Charlie Cannon, 92, of Clarkston, died early Thursday, Aug. 14, 2003, following complications from gallbladder surgery in early July.
Charlie, as his friends knew him, was a singer-comedian who spearheaded the founding of Starlight Theatre in Balboa Park,
Calif., in 1945. He, with three other men, implemented their concept of an outdoor light-opera company which was later incorporated as the San Diego Civic Light Opera Company, one of the oldest continuously producing musical theater companies in the United States. Charlie's ''stage opposite'' would describe him as "a joy to work with and one of the most multitalented people to ever hit the stage in San Diego!"
One of several children, Charlie was born in Mexico, moving to the States at age 6 ... when he'd say "San Diego was about the size of Clarkston now." He took his first piano lesson at age 8 and went on to sing in a boy's quartet and play saxophone in the student band at San Diego High School. As a student at San Diego State College, Charlie teamed with future radio and television personality, Art Linkletter, in writing an operetta.
World War II saw Charlie enlisting in the Army where he served most of his 3 1/2 years in the South Pacific. There he joined other performers in staging musical shows. Observing an outdoor show in Australia, his idea for Starlight Theatre was born!
Charlie was well known around and about the valley, especially singing and playing the piano at Tri-State Rehabilitation and Care Center. He was a member of Faith Tabernacle Church of Lewiston and will be remembered by his friends there for having sung and played the piano just prior to being admitted to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center for gallbladder surgery in early July.
Charlie's hobbies included woodcarving, reading, crossword puzzles and, of course, singing excerpts from former performances.
Charlie is survived by a son, Robert Cannon of San Diego; and daughter, Laura Doan of Manchester, England.
The memorial service is at 2 p.m. Friday at Faith Tabernacle Church in Lewiston.
