Charles Wayne Day

Chuck Day
Birth name	Charles Wayne Day
Also known as	Chuck Day, Bing Day
Born	(1942-08-05)August 5, 1942
Origin	Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died	Healdsburg, California, United States
Genres	Soul-blues, rhythm and blues
Instruments	Guitar, vocals, bass guitar, piano
Years active	1957–2007
Associated acts	Johnny Rivers, The Mamas & the Papas, Shel Silverstein

Charles Wayne Day (August 5, 1942 – March 10, 2008), also known as Bing Day and Chuck Day, was an American guitarist and baritone bluesman from South Side Chicago.

Biography

His musical talents began to develop at age 3, and at age 15, he recorded the single "Pony Tail Partner" under the name Bing Day at Federal Records (1957). Day recorded several singles over the next ten years as 'Bing Day' and, also, 'Ford Hopkins'.

He moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1965 and began a career as one of the most listened to "unknown" artists in rock and roll. He became bassist with Johnny Rivers' Band. Day originated the riff in "Secret Agent Man".

Day worked with The Mamas & the Papas in 1967, again as bassist, playing as second guitarist on "Monday, Monday" and "California Dreamin'".

During the 1970s and 1980s, Day played on numerous recordings including Shel Silverstein's Freaker's Ball. He also wrote for the soundtrack of Fritz the Cat and performed with musicians Luther Tucker and Merl Saunders.

Day formed his own band in 1986.

Day resided in Fairfax, California from 1969, and continued to play locally in the San Rafael area of California until he was taken ill in January 2007. After three months of care at Marin General Hospital, he was admitted to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital before being relocated to District Hospital in Healdsburg, where he remained until his death on March 10, 2008.

A memorial and parade was held in Fairfax for Day on March 22, 2008.

Discography

Solo releases

• "Pony Tail Partner" / "Since You Left Me" - Federal Records (1957) as Bing Day
• "Rain Silver Dollar" / "Dancing Puppet" - Fraternity Records (1958) as Bing Day
• "Poor Stagger Lee" - Mercury Records (1958)
• "I Can't Help It" / "Mama's Place" - Mercury Records (1959) as Bing Day
• "Mary's Place" / "How Do I Do It" - Mercury Records (1959) as Bing Day
• "Ya Fine, Fine, Fine" - Apex Records (1959) as Ford Hopkins
• "How Do I Do It" - Mercury Records (1960)
• "She Was Not My Kind" - Apex Records (1961)
• "Memphis Tennessee" - Cameo/Parkway Records (1966)
• "We Gotta Get Outta this Place" - Fraternity Records (1967)

With Johnny Rivers (1965)

• "Here We GoGo Again"
• "Rivers Rocks the Folk"

With The Mamas & the Papas (1968)

• "Monday, Monday" - Second Guitar
• "California Dreamin'" - Second Guitar

With The Young Gyants (1968)

• "Tom Dooley" / "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place" - Parkway
• "Memphis" / "It Hurts So Bad" - Cameo-Parkway (1964)

With Shel Silverstein (1971)

• Freakin' At The Freaker's Ball

The Chuck Day Band (1997)

• Desperate Measures

With Steve Wolf (2006)

• 20th Century Wolf, Volume I
  • Day co-wrote "You Don't Love Me Anymore" with Steve Wolf and Annie McIntyre; played lead guitar on the 2006 recording of the song.

Soundtracks

Fritz the Cat

• "House Rock"
• "Winston"

Switchblade Sisters

• "Full Track"

Blacula

• "Black Girl"

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

• played the waterphone

Television and video

• Sleazy Arms Hotel with Jim Gabbert (1998)
• Pacifica Public Access (1998)
• Zone Music Local Showcase (1998)
• Boney Maroni Promotional - Lifesigns Photo (2000)
• various Lifesigns Photo video (2000 to present)
• numerous commercial voice-overs including "Fall into the Gap" and "Member FDIC"

Other projects

• Chuck Day and the Burning Sensations
• Fairfax Tavernacle Choir
• The Dori Green/Dave Bergman Show
• The 19 Broadway Swing Band
• The Chuck and Sam Duet

External links

• Obituary in the Marin Independent Journal
• Chuck Day and the Burning Sensations website