Charlie Greco(1899-1955)
- Actor
Charles "Charlie" Greco (1899-1955) was a popular New York City pianist
and entertainer, circa 1915-53.
During the 1920s-30s, Greco played with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra and frequently appeared on ABC Radio Network as Whiteman's guest on programs such as "Kraft Music Hall", "Paul Whiteman Presents" and "Paul Whiteman's Musical Varieties".
Performing solo and with his Charlie Greco Dance Band, Greco played all the major Manhattan and Brooklyn clubs and dance halls including Radio City Music Hall, The Waldorf-Astoria Starlight Ballroom, The Park Central Hotel, Hotel St. George, Club Casablanca, Naples Supper Club and Henry's Restaurant. As "Carlos", his Carlos & His Marimba Band was house band for Cunard Steamship Liners between New York and various European ports.
Greco was also partner/manager of The Black Cat, an infamous Greenwich Village speakeasy. The club was known for fabulous music, dancing, cuisine, and, of course, alcohol. A favorite of musicians, celebrities and politicians alike, it was frequently raided by police.
At the Pre Cat Cafe on West 48th Street, the duo of CharlieGreco and Jimmie Sisto ensured much merriment and good crowds with their famous song parodies. They dared audiences to stump them with songs they did not know no matter how old or forgotten. There the duo also produced a wildly popular "Girly Girly Revue" establishing a best-loved rendezvous for Broadway playboys.
As a teenager, Greco attended The Juilliard School for piano. He played the Broadway vaudeville venues, was a live accompanist in silent movie houses and peddled many of his original songs on Tin Pan Alley where young musicians sold their work to make money relinquishing rights and credit in the process. Purportedly, Greco sold a number of his songs (unnamed here for legality) for $25 many of which were later made famous by numerous jazz musicians and orchestras of the day.
During WW2, Charlie Greco, now a widower, also entertained extensively in USO clubs, often with his daughter, Adele, who also played piano, accordion and sang. A class act, Charlie was known for his virtuosity on piano, accordion and organ and often encouraged audience sing-alongs to which he would harmonize beautifully.
Charlie and daughter Adele were frequent summer season entertainers in upstate New York resorts such as Lupo's Tannanah Lake Inn in Roscoe, The Ballos Hotel in Lake George and The Belvedere Hotel in Utica. For a time, Greco was also organist at St. Edmund's Church in Brooklyn.
In the last few years of his life, Greco stopped performing due to heart disease. He died in 1955 at home in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn at 56 years old.
During the 1920s-30s, Greco played with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra and frequently appeared on ABC Radio Network as Whiteman's guest on programs such as "Kraft Music Hall", "Paul Whiteman Presents" and "Paul Whiteman's Musical Varieties".
Performing solo and with his Charlie Greco Dance Band, Greco played all the major Manhattan and Brooklyn clubs and dance halls including Radio City Music Hall, The Waldorf-Astoria Starlight Ballroom, The Park Central Hotel, Hotel St. George, Club Casablanca, Naples Supper Club and Henry's Restaurant. As "Carlos", his Carlos & His Marimba Band was house band for Cunard Steamship Liners between New York and various European ports.
Greco was also partner/manager of The Black Cat, an infamous Greenwich Village speakeasy. The club was known for fabulous music, dancing, cuisine, and, of course, alcohol. A favorite of musicians, celebrities and politicians alike, it was frequently raided by police.
At the Pre Cat Cafe on West 48th Street, the duo of CharlieGreco and Jimmie Sisto ensured much merriment and good crowds with their famous song parodies. They dared audiences to stump them with songs they did not know no matter how old or forgotten. There the duo also produced a wildly popular "Girly Girly Revue" establishing a best-loved rendezvous for Broadway playboys.
As a teenager, Greco attended The Juilliard School for piano. He played the Broadway vaudeville venues, was a live accompanist in silent movie houses and peddled many of his original songs on Tin Pan Alley where young musicians sold their work to make money relinquishing rights and credit in the process. Purportedly, Greco sold a number of his songs (unnamed here for legality) for $25 many of which were later made famous by numerous jazz musicians and orchestras of the day.
During WW2, Charlie Greco, now a widower, also entertained extensively in USO clubs, often with his daughter, Adele, who also played piano, accordion and sang. A class act, Charlie was known for his virtuosity on piano, accordion and organ and often encouraged audience sing-alongs to which he would harmonize beautifully.
Charlie and daughter Adele were frequent summer season entertainers in upstate New York resorts such as Lupo's Tannanah Lake Inn in Roscoe, The Ballos Hotel in Lake George and The Belvedere Hotel in Utica. For a time, Greco was also organist at St. Edmund's Church in Brooklyn.
In the last few years of his life, Greco stopped performing due to heart disease. He died in 1955 at home in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn at 56 years old.
