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Charlie Wilson

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You Are
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You Are
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Released: Sep 8, 2010
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General Info

  • Genre: Funk / Pop / R&B

    Location Los Angeles, California, Un

    Profile Views: 1136061

    Last Login: 12/7/2010

    Member Since 5/11/2007

    Website unclecharliewilson.com

    Record Label jive records

    Type of Label Major

  • Bio

    Charlie Wilson Biography JUST CHARLIE Timeless. It’s something every artist wants to be, but few earn the distinction. Charlie Wilson’s name is on that short list. From his breakout as a member of the Gap Band (“You Dropped A Bomb On Me,” “Outstanding”) in the ‘80s to his revered solo recordings (2005’s certified gold Charlie, Last Name Wilson, 2009’s Grammy nominated Uncle Charlie), Wilson has sold millions of albums, inspired a throng of artists who modeled their vocal stylings after his (most notably Aaron Hall and R. Kelly) and cemented his status as a musical icon with accolades from Billboard and BET, among a host of others. Now, with his third Jive Records solo album Just Charlie, Wilson is on a mission: to teach people how to respect, treat and speak to women. It’s about respect and total commitment, something Wilson puts on full display with the lead single “You Are,” produced by Wilson and P Music Group producer/songwriter Wirlie Morris. “The first time I heard the song I knew it was going to be timeless and probably one of the best Charlie had recorded in his career so I immediately thought to add an extra layer of distinction and bring in a live orchestra,” stated Michael Paran, of P Music Group, who has managed and guided Wilson’s successful solo career for the last 13 years. “So we reached out to Larry Batiste, Musical Director for the Pre-Grammy telecasts who did the orchestral arrangements which took the song over the top.” Already a radio hit on the Urban Adult Contemporary chart, “You Are” features a warm, elegant soundbed that serves as the backdrop for Wilson to showcase the love and admiration he has for his wife, Mahin. After Wilson’s years of battling drug abuse and homelessness, Mahin was the one who helped guide him back to personal and professional greatness. “I didn’t have a reason to love,” Wilson says. “I didn’t have anybody to trust, to be there for me. To find someone like Mahin is the reason that I can love. She taught me how to live.” That radiance carries over to “Once And Forever,” an elegant, piano-accented ballad where Wilson describes how his lady inspired him to be a better man. Both “You Are” and “Once And Forever” are likely to be featured at weddings for decades to come, thanks to their lush orchestration and uplifting lyrics. Elsewhere, Wilson details how his woman is a “Dime” in every way (not just physically) and celebrates his life with his lady (and shows off his impeccable vocals with daring runs and adlibs) on the feel-good “Lotto.” Then, on the breezy, reggae-influenced “Life Of The Party,” Wilson makes a point to treat his lady to a memorable night on the town, where the sole focus is to enjoy themselves. “As adults, when we start getting older, we start losing our youth because of Father Time,” he explains. “I think we should have a good time in life until the clock stops ticking. I think you should continue to have fun, never stop enjoying yourself, and never stop giving up on your dreams.” And for millions of people, their dream is to be in love. That’s why Wilson chose to remake his good friend Roger Troutman’s “I Wanna Be Your Man.” This stellar cover features Fantasia and depicts the type of yearning people have before their love is reciprocated. For others, it’s a love past that makes them realize that maybe they “Never Got Enough” of that person. This cut contains classic funk elements and lively keyboards, sounds that work well with the intensity in which some reflect upon a love lost. But it’s triumph that truly defines Just Charlie. After navigating through exhilarating highs and unspeakable lows, Wilson found redemption, a journey he documents on the driving, empowering “Where Would I Be.” “I went from rags to riches, riches to rags, rags to the curb and from the curb to being homeless,” he reveals. “Now I’m back to being a No. 1 artist and I couldn’t have done it without my woman. To have a woman who stands by your side no matter what you’re going through, the ups and the downs and the in-betweens, where would I be without her?” And where would music be without Charlie Wilson? With The Gap Band, Wilson and brothers Ronnie and Robert helped define and popularize an upbeat form of funk that was equally infectious and lasting. “Outstanding,” “You Dropped a Bomb On Me,” and “I Don’t Believe You Want To Get Up And Dance (Oops Up Side Your Head)” were among their immense catalog of hits and are among the most sampled songs in music history. Although Wilson struggled with alcohol and drug addiction that consumed him once The Gap Band broke up, his music resonated with generations of musicians and rappers, many of whom clamored to recreate his soaring vocals, to collaborate with him or to just achieve the level of artistic quality Wilson maintained. In the early 1990s, Wilson (who had already been identified as the blueprint on which Guy’s Aaron Hall and R. Kelly modeled their style) became friends and a regular collaborator with Snoop Dogg. This relationship provided Wilson with access to many of the artists that idolized him, as well as a fresh group of emerging talent who inspired him to continue pushing the limits of his own material. “I had the opportunity to work with some of the biggest hip-hop artists in this business,” recalls Wilson, who has collaborated with Kanye West, R. Kelly, Jamie Foxx, T-Pain and Justin Timberlake, among others. “It allowed me to open up my horizons and be able to learn about different types of music. Working with these artists allowed me to not be locked in a time capsule. It opened the door for me to be a part of today’s contemporary music scene.” Beyond music, Wilson remains committed to promoting awareness and testing for prostate cancer. As a survivor of a disease that afflicts one in six American men -- and one in three African American men -- Wilson in 2008 teamed with the Prostate Cancer Foundation. “When I learned that the PCF had helped to build a global research enterprise of nearly $10 billion and funded more than 1500 programs at nearly 200 research centers in 12 countries, I knew I wanted to support their efforts,” stated Wilson. Today he continues to speak at events around the country, encouraging men to get screened for the disease. He also supports the PCF through the sale of his signature fedora hats at his concerts and on his website at www.unclecharliewilson.com/shop. With music and his work to combat prostate cancer, Wilson has been able to sustain the passion and drive that have been hallmarks of his legendary career. “I’m still living this dream,” Wilson says. “I’m still going to the stage and I’m still having fun. I’m not there just to pick up the check. It’s about the passion and the respect that I have for the game. It keeps me going.” No wonder Charlie Wilson is considered timeless. And no wonder Just Charlie will soon earn the same distinction.

