Join us on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at 7pm on Zoom as we welcome Charles Funn, our first Baltimore History Evening guest in 2024. Register now! Click here.

Charles Funn, a graduate of Morgan Stage College, is a noted professional musician and a retired band instructor (44 years) with the Baltimore City Public School System.

He has played behind and with Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Sammy Davis Jr., Gladys Knight, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Dells, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, The Morgan State University Concert and Jazz Bands and The Howard University Jazz Ensemble.

He currently performs with the Dr. Phil Butts Big Band, Bowie State University Community Jazz Ensemble, The New World Outreach Jazz Orchestra, The Clarence Knight Orchestra and The Charles Funn Big Band.

His career awards include numerous mayoral citations, the Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Hero Award for 2015, The Benny Golson Jazz Masters Award for 2018 presented by Howard University, and The Baltimore Jazz Alliance Award for 2022.

Mr. Funn started, trained and developed countless future musicians as he nurtured and guided the musical development of Baltimore.