For the sportsman known by this name, see Charlie Higgins (Gaelic footballer).
Chuck Higgins
Birth name
Charles Williams Higgins
Born
(1924-04-17)April 17, 1924 Gary, Indiana
Origin
Los Angeles, California
Died
September 14, 1999(1999-09-14) (aged 75) Los Angeles, California
Genres
Rhythm and blues, jazz
Instrument(s)
Saxophone
Musical artist
Charles Williams Higgins (April 17, 1924 – September 14, 1999)[1] was an American saxophonist.
Higgins relocated from his birthplace of Gary, Indiana to Los Angeles in his teens, where he played trumpet and went to school at the Los Angeles Conservatory. Later switching to saxophone, he penned the single "Pachuko Hop" (1952), which became popular among American Latinos on the West Coast.[2][3] The "Pachuko Hop" single's B-side, "Motorhead Baby", was the inspiration for the nickname of musician Motorhead Sherwood, who played with Frank Zappa.[2] The song "Pachuko Hop" is also referenced in the lyrics to the songs "Jelly Roll Gum Drop" on Zappa's album Cruising with Ruben & the Jets (1968) and "Debra Kadabra" by Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart on their collaborative album Bongo Fury (1975). Zappa listed Chuck Higgins as a reference in his influence list accompanying his album Freak Out! (1966). The 1955 single, "Wetback Hop", became the subject of controversy because of the use of the derogatory term for Mexicans in the title. It was an attempt to associate the listener with the earlier success of "Pachuko Hop", which refers to Mexican zoot suiters of the 1940s. The song appears on the 1996 Rocket Sixty-Nine release Jump Shot!.
Higgin's Orchestra performed at the famed twelfth Cavalcade of Jazz held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles which was produced by Leon Hefflin, Sr. on September 2, 1956. Also performing that day were Dinah Washington, The Mel Williams Dots, Julie Stevens, Little Richard, Bo Rhambo, Willie Hayden & Five Black Birds, The Premiers, Gerald Wilson and His 20-Pc. Recording Orchestra and Jerry Gray and his Orchestra.[4]
Higgins also played as a sideman with Charlie Parker and The Orioles, among others, and Johnny "Guitar" Watson played in Higgins's band for a short time. He recorded for Aladdin Records, Caddy Records, Lucky Records, Specialty Records, and Dootone Records, achieving regional success into the 1960s.[2] In the middle of the 1960s he left active performance to become a teacher, though in the 1970s he recorded a few songs in the disco style. Later that decade and into the 1980s he returned to 1950s-style R&B, touring California clubs as well as England.[2] Some of Higgins's back catalogue was released on reissue labels in the 1990s and 2000s.[5][6]
Higgins died of lung cancer in 1999 in Los Angeles, California.[7]
Charles Williams Higgins (April 17, 1924 – September 14, 1999) was an American saxophonist. Higgins relocated from his birthplace of Gary, Indiana to Los...
original concept of having the group sing in unison, leveraged by Higgins' musical talent. Higgins gained more recognition by being featured in the films Fun...
CBS show – here's why this is such a big deal". Pulse Nigeria. Lorre, Chuck; Higgins, Al; Yashere, Gina; Gardell, Billy; Olowofoyeku, Folake; Frazier, Kevin...
that day were Dinah Washington, The Mel Williams Dots, Julie Stevens, ChuckHiggins' Orchestra, Bo Rhambo, Willie Hayden & Five Black Birds, The Premiers...
Sovereigns No. 0 (with Ray Fawkes, Kyle Higgins, and Aubrey Sitterson, April 2017) Magnus #1-#2 (with Kyle Higgins, June 2017 – July 2017) Turok #1-#4 (with...
describes the record an "obscure gem". He was the older brother of ChuckHiggins and regularly sang vocals with his brother's band. He was recorded with...
with popular southern California players Monte Easter (trumpet) and ChuckHiggins (tenor saxophone). During this period Nolen recorded his own commercially...
held in Anchorage, Alaska and their champions include Earl Bennett and ChuckHiggins, while Mexican Formula One driver Pedro Rodríguez won his class and...
(1966) "Keep An Eye On Love" – Ernestine Anderson (1963) "Eye Balling" – ChuckHiggins (1955) "Brown Eyes" – The Blue Sky Boys (1940) "Eyesight to the Blind"...
2017. "Chuck Schumer". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 7, 2008. Retrieved April 4, 2008. "Schumer, Charlie Ellis (Chuck)". Biographical...
that day were Little Richard, The Mel Williams Dots, Julie Stevens, ChuckHiggin's Orchestra, Bo Rhambo, Willie Hayden & Five Black Birds, The Premiers...
from Suitcase (Keb' Mo' album) 2006 "The Itch" song by saxophonist ChuckHiggins "The Itch", band from Stillwater, Minnesota circa 1991 "The Itch", an...
Bachelor Of Hearts "Boulevard Nights" by Mellow Man Ace "Boyle Heights" by ChuckHiggins& His Mellotones "Boyle Heights Affair" by Oicho "Boys in L.A." by Ru...
2010 was posthumously inducted as the head coach of the "Dream Team". The Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award is named after him. Born in Kane, Pennsylvania...
Crothers Bobby Day The Gay Sisters Jimmy Grissom Johnny Hall Linda Hayes ChuckHiggins Smokey Hogg Hollywood Bluejays (predecessor of The Flairs). The Hollywood...
Records, Hugg recorded local favorites Jim Balcom, Jeanette Baker, ChuckHiggins and Johnny Flamingo. Hugg later promoted bands like The Jaguars, the...
Margaret Higgins Sanger (born Margaret Louise Higgins; September 14, 1879 – September 6, 1966), also known as Margaret Sanger Slee, was an American birth...
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