  • Members

    Charlie Wilson Performs for the U.S. Troops in Camp Speicher, Iraq ...... .. .. .. .. .. .. .... Charlie Wilson Live Interview from USA Today .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... Charlie Wilson Pre-Grammy Interview with Nick Cannon .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... "Let's Chill" - Charlie Wilson LIVE with Keith Sweat and Teddy Riley .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

  • Influences

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  • Sounds Like

    Charlie Wilson Live Performance GAP Band Hits .... ..Charlie Wilson Live Performance "Burn Rubber" 2008...... .. .. .. .. .. .... ..Charlie Wilson Live Performance "Outstanding"...... .. .. .. .. .. .... ..Charlie Wilson Performance "Early in the Morning"...... .. .. .. .. .. .... ..Charlie Wilson Live Performance "Yearning For Your Love" 2008...... .. .. .. .. ..

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You Are

04:51 | 7656 plays | Nov 29 2010

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Bio:

CHARLIE WILSON aka UNCLE CHARLIE

As one of the most distinguished voices in R&B music, Charlie Wilson needs no introduction. The Tulsa, Oklahoma native and former lead singer of the funkadelic brotherly trio, the GAP Band, is now going two for two with his second solo album on Jive Records, entitled UNCLE CHARLIE. The album, which was released February 17, 2009, debuted at 1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Chart and 2 on the Billboard Hot 200. This album debut was a career high for Wilson, charting higher than any of his previous projects, including the music he recorded with the GAP Band. We can expect a new album from Wilson in 2010.

