Charles Giordano

Charles Giordano (born 1954 in Brooklyn New York) is an American keyboardist and accordionist. He is most known for playing keyboards with Pat Benatar in the 1980s, for playing keyboards and accordion with Bruce Springsteen's Sessions Band on the 2006 album We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions and subsequent Sessions Band Tour, and for joining Springsteen's E Street Band on a temporary basis in late 2007 during the serious illness of longtime E Street organist Danny Federici. After Federici's death in April 2008, Giordano has continued playing with the E Street Band.

With Benatar he was usually billed as Charlie Giordano and played for five albums, beginning in 1983; his role in the band was praised by Billboard magazine. With Benatar he was identifiable by his glasses and distinctive array of berets, blazers and 1980s-style ties. Giordano also was a member of The David Johansen Group and went on to perform with Buster Poindexter and The Banshees of Blue.

As a session musician Giordano's playing has included Madeleine Peyroux's 1996 album Dreamland and Bucky Pizzarelli's 2000 album Italian Intermezzo; the latter's mix of opera, Italian folk, and swing presaged his appearance in the similarly genre-mashing Sessions Band Tour with Springsteen. Giordano also participated in a 2002 revival of garage rock icons ? and the Mysterians. In 2008, he accompanied British singer Barb Jungr for a short stand in a New York City cabaret.

References