Charlie Christian (Charles Henry Christian) (29 July 1916 – 2 March 1942) was an American swing and bebop jazz guitarist. Christian was an important early performer on the electric guitar, and is cited as a key figure in the development of bebop, cool and modern jazz. Many critics believe that he alone is the link between hot and modern jazz ? that there is jazz before Charlie Christian and jazz after Charlie Christian. Biography Christian was born in Bonham, Texas, but his family moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, when he was a small child. Both of his parents were musicians and he had two brothers, Edward, born 1906, and Clarence, born 1911. All three sons were taught music by their father, Clarence Henry Christian. The elder Christian was struck blind by fever and in order to support the family he and the boys would work as buskers, on what the Christians called "busts." He would have them lead him into the better