Charlie Burse (August 25, 1901- December 20, 1965) was an African-American blues musician best known for his skill with the ukulele. He was nicknamed “Uke Kid Burse” because of his talent, which extended to many other instruments as well. Burse learned to play banjo and regular guitar during his early life. He was also proficient with the tenor guitar and the mandolin. Additionally, Burse performed as a vocalist and could keep rhythm using the spoons. August 25 is the 237th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (238th in leap years), with 128 days remaining. ... 1901 (MCMI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... December 20 is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... Blues music redirects here. ... Ukulele The ukulele (Ê»ukulele in Hawaiian and standard Hawaiian English; pronounced , or the Anglicised ), or uke, is a fretted string instrument which is, in its construction, essentially a smaller, four-stringed version of the guitar. ... A four-string banjo For other uses, see Banjo (disambiguation) The banjo is a stringed instrument of African origin, early or original examples sometimes being called the gourd banjo. One predecessor to the banjo is called the Akonting. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The tenor guitar is a slightly smaller, four-string version of the steel-string acoustic guitar or electric guitar. ... Carved (electric) and round backed mandolins (front) A mandolin is a small, stringed musical instrument which is plucked, strummed or a combination of both. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... It has been suggested that Pig (card game) be merged into this article or section. ...

Burse is famous as a member of Will Shade's Memphis Jug Band—which he joined in 1928 upon his arrival in Memphis, Tennessee. After meeting Shade, Burse would become his lifelong friend, and the two would play together long after the Memphis Jug Band made its last recording in 1934. Shade and Burse exhibited notable differences in temperament. Shade was businesslike and orderly, acting as the band’s business manager and generating a substantial income from its recordings—enough to purchase a house for himself. Burse—in contrast—was described as “obnoxious and abusive at times” by music critics. Surprisingly, however, there seems to have been remarkably little tension between the two men in their personal and professional association. Will Shade (February 5, 1898 – September 18, 1966) was an African-American Memphis blues musician best known for his membership in the Memphis Jug Band. ... This music article needs to be wikified. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The River City, The Bluff City, M-Town Location Location in Shelby County and the state of Tennessee Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Tennessee Shelby County Mayor W. W. Herenton (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 294. ...

Burse began his own short-lived band, the Memphis Mudcats, in 1939. The Memphis Mudcats attempted to modernize the traditional jug band; a bass was used instead of the jug, and the saxophone replaced the harmonica. After the band’s dissolution, Burse and Shade collaborated together until Burse’s death on December 20, 1965; the two men would often play on street corners or at house parties. Their renown began to revive toward the end of their lives—especially triggered by their rediscovery by the blues researcher Samuel Charters. Martin EB18 Bass Guitar in flight case. ... Jug may refer to: Jug (container), a vessel for liquids Jug (musical instrument), used for rhythmic bass accompaniment Java User Group (JUG), a group of people who meet to discuss the Java programming language Jug, the nickname for the P-47 Thunderbolt Jug Rock, a natural geological formation located outside... Saxophones of different sizes play in different registers. ... Wikibooks has a book on the topic of Harmonica A harmonica is a free reed musical wind instrument (also known, among other things, as a mouth organ or mouth harp, Hobo Harp, French harp, tin sandwich, lickin stick, blues harp, simply harp, or Mississippi saxophone), having multiple, variably-tuned brass...

Burse is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee.

Timeline

August 25, 1901: Burse is born in Decatur, Alabama.

1928: Burse moves to Memphis, Tennessee.

1928: Burse meets Will Shade and joins the Memphis Jug Band.

November 1934: The Memphis Jug Band makes its final recordings.

1939: Burse starts his own band, the Memphis Mudcats.

1956: Burse and Will Shade are rediscovered and recorded by blues researcher Samuel Charters.

1963: Burse and Shade collaborate on one of their last recording efforts—the album “Beale Street Mess-Around.”

December 20, 1965: Burse dies in Memphis, Tennessee.

References

“Charlie Burse.” Alabama Music Hall of Fame. http://www.alamhof.org/bursec.htm. Retrieved on June 1, 2006.

“Charlie Burse.” Answers.com. http://www.answers.com/topic/charlie-burse. Retrieved on June 1, 2006.

“Memphis Jug Band- Memphis School." National Park Service Cultural Resources. http://www.cr.nps.gov/delta/blues/people/memphis_jug.htm. Retrieved on June 1, 2006.