Living Legends of Jazz - Peter "Chuck" Badie

Peter "Chuck" Badie credit: Donn Young

The diminutive stature and reserved character of Peter “Chuck” Badie mask an incredible life and an amazing sixty-year music career. Badie’s introduction to music came through his father, a parade band saxophonist.

As a teen he was greatly impressed by famous New York-based big bands, but his entry into music did not come until adulthood, after he narrowly escaped a Japanese kamikaze attack on the aircraft carrier on which he was serving in the South Pacific during World War II. Badie was not physically injured — “by the grace of God,” he says — but the memory would affect him for the rest of his life. After his discharge, he began studying bass and music and was soon playing professionally in local rhythm and blues clubs.

In the 1950s Badie went on the road with popular singer Roy Brown, played in New Orleans with groups led by Paul Gayten and Dave Bartholomew, toured the world with big band legend Lionel Hampton, and played with the modern jazz-oriented American Jazz Quintet. In 1961 he became a founding member of saxophonist Harold Batiste’s AFO Records, and recorded a number of R&B hits, including singer Barbara George’s chart-topping hit “I Know (You Don’t Love Me No More).”

When Badie moved to California, he toured and recorded with legendary soul singer Sam Cooke. His throbbing bass is heard in the background of Cooke’s classic hit “A Change Is Gonna Come.” After Cooke’s death, Badie returned to New Orleans, retired from music, and, for more than ten years, worked as a waiter. Finally, in 1987, fellow musicians coaxed him to return to music, and he has played regularly ever since.

Badie’s home in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward was destroyed by flooding after Katrina. But he returned to New Orleans and, for more than a year, labored in construction with the Habitat for Humanity-sponsored Musicians Village project. Recently, he became one of the first residents to receive a new low-cost home. At eighty-two, Badie is doubtful that New Orleans will make a full recovery during his lifetime. But, a devout Catholic, he prays daily and leaves the stresses of post-Katrina life in the hands of the Lord. These days his big-toned, driving bass can be heard in a traditional jazz combo at the Palm Court Jazz Café, where he has performed for more than a decade. As Badie loves to say, “Praise the Lord.”