Charlie's Archives

12/12/2025

A younger cornet and trumpet player whose warm, lyrical style made a deep impression on Louis Armstrong…

Armstrong said as much when they appeared together at the 1947 Town Hall concert, praising Hackett’s phrasing and melodic instinct.

For those who don’t recognise the photo: his name was Bobby Hackett. His approach came from Armstrong, but filtered through cool restraint — long, singing lines instead of fireworks.

His sound reached millions through Jackie Gleason’s “mood music” records, where Hackett’s horn was the defining voice… even when his name wasn’t on the cover.

He also played with Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller, bridging the phrasing of early jazz into the Swing Era with a tone that stood out for its elegance.

Today, his influence survives in the feel of the music rather than the spotlight of a name.

06/06/2025

Charlie next to our largest rhododendron—circa June 2nd,2025

11/04/2022

Check out Charlie's new book, "B.B. KING: FROM INDIANOLA TO ICON, published on August 30 by Schiffer Books. It's chock full of photos of the great bluesman, and tells the story of how Charlie researched B.B.'s life and background for his 1980 book, "THE ARRIVAL OF B.B. KING. Available online (Amazon and Barnes & Noble) and in bookstores!

09/04/2022

https://charliesawyer.pubsitepro.com/product/bb-king-from-indianola-to-icon

This book documents a great American story, that of B. B. King, the “King of the Blues” and one of America’s most important popular musicians. With fascinating images and history—most published for the first time—it traces his migration from his hometown of Indianola, Mississippi, to the ...

10/07/2021

Cherie, here: Today we had a surprise! Charlie received an email from his editor at Schiffer Books telling him that Amazon is already listing his new B.B. King photo book, even though the publication date isn't until May 28, 2022. Here's the link: B.B. King: From Indianola to Icon: A Personal Odyssey with the King of the Blues. The book also appears on the publisher's website: Schiffer Books Listing.

09/19/2021

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/sep/19/father-to-15-children-but-were-any-of-blues-star-bb-kings-offspring-his?fbclid=IwAR1dw1sC2sAmf7IVDf8fmr6rk_BdKCFMH6G2wpIZsfyZLu_1SKdgqwUDCWI

A new biography says paternity would have been impossible for the musician because he was sterile due to illness and an accident

08/09/2021

The new addition to the B.B. KING MUSEUM AND DELTA INTERPRETIVE CENTER in Indianola, Mississippi opened this past spring, (2021) and this bronze of B.B. sitting on the bench, gazing at the Museum is a new feature. It's easy to imagine B.B. being continually amazed by his transformation from sharecropper to world-famous blues star with a museum to celebrate his life and accomplishments! The logo on the sign identifying the museum was made from Charlie's best known photo of B.B. the one he calls "REDEMPTION."

06/29/2021

As many of you know, Charlie Sawyer is a musician as well as a photographer, and this Friday, July 2, he and his fabulous band, 2120 South Michigan Avenue, will be playing at Strange Brew Tavern in Manchester, NH, 8:30-Midnight. It happens to be his 80th birthday that day. If you are in the vicinity, come and listen to the BLUES and wish him a happy birthday!

09/17/2019

Last week, September 16th, would have been B.B. King's 94th birthday..

Happy Birthday, B, you are still remembered and revered, your music is still loved and played, and the sound of Lucille is imitated by countless guitarists all over the world! ❤️❤️❤️ (Photo by Charles Sawyer, Lennies-on-the-Turnpike, Peabody, MA 1968)

09/17/2019

B.B. King at Lennie's on the Turnpike 1968. Today, September 16, 2019 would have been Riley B. King's 94th birthday.

08/28/2019

This photo exhibit, "HOW BLUE CAN YOU GET?" has been EXTENDED until September 17th! Come see Charles Sawyer's photographs of the the GREAT BLUES ARTISTS OF THE 20th CENTURY at the Georgetown, MA Library at 2 Maple Street, G-town. Charlie is the author of the "The Arrival of B.B. King," the first comprehensive biography of the great bluesman, published by Doubleday in 1980. CHECK LIBRARY CALENDAR OR CALL FOR DETAILS re: TIMES–– to make sure there's not a meeting or event in the exhibition room when you plan to come see the photographs.
https://georgetownpl.org, 978-352-5728.
(Photo by Charles Sawyer: Muddy Waters at Lennie's on the Turnpike, Peabody, MA 1970)