- American-born pianist and band leader, known as 'The Medley King'. Had previously worked as a book-shop clerk, ribbon weaver, shoe factory assistant, milkman and builder of trucks. While still in his teens, fronted dance bands part-time in his native township. Led a dance band in Britain from 1922, with long residency at the London Trocadero. Made broadcasts for BBC Radio and later recorded several successful solo albums.
- He became the highest paid pianist in the world, earning up to £1,000 a week.
- He made his debut aged six and made his first appearance as a prodigy aged seven.
- His piano transcriptions sold widely in the teaching of piano-playing.
- Charlie Kunz was an American-born British musician popular during the British dance band era, and who became a pianist.
- He married Amanda Dysher, but she died shortly after birth to son Joseph.
- His debut as a soloist came in 1934 at the Holborn Empire, London followed by countless variety theatres in Britain and the Continent, after playing in hotels, restaurants and ballrooms.
- 1934 saw the beginning of what was to become a continuous output of solo records of "Charlie Kunz Medleys".
- In 1922 Charlie came to England with his band. The band returned, but Charlie remained and formed another. This played at various London clubs and restaurants. One patron was a fashion model, Eva Dorothy Lloyd (alias Ninette or Nin). They married in 1923. Nin's sister married another band leader, Jerry Hoey.
- His signature tune was "Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie", and his closing theme was "Pink Elephants".
- He was the only son of Margaret T. (Wehr) and Leonard Kunz, a master baker who played the French horn.
- Charlie's wife Nin died in 1940. He moved to his summer residence at Middleton-on-Sea, near Bognor. His health was not good, and his ability to play was badly curtailed by an ailment called Dupuytren's Contracture. In 1942 he married divorcee Pat Sparkes (nee Kelly).
- Kunz's playing style was a relaxed flowing interpretation of popular melodies played with subtle soft and loud accents, which he called "melody and rhythm with expression".
- He was such a distinctive and popular pianist that he abandoned his orchestra to concentrate on his piano playing, both at music hall venues and on the BBC.
- Kunz was the pianist in a dance band which was led by the drummer, Ed Krick. The band came to London in 1922 to play a residency in the London Trocadero. The band returned without Kunz to Pennsylvania after a successful run at the 'Troc' and, until 1998, still got together for sessions for retirement homes, renamed as 'The B Flats'.
- Two of Britain's most famous female vocalists were with his orchestra in the 1930s: Vera Lynn and Welsh songstress Dorothy Squires. His best known crooner was George Barclay.
- During World War I he led his own resident band, while working in a munitions factory.
- He came to the United Kingdom in 1922 as a pianist in a small dance band. He was to remain there until his death from a heart attack in 1958.
- In his youth he played the organ in a Catholic church and conducted a band of his contemporaries.
- His family was of Austrian origin.
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