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IAN CHARLES
Alternative / Americana / Lyrical

""Pack Up The Plantation""

New York
United States

Profile Views:  24830




Last Login:  7/7/2008
View My: Pics | Videos

   Contacting IAN CHARLES

 MySpace URL: 
  http://www.myspace.com/iancharlesmusic  

   IAN CHARLES: General Info
Member Since7/8/2005
Band WebsiteNew Official Website Coming Soon'
Band MembersMike Burke : Electric guitars, b-vox Marshall St. Clair: Basses, b-vox Dennis DeMorro: Drums Jon Light: Pedal Steel, Lap Steel, Dobro

Alumni: Pete Kazaleh: Electric guitars Mace Vitale: Bass Eric Lichter: Multi-instrumentalist, Studio Steve Combs: Bass Steve Pastore: Drums Steve Burr: Electric Guitars Dennis Cote' Drums Harry King: Piano, B-3 Crit Harmon: Producer/Engineer Dick Neal: El. Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, co-production. Mark Mirando: Piano John Holt: Co-Writer, Ac. Guitar, vocal.
They don't need no stinking badges.
InfluencesArts and The Humanities~ Musicians, Poets, Writers, Artists: The lists are way too long to complete. But off of the top of my head and being truthful about the people that upon "impact" are those to whom I have reflected on for inspiration consistently for reasons both obvious and unexplainable.

Musically speaking: Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Presley w/ Scotty Moore, D.J Fontana & Bill Black, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and Mudcrutch, John Mellencamp, Elvis Costello and Co, Pete Townshend, Van Morrison, Johnny Cash, The Band, The Kinks, Patti Smith, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, Widespread Panic, Ray Charles, Jay Farrar/Son Volt, Jeff Tweedy/Wilco, Justin Currie/Del Amitri, Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, The Sawtelles, Joe Henry, CCR, Bob Seger, MC5, Grand Funk Railroad, Roy Orbison, Free, The Doors, The Beatles, David Bowie, The Beach Boys, Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, Karen Dalton, Stax/Volt Records, Hi-Records, Sun Records, The Staple Singers, Mahalia Jackson, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Skip James, Ruth Brown, Memphis Slim, Steve Marriott, U2, Pink Floyd, Merle Haggard, Los Lobos, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Nils Lofgren, Big Country/Stuart Adamson, Curtis Mayfield, The Clash, Mark Lanegan, Paul Weller, Steve Earle, Alejandro Escovedo, Cowboy Junkies, Steve Miller, Dan Fogelberg, Marc Bolan & T-Rex, Belafonte, Neil Diamond. br>

Ian's essential Jazz artists list: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Oscar Peterson, Sonny Stitt, Ben Webster, Johnny Dodds, Natty Dominique, Elvin Jones, Jo Jones, Hot Lips Page, Big Joe Turner, Bud Scott, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, Joe Henry, Lester Young, Andy Kirk, Bennie Moten, Billie Holiday, Jesse Stone, Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams, Billy Cobham, Chick Corea/RTF, McCoy Tyner, Monk, Mingus, MJQ, Andy Bey, Dexter Gordon, Frank Sinatra, Etta Jones, Phineas Newborn, Red Garland, Horace Silver, Jimmy Cobb, Jay McShann, Fletcher Henderson, Pete Johnson, Harry James, Glenn Miller, Erroll Garner, Zoot Sims, Vinnie Dean, Al Cohn , Tony Scott, Stan Kenton, George and Ira Gershwin.

The Writers and Poets: Sam Shepard, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Allen Ginsberg, John Steinbeck, Rainer Maria Rilke, James Baldwin, Eldridge Cleaver, Larry McMurtry, Ted Hughes, William S. Burroughs, Geoffrey Hill, Arthur Miller, Luis Cernuda, A.J. Cronin, Shel Silverstein, James Joyce, Dr. Suess, Jack Kerouac, Robert Burns, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Charles Lamb, John Keats, Patti Smith, Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison, Henry Carey, Harold Bell Wright, Noam Chomsky, Naomi Wolf, Jimmy Carter, Charles Bukowski, Hunter S. Thompson, William Shakespeare. .. .. .. ...... ..</mspobj
Sounds Like A telephone ringing when you are lonely- A typewriter that you bought at a tag sale- A footstep that echoes your own- A cold drink on a hot day- A hot drink on a cold day- A look your dog or cat gives you when you wake up- A lumber yard- A midnight drive- A morning cup of coffee- A morning cup of tea- A morning- A mourning- A mooring- Amore- A More-
Record LabelBell Hand Records
Type of LabelIndie