2009 was a stellar year for Wilson. He received two 2010 Grammy Award nominations for Best Album (Uncle Charlie) and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for “There Goes My Baby,” and a 2010 NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Male Artist. In addition, Billboard Magazine has named Charlie the 1 Urban Adult Contemporary Artist of 2009 and “There Goes My Baby” the 1 Urban Adult Contemporary Single of 2009. Wilson also received the 2009 Soul Train Icon Award in November.

“There Goes My Baby,” spent 10 weeks at 1 on the Billboard Hot Adult R&B chart and remained on the charts for 52 weeks. The hauntingly beautiful song was written by multiple Grammy winner Babyface and Calvin Richardson, and produced by Gregg Pagani. Wilson confesses “When the song was sent to me I sat with my wife in my driveway and just played the song over and over again. I knew it was the right song because I immediately fell in love with it. I knew my fans would love it too.” Now becoming a wedding song classic, “There Goes My Baby” is a perfect mixture of contemporary and classic R&B while the music fuses beautifully with Wilson’s enchanting vocals.

To perpetuate the success of “There Goes My Baby,” Wilson created a slam dunk video featuring none other than his favorite nephew, Snoop Dogg and Snoop’s wife Shante. The video with past and present footage of Snoop Dogg and his wife demonstrates what true love is all about. Family cookouts, marriage vows, and a teary-eyed Snoop Dogg are just some of the real life scenarios of the rapper and his wife depicted in the video. “I wanted to make a video that really showed what love is all about. Snoop and Shante have been through a lot together and through it all they remain in love. They are a real couple and a real love story” explains Wilson.

Wilson’s current single “Can’t Live Without You” has spent 51 weeks on the Billboard Hot R&B Adult chart with 20 weeks in the top 10. The song was produced by the Underdogs, who also produced several tracks on the album. With its classic vibe and cool groove, Wilson delivers his first-class vocals as suave as ever. “People are always getting together, breaking up and making up. I wanted to make a song that everyone could relate to at some point in their relationship. The words in “Can’t Live Without You” are the savior to the relationship” says Wilson.

Wilson made his latest guest appearance on Lil Kim’s single “Download” also featuring T-Pain. The song is a remake of Zapp’s funk-ballad, “Computer Love” which Wilson both helped create and guest starred on with Roger Troutman and Shirley Murdock. “Roger asked me what he should do next in his career and I told him he should do a ballad. We created the concept of designing a woman on the computer and having her come to life. I added my licks and that was it!” Wilson explains.

While Wilson had declined to appear on the many remakes of “Computer Love” there was something special about that track that gave him the feeling it was the right time. “I felt like Roger was looking down on me saying ’Yeah you should do this Charlie.’”

It’s no wonder Wilson was once dubbed “the de-facto father of new jack swing,” artists like Aaron Hall and R. Kelly have long paid homage to Wilson’s characteristic vocal style. Labelmate, Kelly, wrote and produced the hit single, “Charlie Last Name Wilson ” from the gold-certified CD of the same name. From Wilson’s classic R&B GAP Band hits like “Yearning for Your Love” and “Outstanding” to collaborations with Justin Timberlake on “Signs” and Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams on the Grammy nominated track “Beautiful,” Wilson continues embracing contemporary music with his phenomenal vocal style and unique licks. “It is a true honor to be able to continue to work with today’s hottest and biggest artists and as long as they still want me I am here” Wilson says of his career’s longevity.

While Wilson may be an R&B icon he is also known for his up-tempo party jams, “You Dropped A Bomb on Me” and “Early in the Morning.” UNCLE CHARLIE features a funky dance track titled “Let It Out ” featuring Snoop Dogg. “Let It Out ” was recorded in Wilson’s studio during a visit with Snoop Dogg when he brought his family to Wilson’s ranch to film the Season 1 Finale of his E! Channel reality show “Snoop Dogg’s Fatherhood.” “I played Snoop my demos for UNCLE CHARLIE and when he heard “Let It Out” he immediately began spitting his rhyme” Wilson said. “It was like it was made for us.”

