FM
Biography
Karl-Erik Albert (Charlie) Norman (4 October 1920, Ludvika, Dalarnas län, Sweden - 12 August 2005, Danderyd, Stockholms län, Sweden (Cancer) ) was a Swedish musician and entertainer, generally considered to be Sweden's leading boogie-woogie piano player, but also an accomplished all-round pianist, whose first TV-show was 1947, playing behind Édith Piaf. He was the father of stand-up comedian Lennie Norman.
Charlie Norman was attracted to music early on. He played trumpet in the school orchestra and also studied piano. His parents did not want him to take up a career as a musician without first securing a "proper" trade. So he begun work as a lathe operator qualifying at ASEA. In his spare time he played the piano in his own dance orchestra and in an orchestra competition in Borlänge in 1937, Charlie’s prowess as a pianist was recognised and he was invited to join Sven Fors's dance band Estonians.
