P Music Group - Artist Management

When Charlie Wilson hits the stage, his voice blows audiences away and his energy is infectious -- like an unbridled Oklahoma twister that's about to take down the arena. Now, with a little help from his ‘nephews’, including R. Kelly, Pharrell, Snoop Dogg, the Underdogs, the Platinum Brothers, and the Stewart Brothers, his new Jive Records release is sure to give Wilson lovers yet another lesson in musical passion and school them in the ABC's of R&B and Funk -- Charlie Wilson style.

As an inspiration to contemporary vocalists, as well as, the force behind a ground-shaking funk band that landed an amazing string of hits, ‘Uncle Charlie’ has carved a unique niche for himself in the world of music. With his new untitled solo project, the wiz kid from Tulsa embarks on a new quest, to take his music to the people on his own terms, in his own way.

His new album will feature smooth grooves sure to grab the attention of Wilson fans. And with tracks like, “First Name Charlie Last Name Wilson”, which was produced by R. Kelly (whom also is the Executive Producer of the Album), and the scores of other up-tempo and ballad tracks produced by the music industry’s top hit makers, the project's ability to attract new Wilson fans seems almost unlimited.

Charlie Wilson's new solo album is a departure from the patented GAP band sound he helped make so successful. He notes, "It feels good. Like I'm starting all over again. I'm nervous and excited. But, I've got a whole new batch of songs and I'm looking forward to finding the right ones – the one's I want to perform and those that will make crowds feel good about the new material."

The son of a preacher, Wilson started performing his "early" material, very early. At the age of 3 or 4. His mother taught music and sang in church, giving young Charlie the opportunity to do the same. In Jr. High, Wilson sang in school plays and was musically inclined, but it was when he performed "I Left My Heart in San Francisco” at a talent show that he realized his gift. "I was chased from the boys bathroom to the ladies bathroom by screaming girls," notes Charlie. "I didn't go to school for 3 days because I was so scared." Musically inclined, he kept clear of the "talent show circuit" and formed his first "official" group while in Jr. High, the Carver GT's. Charlie notes, "It was weird because all the teachers would come to the club, watch me perform at night and I'd feel like one of their peers. Then the next day, after working until 4 or 5 am, I was expected to go to class and treat them like a teacher. It was crazy."

When it was time for High School, the band's name changed to the Spinata's (named after a popular local "cooler"), but the relationship between student-teacher-performer continued. Charlie adds, "It got to the point when I began calling the faculty by their first names at night, and getting in trouble for doing the same thing the next day." As things progressed the popular Wilson would come to have "too much power," in his eyes. But as the talented young trumpet player ("I was first chair all the way"), drum major and sometime student carried on, so did the band. "I wanted to get everyone
to attend the same college – so we could keep the band together."

But when Wilson attended Langston University in Oklahoma, despite his objections, other members went elsewhere. At college, A new group, the US Combo emerged and these guys were smokin'. "We were a fire house band," Charlie adds, "We were always on fire." It got to the point where the US Combo would steal audiences from his brother Ronnie's band, Creative Sound.
So Charlie performed with both groups and as his interest in music school diminished -- "One of my music teachers told me I wouldn't amount to anything. That made me furious" -- a wonderful thing happened. Buddy Jones, Leon Russell's best friend introduced Charlie to Leon. After three weeks in the studio, the Greenwood, Archer and Pine band (named after Tulsa's busiest streets was formed) and the GAP Band BLEW UP. Charlie notes, "I remember that we were on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert TV show. And you better believe I went back to that school, pulled up in my stretch limo and made that college professor eat his words. I was certainly going to amount to something and I wanted him to know it."

Charlie’s tenure with the GAP Band from the late 70’s to early 80’s allowed him to dominate the R&B charts with their hard driving funk grooves. Four of the band’s nine albums went platinum plus (The Gap Band II, The Gap Band III, The Gap Band IV, and Gap Band V - Jammin), selling millions of records and including 15 Top Ten R & B hits, and four #1 R & B hits, such as, “You Dropped a Bomb on Me,” “Party Train,” “Burn Rubber,” “Outstanding,” “Oops Upside Your Head,” “Early in the Morning,” and the smooth love song, “Yearning for Your Love.” “Outstanding,” alone remains one of the most sampled songs in history and has been used by over an astonishing 150 artists, including, Madonna, Tina Turner, Will Smith, Usher, George Michael, and even Laker’s Center Shaquille O’Neal to name a few.

Uncle Charlie has been one of the most sought after vocalists in the industry. He has added his trademark voice to many chart topping hits from many contemporary artists. In the late 80’s he recorded a track with his friend Roger Troutman for ZAPP’s record entitled “Computer Love” which became an instant smash. In 1994, Charlie performed with his protégé, Aaron Hall, for the Boomerang soundtrack, starring Eddie Murphy, on “It’s Gonna Be Alright.” In 1995, Charlie broadened his musical appeal by embarking on a world tour with Annie Lennox and the Eurythmics and later returned to provide his vocal charm on tracks for Quincy Jones’ album Jook Joint with the Quincy Jones Orchestra, on the hit, “Stomp.”

Over the years, Charlie has also performed with a multitude of young up and coming artists, including, the No Limit family of soldiers, working with Master P, Mia X, Mystikal, and others. Charlie also performs frequently with his nephew, Snoop Dogg, on projects like Snoop’s platinum Doggfather album, singing, “Snoops Upside Ya Head,” “Tha Doggfather,” “She Was Just a Groupie,” and many others, and still continues to collaborate with Snoop on an ongoing basis. Recently, he collaborated on Snoop’s #1 Chart Topper, “Beautiful” featuring Uncle Charlie and Pharrell from the Neptunes. Their latest collaboration, ‘Signs’ includes Justin Timberlake as a co-vocalist with Charlie and is sure to be a Top Ten Pop Hit. He also toured with Snoop around the world and on the 1997, forty city, Lollapalooza tour. Staying mainstream, Charlie has continued working with other performers and producers such as Rodney Jerkins, Steve Huff, Terry Lewis, Shekspeare, Angie Stone, Mint Condition, Case, Avant, Mark Nelson, Tricky and Laney Stewart, Dr. Dre, D.J. Pooh, and Teddy Riley. “I feel very fortunate to be able to return musically to somewhere I never really left, and it’s flattering to know that the younger generations of musicians still fill their tracks with the sounds my brothers and I created years ago,” Charlie states.

The rest certainly IS history and now Charlie Wilson has his mind set on writing a new chapter.