Charlie Ventura (born Charles Venturo; December 2, 1916 – January 17, 1992)[1] was an American tenor saxophonist and bandleader from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.

During the 1940s, Ventura played saxophone for the bands of Gene Krupa and Teddy Powell.

[2] In 1945 he was named best tenor saxophonist by DownBeat magazine.

[2][3] He led a band which included Conte Candoli, Bennie Green, Boots Mussulli, Ed Shaughnessy, Jackie Cain, and Roy Kral.

[2] He was a sideman with Krupa through the 1960s, then worked in Las Vegas with comedian Jackie Gleason.