Real name: Charles Joseph Gries

Effective period / Period of releases: 1951 - 1959

Pop and Jazz pianist and singer. Born 1927 in Chicago, Illinois Died December 19, 2008. Stepson of Muggsy Spanier. Had extended plays at Chicago nightclubs (i.e. from 1972-1990 at "Acorn" on Oak Street and 10 years at "The Drake Hotel" 1990-1999).
He began piano lessons in 6th grade. After graduating from Mt. Carmel High School, serving in the army during World War II, and majoring in philosophy and psychology at Loyola University, Buddy Charles began playing professionally around 1947. In 1950, Buddy's mother remarried, which made Muggsy Spanier his stepfather. He played all over the Chicago area--including the Blue Note, the Riptide, the Casino, Curly's Show Lounge, the Dubonnet, and Jazz Ltd. He supposdely had between 15,000 and 20,000 songs in his repertoire.