With Benatar he was usually billed as Charlie Giordano and played for five albums, beginning in 1983;[3] his role in the band was praised by Billboard magazine.

[3] With Benatar he was identifiable by his glasses and distinctive array of berets, blazers and 1980s-style ties.

Giordano also was a member of The David Johansen Group and went on to perform with Buster Poindexter and The Banshees of Blue.

As a session musician Giordano's playing has included Madeleine Peyroux's 1996 album Dreamland and Bucky Pizzarelli's 2000 album Italian Intermezzo; the latter's mix of opera, Italian folk, and swing presaged his appearance in the similarly genre-mashing Sessions Band Tour with Springsteen.

In 2008, he accompanied British singer Barb Jungr for a short stand in a New York City cabaret.