The Music of Charles Booker
About
Charles Booker (b. 1952) is a former U.S. Army Bandmaster, and former Associate Professor at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith where he served as Director of Jazz Studies, Director of Bands, and Chair of the Music Department. During his tenure at UA Fort Smith he taught trumpet, band, jazz band, conducting, music theory, orchestration and composition.
Featured Works
An American in Paris
An American in Paris is a jazz-influenced symphonic poem (or tone poem) originally written for orchestra by American composer George Gershwin and first performed in 1928. It was inspired by the time that Gershwin had spent in Paris and evokes the sights and energy of the French capital during the Années folles.
Irving Berlin (A Musical Showcase)
Irving Berlin, A Musical Showcase was arranged by Charles Booker in the winter of 2025 and is comprised of the following songs: “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “Always”, “What’ll I Do?”, and “Blue Skies”.
Suite from SHOWBOAT
Suite From Showboat was arranged by Charles Booker in the fall of 2024 and is comprised of the following songs from the 1927 Broadway play “Showboat” by Jerome Kern: “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man,” “Bill”, “Make Believe”, and “Ol’ Man River”.
Audio Recordings
The music of Charles Booker is available on multiple CDs through both Amazon and Mark Records.
Radiant Blues
Composed in the fall of 2007 for orchestra and later wind ensemble, the concerto was commissioned by and dedicated to Dr. Jackie Lamar, professor of saxophone at the University of Central Arkansas.
Times Remembered
Composed in the spring of 2009, this ballad for band was composed in honor of the first two band directors at Ramsey Junior High School, Fort Smith, Arkansas.
American Jubilee
Composed in the summer and fall of 2005 for the South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble of Linwood, New Jersey, American Jubilee is a short concert overture for band in ABA form.
Centra-Fuge
Centra-fuge was commissioned by the University of Central Arkansas Music Department for the UCA Wind Ensemble.
Latest News
Charles Booker Presents at Association of Concert Bands Conference
Chuck recently presented at the 2025 ACB Conference. Below is a video recording of his keynote presentation.
UTSA Alumni Spotlight
Check out Chuck Booker's profile in the latest issue of Cadenza, the UTSA Department of Music alumni magazine.My Life in the Army
In the fall of 1971, I was newly married to Claudette [DeRocher], a trumpet player, and was attending St. Mary’s University of San Antonio, Texas, majoring in Music Education.