Soloman Charles Waterford (1916 - 2007)

Born 16 Oct 1916 in Jonesboro, Craighead, Arkansas, United States

Died 1 Feb 2007 at age 90 in Jacksonville, Duval, Florida, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Jimmy Honey [send private message] and US Black Heritage Project WikiTree [send private message]

Charles Waterford is a part of US Black history. Join: US Black Heritage Project Discuss: black_heritage

Biography

Charles Waterford is Notable.

Soloman Charles Waterford, also known as Crown Prince Waterford, was an American jazz and blues singer who recorded in the 1940s and 1950s. He released albums such as All Over But The Shoutin and The Reverend Wateford Sings. He played with the likes of Jay McShann, Pete Johnson and others.^[1]

Charles Waterford was born on October 16, 1916 in Jonesboro, Craighead County, Arkansas.^[1] His father was Evans Taylor Waterford, and his mother Annie (Jackson) Waterford.^[2] Sometime after his birth, the family moved to Stuttgart, Arkansas County, Arkansas.^[3] In 1930, they lived in North Little Rock, Pulaski County on Locust Street.^[4] From an early age, Charles was encouraged to sing, both of his parents were musicians. In his late teens, he lived in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and in 1936 he sang there with Leslie Sheffield's Rhthmaires. He then auditioned in Chicago for Andy Kirk's band 12 Clouds of Joy. He joined the band and performed with them as a blues shouter in the late 1930s and early 1940s.^[1]

The war interrupted his musical carrier, and he enlisted in the United States Army during World War II. In 1944, he began appearing in the local Chicago nightclubs. He joined Jay McShann's band and recorded several tracks with the band for the Philo label in Los Angeles, California, including "Crown Prince Boogie". After which he started billing himself as "The Crown Prince Of The Blues".^[1]

He left the McShann's band after a few months and returned to Chicago. In 1946, using the name "Crown Prince", Charlie Wateford, he recorded his own "Girl Friend Blues" for Hy-Tone label with the Freddie Williams band. The following year, he recorded for Aladdin and Capitol Records in Los Angeles. On the track he recorded included "Move Your Hand Baby".^[1]

In 1949, he recorded for King Records in Cincinnati and in 1959 for Excello. In the 1960s, he attempted to cash in on the twist craze with a recording for the Orbit label titled "Crown Prince Waterford and his Twistologists". As new musical styles continued to develop, he gave up music and became an ordained minister.^[1]

He settled in Florida and was pastor for several churches in the northern part of the state. He then released a gospel album, The Reverend Wateford Sings. After he retired from the ministry, he organized a Blues festival in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, and in 2002, at the age of 85, he performed there with a band led by pianist Jim McKaba. They also recorded and released an album, All Over But The Shoutin.^[1]

He married Lillie Johnson in 1953^[5], but the marriage did not last, and they divorced in 1966.^[6] He died on February 1, 2007 in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida^[7] and was buried at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Sumter County, Florida.^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6} Wikipedia Contributors. Wikpedipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, last edited on 23 Apr 2022. "Solomon Charles Waterford." Accessed 20 May 2023.
2. ↑ U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007: Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007. Ancestry Record 60901 #18388857
3. ↑ 1920 United States Federal Census: Year: 1920; Census Place: Stuttgart, Arkansas, Arkansas; Roll: T625_53; Page: 19A; Enumeration District: 7 Ancestry Record 6061 #65009289
4. ↑ 1930 United States Federal Census: Year: 1930; Census Place: North Little Rock, Pulaski, Arkansas; Page: 26A; Enumeration District: 0063; FHL microfilm: 2339827 Ancestry Record 6224 #23323272
5. ↑ Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993: Ancestry.com. Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Original data: Marriage Records. Ohio Marriages. Various Ohio County Courthouses. Ancestry Record 61378 #4415317
6. ↑ Florida, U.S., Divorce Index, 1927-2001: Ancestry.com. Florida, U.S., Divorce Index, 1927-2001 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: Florida Department of Health. Florida Divorce Index, 1927-2001. Jacksonville, FL, USA: Florida Department of Health. Ancestry Record 8837 #3945
7. ↑ U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014: Social Security Administration; Washington D.C., USA; Social Security Death Index, Master File Ancestry Record 3693 #79233792
8. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/48994989/soloman-c-waterford: accessed 20 May 2023), memorial page for Soloman C Waterford (26 Oct 1916–1 Feb 2007), Find A Grave: Memorial #48994989, citing Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Sumter County, Florida, USA; Maintained by GerbLady (contributor 46637511).