CHARLY MY BOY - Free Jazz Leadsheet

“charly my boy” was published in 1924 with music by Ted Fio Rito and lyrics by Gus Kahn. The first recordings made by dance bands of the mid-1920s brought it wide attention on radio and in ballrooms.

The lyrics portray lighthearted admiration for the title character, while the upbeat melody follows a bright, syncopated pattern typical of early-jazz popular songs. The tune’s accessible form and catchy refrain have kept it in circulation among traditional-jazz and novelty-song performers.