Charli Persip was an American jazz drummer. He lived from July 26, 1929 to August 23, 2020. Charles Lawrence Persip was born in Morristown, New Jersey. He was formerly known by Charlie Persip. In the 1980s, Charli changed his name spelling to Charli. Persip was born in Newark, New Jersey. He attended West Side High School and preferred it to Newark Arts High School. Persip wanted to be a part of the former’s football team. Persip later studied drums in Newark with Al Germansky. He was a drummer for jazz and became well-known after he played with Tadd Dameron’s quintet in 1953. After joining Harry “Sweets”, Edison’s quintet, and then the Harry James Orchestra, Persip formed his own group, The Jazz Statesmen with Roland Alexander and Freddie Hubbard in 1960. Persip recorded around this time with many jazz musicians including Melba Liston and Kenny Dorham, Kenny Sims, Gil Evans, Red Garland, Gil Evans and Don Ellis. Persip also played the drums on the “Eternal Triangle”, Sonny Side Up (Verve Records), with Sonny Rollins, and Sonny Stitt. He toured with Billy Eckstine as a drummer/conductor from 1960 to 1973. Persip is also a well-known educator. He was an instructor in drums and music at Jazzmobile, Inc., New York City, since 1974. He was an Associate Professor at New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, Manhattan. Persip was the leader of Supersound, his jazz big-band that was founded in the mid-1980s. Supersound’s debut album, Charli Persip u0026 Superband, was recorded on Stash. Superband II and No Dummies Allowed were the second and third albums of Supersound. Intrinsic Evolution was their fourth album. Charli Persip, who was 91 years old, died at Mount Sinai Morningside in New York City on August 23, 2020.
