Charles Avery

Life and career Details of Avery's early life are sparse, although it is known that he was born in Brighton, Alabama, United States.

Avery was primarily active in the late 1920s and 1930s, when he was utilised regularly as a session musician by record labels, when piano accompaniment was required for musicians without that attribute. Pianist credits for Avery include work with Leroy Carr, Tampa Red, Lucille Bogan (1930), Victoria Spivey (1931), Lil Johnson (1929), Red Nelson (1935), and the more obscure singer, Freddie "Redd" Nicholson (1930) (who recorded eight sides, although only five were issued).

Avery's backing work was primarily issued by Brunswick Records and Decca Records between 1929 and 1935.

His work with Lucille Bogan, when she was using her pseudonym, Bessie Jackson, included Avery's boogie-woogie style accompaniment on the March 1930 recording of "Alley Boogie". This was not Avery's only recording with Bogan, as he was also the pianist playing on her recording of "My Georgia Grind", which was also recorded in late March 1930.

Lil Johnson, when recording "House Rent Scuffle" (1929), complimented Avery when stating on the recording, "Somebody buy the piano player a drink... He's just too tight. I wish you'd play that at my house every Saturday night!".

Avery's own track, "Dearborn St. Breakdown", is included on the compilation album, The Boogie Woogie Masters (1996), among many others.

Charles Avery died in September 11, 1974, at the age of 82.

Solo discography Singles Year Title Record label 1929 "Dearborn St. Breakdown" Paramount Records