Coming in January, 2024!

Check out some new titles from Charles Booker that will be available in January, 2024!

UTSA Alumni Spotlight

Check out Chuck Booker's profile in the latest issue of Cadenza, the UTSA Department of Music alumni magazine.

My Life in the Army

In the fall of 1971, I was newly married to Claudette [DeRocher], a trumpet player, and was attending St. Mary’s University of San Antonio, Texas, majoring in Music Education. After having dropped piano for the third time, and tiring of school, I joined the United States Army on 17 October 1971 as a trumpet player. After training my assignment would be as a member of the Fifth U.S. Army Band at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. A week after I joined the Army, Claudette and I learned we would be expecting our first child the following summer.

A conversation with Chuck Booker

Charles' son, Adam, had the opportunity to talk with his father about his career in music. View the entire story to see the video!

My Process of Composition

In a letter dated October 25, 2005, I responded to a young composer who asked about my process of composing. I think people like anecdotes about composers. Gives them insight to the crazy meanderings of composers.

A letter from Robert Sheldon

Letter from Robert Sheldon dated July 13, 2003 reference “Like the Stars Forever and Ever…

Hi Chuck,

Meeting Henry Mancini

In 1974 I was on tour with the 5th Army Band Rock group called "Progress". I was sitting in the hotel bar with my fellow musicians and I noticed a gentlemen I recognized as Henry Mancini! I exclaimed to my buddies "hey that's Henry Mancini."

They all laughed at me. I smiled "I Betcha $10 bucks that's Mancini!" Everyone threw down a ten. I walked over to Mancini's table, "Sir, are you Henry Mancini?" He replied, "Yes, I am."

I looked over and smiled to my buddies at our table and gave them a thumbs up!

Review of Glorious Journey in Band World 2013

This very nice recording is like the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups commercial but instead of combining chocolate & peanut butter this combo is a pair of established band composers (either way it’s great taste). The music of Charles Booker doesn’t call for needless excessive gymnastics and eschews the aural “shock & awe” of many composers. Listen to Glorious Journey, Lament, Pathways, La Bossa from American Dances, and the highly descriptive Rough Rider: Life and Times of Theodore Roosevelt.

Review of Radiant Blues CD in Band World 2012

Radiant Blues is a departure from the past recordings of Booker’s music in that solos for alto saxophone, tuba, and piano with band are included. While space limits me from mentioning the details of all five soloists, bands & conductors I assure the listener this is a first rate recording and does not utilize any “ensemble du jour”. Radiant Blues is a three movement concerto (Radiant Blues, Lament and Farewell) for alto saxophone & wind ensemble (also written with orchestral accompaniment). Elements of blues, bebop & classical stylings abound.

ITEA Review of Concertino for Tuba and Wind Band

FALL 2012 ITEA Journal 

Concertino for Tuba and Wind Band by Charles L. Booker, Jr. Booker Music Publications. Fort Smith, AR 72901. clcmbooker@sbcbglobal.net. www.charlesbooker.com. 2007. Score and Parts: $120, Score: $20, piano reduction and solo: $35, Tuba Solo: $10.

Charles L. Booker, Jr. has written a charming new solo for the tuba repertoire entitled Concertino for Tuba and Wind Band. With beautiful soaring melodies and exciting accompaniment, this petite concertino is entertaining and fun to perform.