About

In the tradition of Woody Guthrie, Charlie uses his music as a vehicle to build a better world through programs like Music to Life, Stop the Hate, monthly performances in the local spinal cord injury unit, and countless charities and events that advocate for human rights and environmental action. Charlie’s music is both informed and inspired by the amazing individuals who give themselves to these causes. He does not see his music as political, but honest. Honest about the events the songs are written about. Honest about the impact these events had on our lives, and honest about the agency and advocacy resulting from these events. Charlie believes if you have an honest song, the truth will shine.

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
RAMPD - Ambassador
Music to Life
FAI Cultural Equity Council
Roots of American Music, Teaching Artist

Career Highlights

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

Press

Spectrum News Ohio - Nonprofit teaches kids roots of American music

No Depression CD Review - Charlie Mosbrook - Something To Believe: "There’s a familiar comfortable feeling that comes over you when you listen to the music of Charlie Mosbrook. The guy has a rich, worldly voice that sounds like it was broken in slowly, like a well-loved instrument."

"Up Among The Stars" Featured song on No Depression March 4, 2014

Midnight Special WFMT Chicago Something To Believe chosen as the CD of the week for May 25, 2013 by Rich Warren for the Midnight Special on Chicago's WFMT.

Saving Country Music Over 112 Artists Affected in Sweeping Streaming Song Theft

Cd Review- Something To Believe :"Upon hearing “Something to Believe” by singer-songwriter Charlie Mosbrook, I was struck by the confident yet melodic sound of his singing voice. That voice reminds me of similarly masculine folk voices of the past, such as Kris Kristofferson, Jim Croce and Gordon Lightfoot."

AFLC For Our 500th Post, Folklife Today Bids You Good Night (But Not Goodbye!)

Topeka Capital Journal Charlie Mosbrook, longtime musician, to visit Topeka for Last Minute Folk Series

Westlife: Westlake, Ohio Folk singer Mosbrook inspired by Woody Guthrie autobiography

CELLAR DOOR Charlie Mosbrook is a staple of not just the Cleveland folk scene, but of the entire music community. Not only has Charlie taken his music all over the country, appeared in national publications and taught workshops, but he’s hosted open mics for as long as I can remember.

Strings and Beyond CD of the Month The traditional folk music and instrumentation in Something to Believe provides the ear with a fresh and uplifting experience." 9/01/2014

Benefit for Roots of American Music 1/1/13

Charlie Mosbrook's open-mic nights showcase Heights talent -by Jim Henke:

At Thursday evening's show, the very soft-spoken musician held those two-dozen men, women, and children entranced as he played song after beautiful song.... it was evident that there had been a majorly cosmic connection between Mosbrook and us."

Buzzard Tracks: Northeast Ohio Music News and Review "A Time Long Gone is an excellent album, finely conceived and gorgeously sung. The more I played it, the more I enjoyed it. I have to warn you, there are some tearjerkers here, and songs that will stick with you long beyond the playing. Mosbrook shows himself, once again, to be a remarkable songwriter." Saturday, March 14, 2015

"The musicianship and singing on the album is uniformly excellent, the various folks helping Mosbrook doing a fine job all around. I hope that he gets around to making ten more albums, if they display this level of quality." Something To Believe- Review Friday, November 15, 2013

This Year's Folk Alliance International Conference Featured Several Cleveland Artists - Posted By Michael Sangiacomo on Mon, Jan 27, 2020

Local Musician Charlie Mosbrook Finds Himself in the Middle of a Song-Streaming Ripoff - Posted By Afi Scruggs on Tue, Jan 21, 2020

Scene magazine: His album opens with a restrained rendition of the Lead Belly tune "Sylvie" that features Mosbrook harmonizing with guest singer Kate Kooser. It's a terrific collection of tunes. Scene Magazine Something To Believe CD Review "It's a testament to his talent that Mosbrook, a veteran on the local folk-rock scene who became a quadriplegic in 2010, sounds this inspired" Best of Cleveland "Charlie Mosbrook has been making records for 20 years, a series of albums that spotlight his warm, tender vocals and soft acoustic guitar strums. It's grown-up music from a guy who isn't afraid to open his heart." ..

