Charlie Wilson
Aug 29, 2011
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, Charlie Wilson has sold millions of albums, inspired a multitude of artists who modeled their vocal styling's after his 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.
Now a radio hit on Billboard's Urban Adult Contemporary chart (13 weeks at #1), "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. 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. 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 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. 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?"
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.
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.
Wilson is also passionate about supporting American troops. In March, 2011, he made his third trip to Kuwait and Iraq to perform for our troops. 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.
