 1942, Charlie Christian ranks 146. Before him are Joseph Larmor, Juhan Kukk, Xiao Hong, Gerard Philips, Natalya Kovshova, and Fritz Platten. After him are Vladimir Petlyakov, Kiyoura Keigo, Elmer Niklander, Herbert Selpin, Símun av Skarði, and Łucja Frey.
Others Born in 1916
Go to all RankingsWan Li
POLITICIAN
1916 - 2015
HPI: 59.40
Rank: 139
Benjamin Libet
PSYCHOLOGIST
1916 - 2007
HPI: 59.30
Rank: 140
Anton Diffring
ACTOR
1916 - 1989
HPI: 59.27
Rank: 141
Svend Asmussen
MUSICIAN
1916 - 2017
HPI: 59.22
Rank: 142
Bill Melendez
ACTOR
1916 - 2008
HPI: 59.07
Rank: 143
Françoise Giroud
WRITER
1916 - 2003
HPI: 59.00
Rank: 144
Charlie Christian
MUSICIAN
1916 - 1942
HPI: 58.99
Rank: 145
Rong Yiren
POLITICIAN
1916 - 2005
HPI: 58.95
Rank: 146
Robert H. Dicke
PHYSICIST
1916 - 1997
HPI: 58.94
Rank: 147
Julian Rotter
PSYCHOLOGIST
1916 - 2014
HPI: 58.86
Rank: 148
Adriana Caselotti
ACTOR
1916 - 1997
HPI: 58.86
Rank: 149
Werner Bischof
PHOTOGRAPHER
1916 - 1954
HPI: 58.80
Rank: 150
Penelope Fitzgerald
WRITER
1916 - 2000
HPI: 58.79
Rank: 151
Others Deceased in 1942
Go to all RankingsJoseph Larmor
PHYSICIST
1857 - 1942
HPI: 59.14
Rank: 140
Juhan Kukk
POLITICIAN
1885 - 1942
HPI: 59.13
Rank: 141
Xiao Hong
WRITER
1911 - 1942
HPI: 59.08
Rank: 142
Gerard Philips
BUSINESSPERSON
1858 - 1942
HPI: 59.05
Rank: 143
Natalya Kovshova
MILITARY PERSONNEL
1920 - 1942
HPI: 59.02
Rank: 144
Fritz Platten
POLITICIAN
1883 - 1942
HPI: 59.00
Rank: 145
Charlie Christian
MUSICIAN
1916 - 1942
HPI: 58.99
Rank: 146
Vladimir Petlyakov
ENGINEER
1891 - 1942
HPI: 58.97
Rank: 147
Kiyoura Keigo
POLITICIAN
1850 - 1942
HPI: 58.78
Rank: 148
Elmer Niklander
ATHLETE
1890 - 1942
HPI: 58.78
Rank: 149
Herbert Selpin
FILM DIRECTOR
1904 - 1942
HPI: 58.73
Rank: 150
Símun av Skarði
WRITER
1872 - 1942
HPI: 58.70
Rank: 151
Łucja Frey
PHYSICIAN
1889 - 1942
HPI: 58.66
Rank: 152
In United States
Among people born in United States, Charlie Christian ranks 5,147 out of 20,380. Before him are Sam Rivers (1923), Joseph Leidy (1823), Red Auerbach (1917), Jeff Conaway (1950), Ray Romano (1957), and Russell Banks (1940). After him are George Seaton (1911), Kevin Hagen (1928), Marilyn French (1929), Cheryl Ladd (1951), Al Jardine (1942), and Samuel Wilson (1766).
Others born in United States
Go to all RankingsSam Rivers
MUSICIAN
1923 - 2011
HPI: 58.99
Rank: 5,141
Joseph Leidy
BIOLOGIST
1823 - 1891
HPI: 58.99
Rank: 5,142
Red Auerbach
BASKETBALL PLAYER
1917 - 2006
HPI: 58.99
Rank: 5,143
Jeff Conaway
ACTOR
1950 - 2011
HPI: 58.99
Rank: 5,144
Ray Romano
ACTOR
1957 - Present
HPI: 58.99
Rank: 5,145
Russell Banks
WRITER
1940 - 2023
HPI: 58.99
Rank: 5,146
Charlie Christian
MUSICIAN
1916 - 1942
HPI: 58.99
Rank: 5,147
George Seaton
FILM DIRECTOR
1911 - 1979
HPI: 58.99
Rank: 5,148
Kevin Hagen
ACTOR
1928 - 2005
HPI: 58.99
Rank: 5,149
Marilyn French
WRITER
1929 - 2009
HPI: 58.99
Rank: 5,150
Cheryl Ladd
ACTOR
1951 - Present
HPI: 58.98
Rank: 5,151
Al Jardine
MUSICIAN
1942 - Present
HPI: 58.98
Rank: 5,152
Samuel Wilson
RELIGIOUS FIGURE
1766 - 1854
HPI: 58.98
Rank: 5,153
Among MUSICIANS In United States
Among musicians born in United States, Charlie Christian ranks 326. Before him are Ron McGovney (1962), Fats Waller (1904), Al Foster (1943), John Lewis (1920), Rosalyn Tureck (1914), and Sam Rivers (1923). After him are Al Jardine (1942), Corey Taylor (1973), Oscar Hammerstein II (1895), Jordan Rudess (1956), Kerry King (1964), and Wayne Kramer (1948).
Ron McGovney
1962 - Present
HPI: 59.05
Rank: 320
Fats Waller
1904 - 1943
HPI: 59.04
Rank: 321
Al Foster
1943 - 2025
HPI: 59.01
Rank: 322
John Lewis
1920 - 2001
HPI: 59.00
Rank: 323
Rosalyn Tureck
1914 - 2003
HPI: 58.99
Rank: 324
Sam Rivers
1923 - 2011
HPI: 58.99
Rank: 325
Charlie Christian
1916 - 1942
HPI: 58.99
Rank: 326
Al Jardine
1942 - Present
HPI: 58.98
Rank: 327
Corey Taylor
1973 - Present
HPI: 58.97
Rank: 328
Oscar Hammerstein II
1895 - 1960
HPI: 58.97
Rank: 329
Jordan Rudess
1956 - Present
HPI: 58.92
Rank: 330
Kerry King
1964 - Present
HPI: 58.92
Rank: 331
Wayne Kramer
1948 - 2024
HPI: 58.91
Rank: 332