Charlie Polk

About Charlie Polk

James Edwin Polk (September 10, 1940 – June 21, 2024) was an American jazz and blues pianist, Hammond organist, arranger, bandleader, and educator based in Austin, Texas who worked with Ray Charles as a pianist, organist, arranger, composer, and conductor. Over a career spanning more than five decades, Polk was widely regarded as one of the central figures in the development of the Austin jazz scene. A performer, teacher, and mentor, Polk helped sustain Austin’s jazz community through his bands, educational work, and collaborations with younger musicians. He was inducted into the Austin Jazz Society Hall of Fame in 2016.