Charles Wilson

CONTEMPORARY SOUTHERN BLUES

Charles Wilson, vocals James M. Dougherty, guitar Jasse T.Dodson, Jr., keyboards Marcus A. Philips, bass Roy E. Cunningham, drums

Charles Wilson is one of the most exciting talents in the Southern Blues tradition. He was born in Chicago in January 1957 and at an early age his mother encouraged him to sing in church, while his father, who is also Little Milton’s bother, introduced him to the Blues and Soul. In fact, Charles and his father would go to Chicago’s legendary Regal Theater to see Uncle Milton’s local shows and would often see other bluesmen like Howlin Wolf, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Junior Wells, and B.B. King. Charles also remembers seeing Little Stevie Wonder who had just released “Fingertips” and watching Sam Cooke mesmerise the audience of the Regal with “A Change Is Gonna Come”, which became his favourite song. By the age of nine he was singing on stage and at 14 he went on the road with Bobby Rush. He still went to school and to church and, after high school, on to college to major in music. In 1978 Charles made his first recording “I Need a Love I Can See in the Daylight” then spent the next couple of years working in Chicago clubs and making other records. In 1990 Charles got a big break when he was signed to Ichiban Records, where he recorded “Blues in the Key of C’. Foreign tours followed and he became famous far beyond the Chicago area. After years in Chicago, Charles wanted greater independence and control over his career so he relocated to Greenville, Mississippi where he now produces his own records and for his Wilson label. Many critics consider him to be one of the best tenors in Soul Music today. His concerts in Lugano will show why he is known as “The Crown Prince of Soul”.