   Upcoming Shows ( view all )
Jul 4 2008 7:00P
House Concert /Sold Out! Stonington, Connecticut
Jul 23 2008 9:45P
"Church" / Full Band! w/ Bryan Pero and The Tired Horses (opener) Boston, Massachusetts
Aug 2 2008 9:00P
Parkside Lounge NYC, New York
Aug 3 2008 7:00P
The Colony Arts Center/Full Band!! Woodstock, New York
Aug 9 2008 8:00P
Cafe Nine/Record Release Bash! w/ Charity Valk and other guests New Haven, Connecticut
Aug 23 2008 8:30P
The Underscore / Full Band Show! New York, New York
Aug 26 2008 8:00P
House Concert/ Kenny and Lori’s / Sold Out! Collierville, Tennessee
Aug 29 2008 8:00P
House Concert and Private Party Shreveport, Louisiana

IAN CHARLES's Latest Blog Entry  [Subscribe to this Blog]

Diving Board (A Poem, A New Song)  (view more)

Randomizing  (view more)

PETS not Pests  (view more)

Ode  (view more)

Blues For Bo Diddley  (view more)

[View All Blog Entries]

   About IAN CHARLES
Singer/Songwriter/Poet/ and Painter, Ian Charles was born in his Auntie Lil's front sitting room in London, England during the revolution of the mid-60's. By the mid-70's had come and after traveling almost as gypsies for 10 years. His family settled in America in a one- time small country town on the eastern seabord. A creative irish family, he discovered music at a very early age due to his parents love of the arts. Most family time was spent reading, and listening to music. He was consumed by the sounds of the best AM radio and the earliest days of FM radio along with a very diverse record collection. His father was into Jazz, Blues, Bluegrass, Country, and early pre- Beatles Rock-n-Roll. His mother was into Folk, Country, Classical and World Music. His older brother was into Rock-n-Roll. This world was life-changing for Ian who while sharing a room with his brother and living in a small house made all of this music swirl around his developing creative universe.
Ian joined his first band at 14 and by the time he finished high school. He was writing his own songs and playing in three different bands. Playing drums in one, singing in another and being the songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist in his first all original band. After spending due time in Los Angeles, Memphis, Nashville and New York City developing his songwriting chops, learning the ropes and working on his own sound by playing in a variety of bands from Garage/CowPunk to Ambient/Electronic. He discovered a melodic style which was born from the delta blues and rockabilly. There was a distinct power to a simple melody with a powerful lyric. He made his way through Memphis again. But, this time as a solo performer. He wanted to feel the rhythm of the area. He indulged deeply in the musical history of the region, The "crossroads". The bumps, twists and turns in the music business provided Ian with all of his answers as to where he wanted his direction to go and exactly what he heard as a "sound" His sound.

While working a day job in April of 1994, he met his first legitimate manager Colin Shaw and began compiling a handful of demos and LIVE in studio outtakes that would become his debut release in March of 1995 entitled, "...TO THOSE WHO WAIT". His mostly LIVE-In-Studio recordings gained him some northeast regional airplay mostly with the song, Wild Oats. After touring with a thrown together band aptly titled, IAN CHARLES BAND (ICB) to promote the album he began writing new songs which would become his follow-up, LONG HILL ROAD. Released in January 1998. A stunning balance between Rock and Acoustic songs. The record gained him an even larger regional fan base. At this time, he was listening heavily to old traditional folk and blues records, rockabilly, country and as always, Bob Dylan. His songwriting changed drastically to a more stripped down Alt-Country style and a more metaphoric, poetic lyrical style. He began working with a producer for the first time. The Boston based, Crit Harmon (Martin Sexton, Mary Gauthier, Jess Klein, etc.) brought a more arranged commercial style to his songwriting with the undeniable influences of the Delta Blues, Gospel and "Nashville Sound" Country recordings. His first true breakthrough came though with the resulting CD. His 3rd, WISHING STREET. Released in February 2000. Gaining him national airplay with several of the songs from WISHING STREET. Particularly a song about broken hearted lost love called, HEAVENS' KEY. This song won Ian his first national award in songwriting from the internet based, dMusic.com network. Who awarded Ian with an internet Grammy for "Best Country Song". In the beginning of 2001, Ian met up with Staci Broski from 7th Row Music/Kansas City. Working initially as a booking agent, Staci's commitment to the promotion and overall success of Wishing Street and bringing Ian's music to a larger audience helped establish Ian a deep fan base throughout the mid-west. After almost endless touring for WISHING STREET then subsequently releasing a LIVE Solo Acoustic EP, LIVE At THE PUPPETHOUSE THEATRE in 2002. He performed upwards of 300 plus solo acoustic concerts worldwide.

