Biography
Throughout the 90’s and early 2000s, Charlie was a regular throughout the Great Lakes region performing at bookstores, cafes, festivals, and hosting open mics. His 1997 performances at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum during their weeklong program Woody Guthrie: Hard Travelin’, helped to establish him as a local authority on Guthrie’s music and life. This led to more workshops and performances throughout the US on the subject.
In 2010 Charlie sustained a spinal cord injury leaving him as a high functioning quadriplegic. Following surgery and physical therapy, set out to re-establish his music career with a new enthusiasm born out of his personal tragedy. Recognizing that his former level of activity in his new physical situation was unsustainable, he his focus turned toward building a stronger national presence in the folk community.
This focus helped to gain him attention from a wider audience and helped to establish his music on folk radio programs throughout the USA and Canada. His song “Remember Who We Are” won second place in the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival. His CD Something to Believe was the featured album on WFMT Chicago’s Midnight Special, and his song “Up Among the Stars” was featured on No Depression.
His involvement in a wider folk community led him into service where he began volunteering with Folk Alliance International where he is currently serving on the Board of Directors. This work included serving as a workshop coordinator for Folk Alliance Region Midwest where he ultimately took over the role of FARM President (2020-2023). He has also serves as president to the Northeast Ohio organization Folknet. Charlie is also a juried artist with Music to Life, a member of the Folk Alliance Cultural Equity Council, and served as the disability advocate and chair to the City of Cleveland Heights’ Transportation Advisory Committee.
During the pandemic, Charlie found a new role as a music educator through Roots of American Music, teaching songwriting workshops with the Stop the Hate- Sing out program, guiding 10 classes into the finals with two overall wins and three runner up awards. Grants were awarded to the classes. He also teaches elementary classes in a program called Blues is the Backbone, a history of American music.
In addition to current civic and non-profit work, performs for festivals, house concerts, farmers markets, and various venues throughout the United States. He is looking forward to returning to a touring schedule. A railroad enthusiast, Charlie builds his tours around rail routes.
Organizations
- Folk Alliance International - Board of Directors 2024- 2027
- Current Term President of Folknet 2014- Current
- President of Folk Alliance Region Midwest (FARM) 2020-2023
- Member RAMPD
- Music to Life
- FAI Cultural Equity Council
- Woody Guthrie Folk Festival Songwriting Contest 2nd place. "Remember Who We Are"
- Just Plain Folks Music Awards - Best traditional album - Something to Believe 2nd Place 2020
- Cleveland Scene Magazine readers poll winner "Best singer/songwriter" 2011
- FARMette Official Showcase Artist 2015
- FARM FolkDJ Showcase artist 2014
- Standing O Project: Featured Artist of the Week Oct 15-21 2018
- Folkalley.com: Feature Artist of the month November 2013
- WFMT's The Midnight Special: CD of the Week May 25 2013
- Featured CD of the month Stings and Beyond December 2013
- No Depression: Featured Song (Up Among the Stars) 2014
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum: Chosen by Robert Santelli to perform at the during the American Masters series, Hard Travelin' The Life and Legacy of Woody Guthrie. 1996
- Performed with: CSN, Livingston Taylor, Jewel, Iris Dement, David Bromberg, Suzzy and Lucy Wainwright Roche, Richard Shindell, Peter Mulvey, David Wilcox, Chris Whitley, Jefferson Starship, Joe Crookston, Matt Watroba, Madison Violet, Danny Schmidt, Dan Weber, The Samples, Dan Bern, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Darrell Scott, Jason White, Magpie, Neil Jacobs, Alex Bevan, and many others.
- Film Credits: Feed My Soul - Growthbusters, Walk Tonight - The Discussion