Charles Earland

Charles Earland (May 24, 1941 — Dec. 11, 1999) was an American soul-jazz/funk organist from Philadelphia.

Earland was born on May 24, 1941, in Philadelphia, where he took up the saxophone in high school. One of his earliest credits is on the 1959 Elektra release Gold Coast Saturday Night by Saka Acquaye and His African Ensemble. At age 17, he played tenor sax behind soul-jazz organist Jimmy McGriff.

Earland took up organ himself in the mid-1960s, when he formed the Charlie Earland Trio with guitarist Jimmy Ponder and issued the 1966 album Boss Organ on Choice Records. He also produced a pair of singles for soul singer Jean Wells on Quaker Town, which issued his standalone single “Daily Double (Part I & II).”

In 1969, Earland played on the Blue Note titles Say It Loud! and Hot Dog by saxophonist Lou Donaldson. That same year, he reactivated the Charlie Earland Trio and issued Soul Crib on Choice. In 1970, he signed with the jazz label Prestige, where he played on the titles Right On Brother by guitarist Boogaloo Joe Jones and Soul Liberation by saxophonist Rusty Bryant.

As a solo artist, Earland debuted with the 1970 Prestige release Black Talk!

Discography:

• Charles Earland (live, 1969)
• Soul Crib (1969 • Charlie Earland Trio)
• Black Talk! (1970)
• Black Drops (1970 • Charlie Earland)
• Soul Story (1971)
• Living Black! (1971)
• Live at the Lighthouse (1972)
• Intensity (1972)
• Charles III (1973)
• The Dynamite Brothers (OST, 1974)
• Leaving This Planet (1974)
• Odyssey (1975)
• Kharma (live, 1975)
• The Great Pyramid (1976)
• Revelation (1977)
• Smokin’ (1977 • Charlie Earland)
• Perceptions (1978)
• Pleasant Afternoon (1978 • Charlie Earland)
• Infant Eyes (1979 • Charlie Earland)
• Mama Roots (1979 • Charlie Earland)
• Coming to You Live (1980)
• Earland’s Jam (1982)
• In the Pocket (1982 • Charlie Earland)
• Earland’s Street Themes (1983)
• Front Burner (1988)

Sources:

• Discogs: Charles Earland