Listen to NPR’s “The Untold Story of Bobby Charles”

What started with the lofty goal to write a song for Fats, the Louisiana native Bobby Charles would leave a bump in the musical path--whether he wanted to or not. His music lingers, unnoticed under his own name, but it dented a part of rock n’ roll music that would never quite be smoothed out. He saw inspiration in people and conversation, which is where he came up with two of his most memorable songs "See You Later, Alligator" and "Walkin’ To New Orleans." It took Fats some comin' around, as he first "told the young man he didn’t want to sing about alligators." Bobby lived a life rubbing elbows with creatives such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Willie Nelson, among others, whose music would reflect some of his influence.  

Rare footage of one of his very few performances