 He joined Jay McShann's band as a replacement for vocalist Walter Brown, and recorded several tracks with the band for the Philo label in Los Angeles, including "Crown Prince Boogie," after which he started billing himself as "The Crown Prince Of The Blues".He was replaced in McShann's band after a few months by Jimmy Witherspoon, and returned to Chicago.Around August 1946, credited as "Crown Prince" Charlie Waterford, he recorded his own "Girl Friend Blues" for the Hy-Tone label there, with Freddie Williams' band.