"He
was one of those drummers who laid the groundwork to create the Rock'n'roll genre
," said Queenie Connor Sonnefeld, daughter of drummer Charles Connor after announcing the musician's death at the age of 86 years old, Saturday August 1. Charles Connor passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Glendale, California. There he was receiving palliative care for his normal pressure hydrocephalus, a neurological disorder that causes fluid to build up in the brain. "
He played behind so many legendary musicians in the 1950s. He was a loving grandfather, he was very proud of his family and very proud of his contribution to rock
'
n
'
roll
." his daughter clarified.
Born in 1935 in New Orleans, Charles Connor began playing drums at the age of twelve.
When he came of age, he joined one of the first groups that accompanied singer Little Richard, who died in May 2020 and which made an appearance in the film
The Blonde and I
carried actress Jayne Mansfield.
Read also: Little Richard, great for eternity
Charles Connor had also toured with such prestigious artists as James Brown or Jackie Wilson or Sam Cooke. He was also distinguished by MP Maxine Waters in 1994 for his entire career. Relentless and persevering, he published a book in 2008 entitled
Don't Give Up Your Dreams: You Can Be a Winner Too!
(Don't give up on your dreams: you can be a winner too!). At the time of his death, the musician was working on his biopic.