CHARLES DANIEL KNOWLES, SR.

Panama City – Danny Knowles (Charles Daniel Knowles, Sr.) known to his friends in the jazz community as "Captain Hornblower" died peacefully at home on Friday, May 7, 2010. He was 75.
Left to cherish his memory are his devoted wife of 55 years, Patricia (Jones) Knowles; his son, Charles D. Knowles, Jr. and wife, Barbara of Panama City, FL, his sister, Martha (Knowles) Norville and husband, Peyton of Birmingham, AL, his brother, Captain Frank W. Knowles, Jr. and wife, Gail, two grandsons, Charles D. Knowles, III and James Russell Knowles, all of Panama City and a number of nieces, nephews and grand-nieces. He was predeceased by his father, Captain Frank W. Knowles, Sr. whose family was one of the original settlers of St. Andrews, and his mother, Thelma (Sims) Knowles. He also lost an infant son, Miles Edgar Knowles.
He was born in 1934 in Glen Head, New York while his father was serving as captain of the vessel BARRACUDA for the famous industrialist Clayton Chiles Frick.
As a young child, he and his parents returned to Panama City but he continued to spend a large part of his youth in Glen Head, NY with his beloved Uncle George and Aunt Avie. It was during his time in New York that he began his love of music and first took up the trumpet; the instrument that would forever define who he was. He studied under the direction of John Ned Mahoney at the Ernest S. Williams School of Music in Brooklyn, NY and was the recipient of numerous awards on the regional and state level.
After graduating from Bay High, he married his school sweetheart, Patricia (Jones) Knowles in 1956. They immediately embarked on the adventure of traveling around the country while Danny played his horn with big bands in a different city every night.
When he wasn't playing music, he was engaged in his second passion, which was fishing. He ran a charter boat business in Panama City and south Florida aboard the aptly named "CAPTAIN HORNBLOWER." He was one of the first charter fishermen in this area to spend winters in the Keys and summers in northwest Florida. He brought his knowledge of game fishing to Panama City and was instrumental in the introduction of billfishing to this area. In later years, long before it was popular, he was an advocate for catch and release fishing and always encouraged others toward conservation.
For a time he ran his charter boat by day and played music at night until he finally realized his dream in the 1970's and opened Captain Hornblower's Jazz Club in Key West. Many world renowned musicians graced the doors of the club at 300 Front Street and took the stage with Danny and his house band. Known for his slow southern drawl and melodic playing, some of his best work can be heard on his last recording entitled "Jazz in the Key of West."
After 20 plus years in Key West, health issues and his desire to be closer to his family lead him to sell the club and move back to Panama City. He never waned in his advocacy for musicians and live music. Continuing in his passion for jazz and the desire to bring live music to Panama City, he opened Captain Hornblower's on Grace Avenue in the late 90's where he played until its' closing. He was one of the founding members of the Gulf Jazz Society and was a major sponsor of the Annual Jazz by the Bay Festival.
In accordance with his wishes, funeral services will be private. His family will gather to say their last goodbyes and his ashes will be spread in the Gulf of Mexico off of Panama City Beach and in the waters off Key West. Anyone wishing to leave a memory or word of condolence may do so at thejazzcaptain@gmail.com or to www.wilsonfuneralhome.net.
At the end of each set, Danny would close with these words "Support Jazz-It's the one true American art form."

Wilson Funeral Home