Link Regional Beat: Zach Friedoff- Provenance CD review: "There's not a bad song in the bunch. Zach and Charlie Mosbrook harmonize nicely on the opening tune "More to Learn" 6/15/2020

Social Justice Champion & Folksinger Charlie Mosbrook Hosts Charlie’s Open Mic 11/19/2019

Folksinger Charlie Mosbrook Brings New Album of Topical Songs to Tremont Sanctuary Benefit 10/23/1018

Folksinger Charlie Mosbrook & Friends Liven Up a Tuesday Evening at the Grog Shop 2/6/2018

Folksinger Charlie Mosbrook Celebrates His 50th Birthday with Friends at Nighttown 4/24/2017

Folk Musician Charlie Mosbrook Pays Tribute to his Influences on New CD 11/ 10/ 2015

Local Acoustic Musicians Charlie Mosbrook & Brian Henke 10/16/15

Mosbrook Plays house concert 1/30/2015

Cleveland Folkie @CharlieMosbrook Debuts New Album at the Barking Spider 3/23/2014

Local Singer/Songwriters Honor Pete Seeger at Nighttown Show 3/17/2013

"Something To Believe" CD review Something to Believe, with contributions from an array of talented area players. Why he’s built those relationships and that respect is showcased in the well-written tunes and in Mosbrook’s unaffected and affecting performances of them. 2/06/2013

Charlie Mosbrook Debuts New CD " "demonstrating the respect he’s earned and the appeal of his modest yet exquisite songs." 1/272011

Coverage: The Songs of Charlie Mosbrook July 2004

CD Review- Nothing is Clear "Charlie Mosbrook has hosted open mics and performed his soft-spoken acoustic music with local acts for the past 16 years. Over that time, he's recorded five albums and has had the opportunity to perform with the likes of Jewel and Big Head Todd and the Monsters. His latest album, Nothing is Clear, again features his warm delivery. Songs like Nothing but You and Love and Disappointment tell heartfelt stories and are backed with quiet acoustic melodies, uplifting songs such as Feed My Soul and Rearrange the Focus deliver a much-needed dose of energy to the album. Instrumental songs such as The Walk Home and Message are also highlights" 8/30/2011

"In a world where many are reluctant to share the spotlight, Charlie Mosbrook has gone out of his way to let others take center stage" -Dan Polletta WCPN 1/8/2021

Applause Performances: Kevin Richards and Charlie Mosbrook 2/18/2018 Folk Alliance, a weekend of music from around the world 2/7/2018

Charlie Mosbrook put songwriting and singing center stage 8/9/11

Musician Charlie Mosbrook turns spinal injury into sweet music 8/9/2011 Charlie Mosbrook, Cleveland folk singer, at open mic night - Video 4/10/2011

Coventry - A neighborhood with something for everyone | cleveland.com 1/21/2011

Charlie Mosbrook covered by a cavalcade of local talents on a new CD Sun Newspapers 2/9/11

Folk singer Charlie Mosbrook, marks 45th birthday with release of new CD - "Something to Believe” a 12-song compilation he self-produced at his home is the best work he has ever done. 8/4/11

Cleveland Heights singer-songwriter's new CD reflects his experience battling spinal cord injury 12/27/11

Local musicians join together on new CD to help Cleveland Heights South Carolina Music Guide Charlie Mosbrook Through The Carolinas- " Almost taken for granted in his hometown, it wasn’t until a degenerative Heavy Feather Review 3/5/2013

Something to Believe: An Interview with Charlie Mosbrook: "he’s also been releasing the best music of his life. Something to Believe distills what’s best about Charlie’s songwriting even as it incorporates new influences from traditional American folk music."

Hi- Res Images for promotional use

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