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Charles King

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Charles King was an American singer and actor from the early days of sound film. He became known on Broadway and was given a leading role in The Broadway Melody from 1929, one of the first big musical films with sound. The film was about two sisters in the theatre world of New York and let the audience hear for the first time how popular songs from the theatre could sound on the silver screen.

Music and breakthrough

The title song The Broadway Melody, written by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed, was sung in the film by King. The song is an example of the kind of theatre song that was popular in the late 1920s, with a cheerful rhythm, a smooth melody and lyrics about the glamorous life on Broadway. The film won an Oscar for best picture and gave the film musical genre a flying start.

Influence

In pop history King stands above all for the moment when the pop song and the film found each other, and for the way songs from films acquired an audience of their own in the 1930s.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to The Broadway Melody. Notice the clear, theatrical singing style and the cheerful accompaniment that makes the song instantly recognisable as music from a revue.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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See also

Categories: ArtistsEarly sound film (talkies)