Charlie Mariano was an American jazz alto saxophonist. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts and died in Cologne (Germany).

He played with one of the Stan Kenton big bands, Toshiko Akiyoshi (his then wife), Charles Mingus, Eberhard Weber, the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble, Embryo and numerous other notable musicians. He also played the nadaswaram, a traditional oboe from South India.

Mariano moved to Europe in the 1970's and settled eventually in Köln (Cologne), Germany with his painter wife, Dorothee Zippel. He had 6 daughters (including soul/jazz singer Monday Michiru, from his marriage with Akiyoshi), 6 grandchildren and 2 great granddaughters.

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