Our Feature Band — The Charlie Shoemake Quartet with vocalist Sandi Shoemake

Charlie Shoemaker is an Internationally known vibraphonist with a rich history of playing with some of the all-time jazz greats. At the end of 1966 he went to hear the George Shearing Quintet. The quintet’s drummer informed him that the vibraphone player with the group was leaving and they were in great need of a replacement. Charlie decided to take the job and the 5-week tour turned into almost 7 years with the group.

At the beginning of 1973 Charlie opened a jazz improvisation school in Los Angeles. The school flourished and by 1990 over 1500 people had come to Charlie for guidance in jazz music. In the spring of 1990 Charlie closed his teaching studio and moved to the village of Cambria. Soon after arriving, Charlie noticed a lack of appearances by major jazz artists in the central coast area, so he approached the owners of The Hamlet Restaurant and established a long-time concert series at that restaurant.

Sandi Shoemake’s father was a drummer vocalist with Dixieland bands and from her earliest recollections she remembers wanting to sing. She was able to sing with her father’s bands on their many dance engagements. After marrying Charlie Shoemake in 1959 she soon began singing with him in clubs around the Los Angeles area. She also spent time doing studio work for television and commercials.