Charlie Segar
Encyclopedia
This article refers to the blues pianist. For the movie producer see Charles Segars
Charlie Segar was an American
blues
pianist
and occasional singer, who is best known for the blues standard
, "Key to the Highway
" in 1940. Originally from Pensacola, Florida
, Segar has been dubbed the "Keyboard Wizard Supreme". He relocated to Chicago
, where he made recordings with other blues artists, such as Bumble Bee Slim
and Memphis Minnie
, as well as being the featured artist. "Key to the Highway" is one of eight known songs Segar recorded under his own name between 1934 and 1940 for Decca
and Vocalion
.
Charlie Segar's original "Key to the Highway" was done in the form of a mid-tempo twelve-bar blues. When Jazz Gillum
recorded it later that year, the song became an eight-bar blues, as it is usually known (May 9, 1940 Bluebird
B 8529).
Eight of Segar's song performances appear on the compilation album
, Piano Blues, Vol. 2: 1927-1956.
Segar's version of "Key to the Highway" appears on Chicago Blues 1940 - 1947.
Charles Segars
This article refers to the movie producer. For the blues pianist see Charles SegarCharles Segars is a movie producer and a TV and film executive....
Charlie Segar was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and occasional singer, who is best known for the blues standard
Blues standard
A blues standard is a blues song that is widely known, performed, and recorded by blues artists. The following list identifies blues standards and some of the blues artists that have recorded them...
, "Key to the Highway
Key to the Highway
"Key to the Highway" is a blues standard first recorded by blues pianist Charlie Segar in 1940. The song was also recorded by Jazz Gillum and Big Bill Broonzy in 1940–41, and it was later a R&B record chart success for Little Walter in 1958...
" in 1940. Originally from Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
, Segar has been dubbed the "Keyboard Wizard Supreme". He relocated to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, where he made recordings with other blues artists, such as Bumble Bee Slim
Bumble Bee Slim
Amos Easton , better known by the stage name Bumble Bee Slim, was an American Piedmont blues musician.-Biography:Easton was born in Brunswick, Georgia, United States...
and Memphis Minnie
Memphis Minnie
Memphis Minnie was an American blues guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. She was the only female blues artist considered a match to male contemporaries as both a singer and an instrumentalist.-Career:...
, as well as being the featured artist. "Key to the Highway" is one of eight known songs Segar recorded under his own name between 1934 and 1940 for Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
and Vocalion
Vocalion Records
Vocalion Records is a record label active for many years in the United States and in the United Kingdom.-History:Vocalion was founded in 1916 by the Aeolian Piano Company of New York City, which introduced a retail line of phonographs at the same time. The name was derived from one of their...
.
Charlie Segar's original "Key to the Highway" was done in the form of a mid-tempo twelve-bar blues. When Jazz Gillum
Jazz Gillum
William McKinley Gillum , known as Jazz Gillum, was an American blues harmonica player.He was born in Indianola, Mississippi. After running away from home at the age of seven, Gillum spent the next few years in Charleston, Mississippi, working and playing for tips on local street corners...
recorded it later that year, the song became an eight-bar blues, as it is usually known (May 9, 1940 Bluebird
Bluebird Records
Bluebird Records is a sub-label of RCA Victor Records originally created in 1932 to counter the American Record Company in the "3 records for a dollar" market. Along with ARC's Perfect Records, Melotone Records and Romeo Records, and the independent US Decca label, Bluebird became one of the best...
B 8529).
Eight of Segar's song performances appear on the compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, Piano Blues, Vol. 2: 1927-1956.
Segar's version of "Key to the Highway" appears on Chicago Blues 1940 - 1947.