Chuck Nolen

Chuck Nolen, age 77, died on Friday, the 19th of October 2012. Chuck was a trumpet player, a professional musician, and a former H.I.S.D. band director. Born on the 31st of October 1934, in Dothan, Alabama, Chuck played his first note on the trumpet at age 9. By age 15, he had formed his own dance band. Working steadily with his bands, The Rhythmaires, and Chuck Nolen and The Four Moderns, he developed a following in the Southeast, honing his skills as a musician and band leader. He was voted “Most Talented” at Dothan High School and after graduation joined the United States Army where he played in the Army Band. Chuck later embarked upon a touring music career, which took him from coast to coast as a member of some of the most popular dance bands of the era including, The Claude Thornhill Orchestra, The Charlie Barnett Orchestra, Warren Covington and his Orchestra, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and The Ted Weems Orchestra.

As a lead trumpet player, Chuck was called upon to play in the upper register of the trumpet. However, he was not content to be just a big band lead trumpeter, so Chuck mastered the extreme high range of the horn, even studying for a time with Duke Ellington's trumpet star, William Alonzo “Cat” Anderson. Like the mighty Cat, Chuck had the power to play high note solos over an entire big band without a microphone and could soar to double and even triple C.

After years of touring, Chuck enrolled at North Texas State University. He entered the North Texas music department just as the legendary Leon Breeden began his tenure as director of jazz studies. Chuck was a featured member of several of the school’s acclaimed Lab Bands. He graduated from North Texas with Bachelor degrees in music and science. He also married the love of his life, the woman who would be his wife for over 50 years, Frances Louise DeMoss.

In 1965, Chuck accepted a position as a band director in Opp, Alabama. Two years later, he was recognized for his outstanding performance as an educator and was appointed an Honorary Lieutenant Colonel Aide-de-Camp by the Governor of Alabama to serve on her Personal Military Staff. In 1968, Chuck’s method and technique for playing the high register of the trumpet was nationally published. That same year, Chuck moved back to his hometown, Dothan, to direct the band at Headland High School. Chuck built an excellent program and band enrollment dramatically increased. As a result of his success, Chuck was offered a position as the director of music at a high school in Mobile, Alabama. To ensure his acceptance, the Mayor of Mobile issued a proclamation making Chuck an Honorary Citizen of the City and member of the Mayor’s staff.

In 1971, Chuck was offered and accepted the band director position at Sam Houston High School in Houston. Sam Houston was the largest high school in the city. During Chuck’s tenure, the Sam Houston Stage Band evolved into one of the finest student jazz ensembles in the State of Texas. In his first year, the band won collectively 33 individual and group awards. The stage band also recorded a “Salute To Stan Kenton”, performing charts that Chuck acquired directly from Kenton. The following year, the Sam Houston Stage Band under Chuck’s direction continued to rack up awards and was among only 10 bands in the United States invited to perform at the All American High School Stage Band Festival in Mobile, Alabama.

Chuck joined the faculty at Westbury High School in 1973. At Westbury, Chuck built a fantastic music program. He was awarded the Outstanding Band Director for 1973 by the National Association of Jazz Educators. Under Chuck’s direction the 1975 Westbury Stage Band won the International Jamaican Jazz Festival in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The band that year also recorded an album featuring songs arranged for jazz trumpet master, Maynard Ferguson. At the urging of his students, Chuck played Maynard’s solos for the record, which prominently displayed his total command of the trumpet’s extreme upper register.

Throughout the 1970’s Chuck was among the most in demand musicians in the city of Houston. He was a founding member of the Houston Jazz Society Orchestra, which featured Houston’s premier jazz artists all playing together in a big band. Chuck was also recognized in The International Who’s Who In Music starting in 1976.

Chuck formed several of his own dance orchestras including The Chuck Nolen Big Band, The City Lights, and The Chuck Nolen Orchestra. His bands performed throughout the greater Houston metropolitan area. In the early 80’s Chuck’s big band had a two year run every Sunday night at Annabelle’s nightclub on the 24th floor of the Westin Hilton Galleria Hotel. The band frequently featured renowned bebop saxophonist, the late Jimmy Ford.

In 1985, Chuck retired from teaching. From 1971 to 1985, Chuck’s High School bands or musicians won awards in every contest entered. Many of his students went on to successful careers as performers or music educators. Included among Chuck’s former students was jazz pianist and national recording artist, the late Dave Catney.

During the 1990’s and 2000’s, Chuck continued to perform and lead his own bands. Chuck also cofounded the Houston Jazz Orchestra with pianist and fellow band leader, Ricky Diaz. The band featured Houston’s finest jazz musicians playing the most demanding charts. Over his 60 year career, Chuck backed up many of the most famous talents of the twentieth century, including Tony Bennett, Jack Jones, Nancy Wilson, Bob Hope, Mel Tormé, Patti Page, Fabian, Ray Stevens, Wayne Newton, Isaac Hayes and Ray Charles. Most recently, Chuck had an extended run at the Shamrock Pub in Houston performing with a small group.

Chuck was honored as one of four “Westbury Stars” by The Friends of the Westbury High School Foundation in May 2011. Former students, fellow musicians, family and many friends paid tribute to Chuck that night, and he was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love.

Chuck Nolen was preceded in death by his father, Samuel T. Nolen; his mother, Lavada McKenzie; and his sister, Joyce Nolen. Chuck’s survivors include his wife, Frances Nolen; his sons, Rand Nolen and Jeff Nolen; his daughters-in-law, Diane Nolen and Pam Nolen; his granddaughters, Samantha Nolen and Alexandra Nolen; and his brother, Billy Mack Nolen.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o'clock in the afternoon until eight o'clock in the evening on Friday, the 26th of October, in the drawing room of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A funeral service is to be conducted at ten o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 27th of October, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons. Serving as honorary pallbearers for the funeral service are Chuck’s friends: Herman Lee, Luis Juarez, Marc Spector, Kit Reid, Joe Miller, Lenny Tritico, Bill Engelhorn, Mike Condit, Bob Odneal, and Arnold Farris.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to The Children’s Assessment Center Foundation, 2500 Bolsover Street, Houston, TX, 77005.