After playing with Tadd Dameron in 1953, drummer CHARLI PERSIP toured and recorded with Dizzy Gillespie's big and small bands.

He then joined Harry Edison's quintet and later the Harry James Orchestra before forming his own group, the Jazz Statesmen, with Roland Alexander, Freddie Hubbard, and Ron Carter in 1960. Around this time he alson recorded with several formidable jazz musicians including Lee Morgan, Dinah Washington, Kenny Dorham, Zoot Sims, Red Garland, Gil Evans, Don Ellis, Eric Dolphy, Roland Kirk, and Gene Ammons.

Persip was the drummer on the legendary, "Eternal Triangle" recording, featuring Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt. He toured for several years as a drummer and conductor with Billy Eckstine (1960-1973). In 1974 he became the principle drum instructor for Jazzmobile in New York.

Since then he has formed many of his own big bands, and has continued to record as a leader and a sideman with many of today's most prominent figures in jazz. From Tadd Dameron through Dizzy Gillespie, Billy Eckstine, Cannonball Adderly and Benny Golson, to his own 17-piece "Supersound" big band, Charli Persip has been one of the most in-demand drummers in all of jazz, as well as in the pop genre.