Born Robert Guidry in Abbeville, Louisiana, in 1938, he became famous as songwriter under his birth name, but also had success as a recording artist under the name Bobby Charles, beginning his career as an 18\-year\-old with an R\x26B hit with his composition Later Alligator, which Bill Haley covered to have a No. 6 pop hit early in the rock n roll era. He was very much a pioneer of the Louisiana\-based Swamp Pop style alongside Jimmy Clanton, characterised by recordings emanating from Cosimo Matassas studio in New Orleans, where Fats Domino, a noted beneficiary of Guidrys songs, made his records. This 55\-track 2\-CD set comprises A \x26 B sides and other recordings for the Chess and Imperial labels, including his R\x26B hits Later Alligator and Only Time Will Tell. As a bonus, it also features recordings of his songs recorded by other artists, including the hits See You Later Alligator by Bill Haley, Walkin To New Orleans, Before I Grow Too Old and It Keeps Raining by Fats Domino, and But I Do, On Bended Knees and A Little Too Much by Clarence Frogman Henry. As such, it provides a fascinating showcase for his talents as both songwriter and artist, underlining the significant contribution he made to the pop music of the rock n roll years..
