You hear her voice and wonder if she’s related to Aretha or Mavis or perhaps Otis Redding.
Then you see her red hair and her porcelain skin and wonder where the hell Charity Von came from.
To be exact, Kansas City. Charity is the daughter of a Pentacostal Preacher and his Hammond organ playing wife. From day one, her father’s racially mixed church gave her, well, soul.
Because of her upbringing, it made sense for Charity to try and find a place for her faith and her voice in Christian Music, and she eventually made the trek to Nashville, where a record deal awaited. The problem was, there was no room in the inn for this sensual and outrageous voice.
Enter Phil Madeira & Lynn Nichols, collectively known as madeira/nichols. Studio veterans with a long list of credits and vibe for days, they took Charity under their wings, and proceeded to write and record with her for nearly 3 years, finishing her first true-to-Charity recording when she was 22.
While not abandoning the spirit, they allowed Charity the wide berth that her talent demanded. Street-savvy lyrics emerged, combined with deep grooves, greasy riffs, and sophisticated yet visceral changes and melodies.
Take “Nobody Better”, a sexy mid-tempo that doesn’t want to end, simply stated like the best soul stew dished out in Memphis. Sassy, tongue in cheek, spot-on, bangin’ delivery with no quarter, Charity lays into a song like it’s life or death, pulling the listener in and never letting go.
“Girl With Plans” is all about girl power, baby. This is a tough chick with heart, but get the hell out of her way, people, because this girl is a supercharged Escalade and she’s going someplace.
“The Boys Are Back In Town”- are you kidding me? Hey, kid, who do you think you are to tackle Thin Lizzy? Well, don’t look now, but she nails it, turning the rocker into a smoking slow dance while channeling something like Herb Alpert on his third Sapphire and Tonic. It’s jazz, it’s pop, it’s blues, it’s hip and even hop... it’s Charity Von.
In concert, Charity delivers without the sorcery so many stars depend upon in the Twenty First Century. No auto-tuning, no tricks, just the pure soul of someone whose passion is impossible to temper. Charity is both a throw back to the hey day of soul music, and the bright light in the tunnel that makes you wonder if popular music has a chance to be once again moving, vibrant, and meaningful.
Like her song says, “Can’t stop a runaway train...
...or a girl with plans.”
