THE MUSIC OF CHARLES BOOKER

Charles L. Booker, Jr., (b. 1952) is a retired U.S. Army Bandmaster, and former Associate Professor at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith where he served as Director of Jazz Studies, Director of Bands, and Chair of the Music Department. During his tenure at UA Fort Smith he taught trumpet, band, jazz band, conducting, music theory, orchestration and composition. Mr. Booker studied composition with Hank Levy (composer/arranger for Stan Kenton), Dr. Steve Strunk and Dr. James Balentine, and conducting with Dr. Robert Garofalo and Dr. Robert Rustowicz. Mr. Booker received his degrees from the University of the State of New York and the University of Texas at San Antonio. He later completed courses for Texas teacher certification in secondary music at Texas State University. His compositions are published by Alfred, Kendor, Southern Music Company, Wingert-Jones, Potenza Music, Print Music Source, and Lecta Music. Mr. Booker’s 21-year career in the U.S. Army included service in the Fifth Army Band in San Antonio, Texas, staff arranger for the Army Field Band, conductor of Army Bands in Louisiana, Germany, New York City, and director of the Jazz Ambassadors in Washington, D. C. As a trumpeter with the Fifth Army Band, Mr. Booker performed for the funerals of Presidents Truman and Johnson. In 1981, as the conductor of the 3rd Armored Division Band in Germany, Mr. Booker conducted ceremonies at Rhein Main Air Force Base for the returning American hostages from Iran. In New York City, he conducted the Army Band of New York City at ceremonies for head of states of the United States, Germany, France, Netherlands, Portugal and China, and his band performed at the centennial activities of the Statue of Liberty. While an associate conductor of the Army Field Band and director of the Jazz Ambassadors, Mr. Booker performed at the Kennedy Center, in 48 states, India, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and marched in the inauguration parades of Presidents George H. W. Bush and William J. Clinton. In 2007, the New Mexico State University Symphonic Winds released their CD entitled “Centra-fuge: The Music of Charles L. Booker, Jr.”, and in 2008, Mr. Booker released his second CD “American Jubilee”. Booker’s CD “Time Remembered” was released in 2009, and his CD “Radiant Blues” was released in 2011. In 2014 Mr. Booker and fellow composer Roger Cichy released a compilation of their latest original music on CD “Glorious Journey”. More information on Mr. Booker and his music can be found at his website: www.charlesbooker.com

Mr. Booker is married to his wife of 54 years, trumpeter and quilter, Claudette [DeRocher] Booker. They have three children: Major Erik Booker, U. S. Army (Retired) and Maryland public school teacher; Dr. Adam Booker, Associate Professor of Double Bass at Appalachian State University, and Dr. Colleen Booker Halverson of Richland Center, Wisconsin, author, English professor at Western Governors University. Mr. Booker and Claudette have ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, and reside in San Antonio, Texas.