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Biography
Charles H. Chapman (died 15 July 2011) was an American guitarist, author, and instructor. Chapman was a jazz guitarist who had a four-decade recording career, and had played with many jazz musicians, such as Kenny Burrell and Joe Negri. Born in Trenton, New Jersey, Chapman studied at the Berklee College of Music, which upon his graduation offered him a teaching position. He recorded the tracks for the CDs that accompany the three volumes of the Berklee Modern Method for Guitar by William Leavitt. Chapman wrote over 500 articles and nine books on guitar playing, including several Mel Bay publications:
Drop-2 concept for guitar. Mel Bay Publications, Inc. 2000. ISBN 0786644834.
Finger gymnastics: Warm-up, flexibility, speed and strength studies (with CD). Mel Bay Publications, Inc. 2000. ISBN 9780786653157.
Having taught for 31 years at Berklee, he held the rank of Professor.
After being diagnosed with cancer, he was unable to continue teaching and retired in 2003. In retirement, he and his wife moved to Boothbay Harbor, where they had vacationed for 25 years. At the age of 60, he died of a brain tumor on 15 July 2011.