In 2003 after almost constant touring, through the advice of a lifelong friend, Ian retreated to the village of Woodstock, NY to reflect on his travels, get some rest, develop a new batch of songs and reconnect with his love for painting and writing poetry. After a short time he brought the various songs, images and words he had in his head, into DIRT FLOOR STUDIOS with a longtime collaborative musician/engineer and friend, Eric Lichter. These songs became his 4th full length Solo CD, MINUTES FROM MIDNIGHT. Released in March 2004. While doing some additional recording he met a like-minded recording engineer/guitarist from Minnesota named, Mike Burke. Working on post-production with Ian on MFM, and building a working relationship that still continues today. Mike was working a side-gig as guitarist with some musicians that complimented Ian's songs and most recent songwriting. So in 2006 Bassist; Marshall St. Clair, Drummer; Dennis DeMorro, Mike Burke on Guitar, Jon Light on Pedal Steel and Ian. Began recording a large body of new songs. But then, after basic tracks were recorded. Ian decided he would put the project on a short hiatus to continue writing more songs. Feeling that his ideas were not complete. This resulted in a wellspring of creative activity. Ian began to work again with paint, brush and canvas. Painting feverishly on impulse. A body of work developed quickly. When not painting, Ian also began to compile a first book of poetry, "FOR PARKER & OTHER TREES" (2008/Bell Hand) and also took on the role of PRODUCER for the debut album project by his friend and fellow singer/songwriter, JOHN HOLT with his band at the time, GENEROUS THIEF entitled, NO REST(2006) . The project with John and his band, his painting, and his poetry each inspired Ian's own songwriting in ways multi-dimensional. More so than ever before. Resulting in a vastly developed collection of songs with an increasingly strong emphasis on poetic lyricism. This collection of tunes will begin recording soon.

But until then, the hiatus from the 2006 album project with his band worked well for the songs they had recorded. So, now here we are in 2008 after revisiting the work. The upcoming 6th Ian Charles CD entitled, BORN RIGHT INSIDE will be out in the early days of summer. With many, many shows to follow. A milestone of "crossroads" Roots/Alternative Rock/ Folk. Some would call it "Americana". Ian refers to it as simply "good music". Inspired by the people, music and art of the modern world to help us all find our way through to new beginnings. While dancing and thinking along the way.



Buy the CD
IAN CHARLES: Minutes From Midnight
click to order


Buy the CD
IAN CHARLES: LIVE at The Puppet House EP
click to order


Buy the CD
IAN CHARLES: Wishing Street
click to order


Buy the CD
IAN CHARLES: Long Hill Road
click to order


Buy the CD
IAN CHARLES: ...To Those Who Wait (reissued)
click to order


.. BEGIN SHOPPING CART -->
..> ..> ..> ..> ..> ..>
album price
Choose how many, and click
Orders sent by CD Baby. You can also call 1-800-BUY-MY-CD to order by phone.
IAN CHARLES: Wishing Street $10.00
IAN CHARLES: ...To Those Who Wait (reissued) $8.99
IAN CHARLES: Long Hill Road $10.00
IAN CHARLES: LIVE at The Puppet House EP $5.00
IAN CHARLES: Minutes From Midnight $11.98
JOHN HOLT & GENEROUS THIEF: No Rest $12.00
.. END SHOPPING CART --> This layout was handmade with love by the folks at My space or yours? Go get one!




   IAN CHARLES's Friend Space (Randomized)
IAN CHARLES has 1786 friends.
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IAN CHARLES's Friends Comments
Displaying 50 of 332 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
Drummer JL Claybourne


Is Online


Jun 30 2008 9:12 AM

ian, here's the clip
ian charles drum cover
The Four Zoas





Jun 27 2008 4:16 AM

"I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it's in your mind. Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now?"

John Lennon
The Art of Making Music: Voices of the Unheard





Jun 19 2008 5:50 PM

LIVE
At the
BLACKSHEEP RANCH
2008 House Concert Series

Held at:
121 Ironworks Rd.
Clinton, CT 06413
*THE HOME OF*
Andrew and Suzanne Wallach

Sponsored by
The Art of Making Music

show begins at 5:00pm

SATURDAY July, 12th 2008
!!LIVE RECORDING!!

Greg Kennedy (solo, acoustic)
( www. myspace. com/fukennedy )
&
Smooth Medusa (acoustic!)
( myspace. com/smoothmedusa )




FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE
www. myspace. com/theartofmakingmusic
or CALL
860 304 - 3056
Andrea Young





Jun 19 2008 12:58 PM

Ian~

So wonderful to hear from you! You have such an incredible sound- I'm very happy that Staci sent me your way. All the best of luck and success to you...

