Chuck Higgins
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Charles Williams Higgins (born April 17, 1924 in Gary, Indiana) is a saxophonist. Higgins, who is noted for mixing elements of Latin Jazz with Blues, recorded in Los Angeles during the mid-fifties, notably for the Specialty and Doo-Tone labels, and is best remembered for the song "Pachuko Hop".
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Charles Williams Higgins, 17 April 1924, Gary, Indiana, USA. Higgins was an R&B singer best known for his recording "Pachuko Hop" in 1952. The son of a preacher who also played trombone, Higgins learned to play the trumpet at the age of 10. In 1940 he moved to Los Angeles, where he played the trumpet in his high-school band. While attending the Los Angeles Music Conservatory, Higgins formed a band with pianist Frank Dunn, saxophonist Johnny Parker and others on bass and drums. After a series of personnel changes, Higgins took over the saxophone position and wrote "Pachuko Hop", featuring a squealing solo on that instrument. It became a highlight of his stage show and was heard by Vernon "Big Jake" Porter, owner of Combo Records. Porter released the single ("pachuko" was a slang word denoting a Mexican-American dressed fashionably in baggy pants, with a long key chain), with the b-side "Motorhead Baby", another raw R&B rocker (and later the inspiration for the nickname of Frank Zappa sideman James "Motorhead" Sherwood, and subsequently, the heavy metal band Motorhead). Although the record was not a big seller outside the Los Angeles area, it made Higgins a local favourite and he secured concert bookings with Charlie Parker, Nat "King" Cole, Johnny Ace, Little Richard and the Orioles. Among Higgins' band members at the time were Jimmy Nolen and Johnny "Guitar" Watson, who then left for a successful blues solo career. Higgins enlisted Daddy Cleanhead to take most of the lead vocals on recordings and as Higgins never signed an exclusive recording contract, his records were released on numerous labels, including Aladdin Records, Caddy, Lucky, Recorded in Hollywood, Specialty Records and Dootone. Primarily an instrumentalist, Higgins also recorded some music featuring singers. He retired from performing in the early 60s and went on to be a teacher/music techniction for the sound booths at Los Angeles high schools and. He attempted a comeback briefly in the mid-70s, performing in a disco style, but achieved no success. Two albums recorded in the late 70s returned him to his earlier style and attracted a small European following. He was married the first time in 1945 having a son name Charles Higgins Jr. They later divorced and he re-married to Gerldine Martin on November 11, 1950. Later in 1952 welcomed their first child, Charlene Higgins. They later on had seven more children. Arlene, Lloyd, Robbie, Craig, Susan, Tina and Edward. They were divorced in 1972.
He retired the first time from performing in the early 60s and went on to be a teacher/music techniction for the sound booths at Los Angeles high schools and UCLA. He attempted a comeback briefly in the mid-70s, performing in a disco style, but achieved no success. Two albums recorded in the late 70s returned him to his earlier style and attracted a small European following.
He did a few short films. He also had parts in "Uptown Saturday Night" where he played the guitar in the club's band with Bill Cosby and Sydney Poitier.
He contenued to live in Los Angeles and toured overseas to London and Germandy playing jazz and the blues all over Europe. He played small houses in the 80's playing all over California. In 1983 he toured the UK and later returned to performing in his original style at Los Angeles nightclubs during the 80s. A collection of his early rare singles, Yak A Dak, was released on the Swedish Saxophonograph label in 1990. He retired in the 1990's but played small gigs here and there.
He died in September 1999 at the age 75 of cancer. He was cremated and given to his oldest daughter.