Snoop also confesses that Charlie has taught him a lot through the years, including the art of performing for an audience. “Snoop was the one who started calling me “Uncle Charlie” and that nickname has grown to be what I am known as today, the coolest, most fly Uncle you ever had “ laughs Wilson.

Wilson’s 2009 concert tour played to sold out houses across the country and we should expect no different in 2010. Wilson will appear at some of the biggest music festivals including Essence Music Festival, Macys Music Festival and Hampton Music Festival, to name a few. His show is described as a “Las Vegas production” incorporating high energy, beautiful dancers, a funky band, custom light show, colorful costumes and numerous wardrobe changes. He keeps his audience on their feet as he performs both his newest contemporary R&B hits and songs from the legendary GAP Band catalog, dancing to choreographed routines while enduring his signature voice throughout the entire show.

Nationally syndicated radio host, author and “Good Morning America” correspondent, Steve Harvey was in awe after watching Charlie’s performance at his annual Hoodie Awards in Las Vegas. “What I saw at The Hoodies was the greatest single living performer of legendary status of our time. Charlie’s voice is amazing and his energy and the level of intensity that he has is unbelievable.”

The Charlie Wilson show is proving to be the one to see.

While most artists would be out on the road promoting their new album on the release date, Wilson took a different approach with this project and decided to go overseas to the Middle East to perform for our U.S. Troops. “The smiles on their faces by shaking their hands, taking pictures, and watching them dance and have a ball at the concert with their fellow soldiers are memories that will stay with me forever. I can’t wait to go back!” says Wilson. He also recalls receiving the news about his impressive chart debut prior to his last show at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq. “I just felt like God is good.” Wilson will go back to entertain the troops in Iraq February 2010.

In addition to concerts and interviews, Wilson has also become a spokesperson for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. “I am in remission for prostate cancer due to an early diagnosis” he states. When I Iearned that 1 in every 6 men would be diagnosed with prostate cancer including 1 in every 3 African American men, I knew it was time to start “informing as well as performing.” (www.prostatecancerfoundation.org)

As part of his commitment to assist in aiding the Prostate Cancer Foundation to continue their research, Charlie designed his own signature Fedora hats. “I remember going to a country western concert and seeing everyone in the building wearing cowboy hats” he states. I decided to design my own Fedoras and named them the “Uncle Charlie” hat. I wear them on stage and also encourage my fans to purchase one for a good cause. A portion of the proceeds from each hat that is purchased benefits the Prostate Cancer Foundation. I would just love to come back and see everyone in the audience wearing my Fedoras” Charlie states. The “Uncle Charlie” hats are available at all Charlie Wilson concerts and online at www.unclecharliewilson.com.

Proving to be a champion in an R&B league all his own, Wilson has outdone himself again crafting this Grammy nominated CD. UNCLE CHARLIE has a little something for everyone from timeless ballads and mid-tempo melodies to upbeat dance tracks. Whether you want to party with friends, sit and reflect on a lost love or celebrate a new found relationship, UNCLE CHARLIE is a winner!

www.unclecharliewilson.com

There Goes My Baby


Lil Kim Download Featuring Charlie Wilson & T - Pain Music Video


Footage from the set of Lil Kim's video for "Download"




Charlie, Last Name, Wilson


Charlie Wilson performs on American Idol Gives Back



Charlie Wilson ft. on Snoop Dogg's Fatherhood Season Finale "The Wedding"-Season 1. (Episode Filmed on Charlie's Ranch Home.)



Member Since:

May 11, 2007

Members:

Charlie Wilson Performs for the U.S. Troops in Camp Speicher, Iraq
..

Charlie Wilson Live Interview from USA Today



Charlie Wilson Pre-Grammy Interview with Nick Cannon



"Let's Chill" - Charlie Wilson LIVE with Keith Sweat and Teddy Riley

Influences:

..

Record Label:

jive records

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