Andrea
Renaissance Dell'Arte





Jun 19 2008 11:23 AM

Thanks for connection.
Keep up the great music.
Kiss,
Renaissance Dell'Arte
DAVE KEARNEY





Jun 12 2008 6:42 AM

Photobucket
I'LL MISS HIM TOO....
IAN, THANKS FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP. YOUR MUSIC IS FROM THE HEART,WHERE ALL GOOD THINGS COME FROM.
LIGHT,LOVE&PEACE, Dave
Colleen





Jun 11 2008 7:32 AM

hi Ian.. hope you are doing well.. I see you have a busy weekend.. hope all the shows go well! peace and love
Ninure da Hippie


Is Online


May 30 2008 1:38 PM

Photobucket
THE HABITAT TRUST FOR WILDLIFE





May 20 2008 4:40 PM

Howdy Ian,
Your music is wonderful and page looking good.
Hope all is well with you - Leeona
The Art of Making Music: Voices of the Unheard





May 18 2008 4:59 PM

LIVE
At the
BLACKSHEEP RANCH
2008 House Concert Series

Held at:
121 Ironworks Rd.
Clinton, CT 06413
THE HOME OF
Andrew and Suzanne Wallach

Sponsored by
The Art of Making Music

show begins at 5:00pm
All shows on Saturday, rain date, Sunday

SATURDAY JUNE 7 TH 2008
Seth Adam
&
Mike Lasala

Katura Burgess (tentative)

This show is a most see, you will not want to miss this one

The ultra talented singer songwriter, Mr. Mike Lasala of New Haven, CT will be performing along with Thee incredible Seth Adam. This will be an evening of power acoustic! Story telling songs by two of Connecticut’s most sought after singer songwriters.

FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE
www. myspace. com/theartofmakingmusic
or CALL
860 304 - 3056
The Mike Ryan Project





May 16 2008 5:40 PM

Ian, "Heaven's Key" is a completely bad ass. Thanks for allowing us to download a great song!!
Mike, Baltimore, MD
Thump Back Wail


Is Online


May 14 2008 9:31 PM

Hey Ian, Thanks for the add... and honor the Shemp in each of us!
Andrea





May 6 2008 6:51 PM

Very handsome photo! I am enjoying your music a lot. You are an amazing talent,IC.
xoxo
Brett Terry





Apr 29 2008 9:43 AM

Hey Ian,

A rich and truly deep page of life and music you've got here - I look forward to digging in. Really enjoyed listening to "waitin' too long". And a house party in Stonington (though a Sold out one) - would love to know more

brett / www. brettsongs. com
City Fritter





Apr 28 2008 3:57 PM

Thanks for the add and the kind words,
and any friend of David Kraai is a friend of ours-
peace!
Jewels and Johny
A Clark Family Believer





Apr 27 2008 12:30 PM

I think I dated that Redneck DUI dude...
The Art of Making Music: Voices of the Unheard





Apr 25 2008 8:20 PM

LIVE
At the
BLACKSHEEP RANCH
2008 season

Held at:
121 Ironworks Rd.
Clinton, CT 06413
THE HOME OF
Andrew and Suzanne Wallach

Sponsored by
The Art of Making Music

All shows begin at 5:00pm except where noted
All shows on Saturday, rain date, Sunday

May 10th
Eric & Sandra Lichter (Woodstock, NY)
The Williamsboy (Matt Williams) (Robbinsville, NJ)
Plus special guest Say What (Chester, CT)

June 7th
Katurah Burgess (Warwick, RI)
Seth Adam (New Haven, CT)

July12th
Stacey Dyer of Porto (Meriden, CT)
Greg Kennedy solo (Clinton, CT)
Smooth Medusa (acoustic) (New York, NY)

August 2nd
Eddie Seville of Steel Rodeo
With Sallylu Luciani & Billy K. (Middleburry, CT)
Christian Marrone (New Haven, CT)

September 6th *12:00 pm
Chuck E. Costa (Madison, CT)
Kierstin Sieser (Ivoryton, CT)
Special guest Jack Caldwell

October 11th *12:00 pm
Bret Logan of the Jellyshirts (New Haven, CT)
Al Raebuck (Branford, CT)
Ninure da Hippie


Is Online


Apr 23 2008 7:03 AM

Your presence is a present to the world.
You’re unique and one of a kind.
Your life can be what you want it to be.
Take the days just one at a time.
Count your blessings, not your troubles.
You’ll make it through whatever comes along.
Within you are so many answers.
Understand, have courage, be strong.
Don’t put limits on yourself.
So many dreams