Charlie Byrd was a renowned jazz guitarist who was known for his mastery of the Brazilian style of music. He was born in Suffolk, Virginia in 1925 and began playing guitar at the age of 15. He studied classical guitar at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore and later went on to become a professional musician. He was best known for his collaborations with Stan Getz, which resulted in the album Jazz Samba, which was the first bossa nova album to be released in the United States. He also released several solo albums throughout his career, including The Guitar Artistry of Charlie Byrd and Blues Sonata.