Reverend Charlie Edmonds

Charlie Edmonds made his popular music debut as a solo acoustic blues act at Chubby's Club LaSalle in Indianapolis, where he was held over for 14 consecutive months, performing weekend matinees.

The son of a sharecropper, Charlie Edmonds was born into a family of rich musical tradition. Both his parents were musicians, and Charlie began playing the piano at age 8 and the guitar at age 11. He spent his childhood singing spirituals and playing with gospel quartets. Stationed in Europe and Vietnam, while serving a four year stint in the army he sang and entertained fellow soldiers until his discharge in 1969.

He was the single solo act chosen from a field of over 400 entrants to be one of 24 semi-finalists nationwide for the 1993 National Blues Talent Search Contest, held in Long Beach, California. He also finished runner-up in a regional contest featuring twenty bands from the tri-state area of Indiana, Michigan and Ohio, sponsored by the Blues Society of Indiana.

The list of artists with whom he has either performed or opened for is both extensive and impressive. They include such personalities as international touring & recording artist B.B. King, Chubby Checker, Ko Ko Taylor, Saffire - The Uppity Blueswomen, Gary Primich, Sugar Blue, Lonnie Brooks, Dorothy Moore, Bobby Womack and Latimore to name a few.

He has performed in some of the nations great ballrooms and music halls. Grand Geneva Resort & Spa (former Playboy Club) Lake Geneva, WI; The Indiana Roof Ballroom, Indianapolis, IN; Abbey Springs Yacht Club, Fontana, WI; Bessie Smith Hall, Chattanooga, TN, the Riviera Ballroom, Lake Geneva, WI, Lakelawn Lodge Resort, Delavan, WI, and the Monte Carlo Room, Elkhorn, WI.

the list of community-based fairs, and Blues festivals which he has played include Kentucky State Fair (Louisville, KY); Blues, Brew & Bar-B-Que Festival (Indianapolis, IN); River City Blues Festival, (Marietta, OH); Crossroads '96 (Memphis, TN); Chocolate City Festival (Burlington, WI); Memorial Day Blues Festival (Huntsville, AL) the Corn & Brat Festival & Christmas Parade (Elkhorn, WI); Winterfest (Lake Geneva, WI); and Taste of Geneva Lake Concert Series (Fontana, WI).

There is a long list of schools that he has performed in from grades K- 12, and universities such as Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN; and Alabama A & M University, Normal, AL, where he appeared with guest lecturers Tony Brown (Tony Brown's Journal), and Lyn Martin (Anchorwoman CNN Atlanta).

In addition to playing guitar and singing, he has also developed and facilitates a workshop/ demonstration on "The Birth of the Blues," a historical, panoramic overview of the emergence and development of blues as a music art form in the United States, from the turn-of-the century to Post WWII. The presentation involves group dynamics and participation at certain points. There are also demonstrations of guitar techniques and of various regional styles of blues music and lots of discussion. The award winning workshop has invariably been well received, and is currently in the preliminary stage of being filmed and produced for PBS Television, and under consideration for a "Cable in the Classroom Program" by a major national cable television company.

Edmonds also hosts two weekly radio broadcasts, "Blues After Dark," from WBSD, 89. 1 FM from 5-8 PM in Burlington, WI, and the other at W. L. K. G. 96. 1 FM from 10- 11 pm in Lake Geneva, Wl. In addition he has been elected to be the Educational Coordinator for two of the nation's Blues societies (Blues Society of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN. / Madison Blues Society, Madison, WI), to coordinate their Arts in Education -Blues In the Schools Programs.

Charlie plays a variety of music in concert from gospels & spirituals to traditional Delta Blues, original songs which he composes with inspirational spontaneity as well as classic cover tunes by pioneer Blues artists.

He is equally at ease in large or small groups, indoor or outdoor settings, casual or formal occasions, young or mature audiences or in inter -generational groups, in a classroom, lecture hall, theatre, auditorium, coffee house or ballroom.

He is interested in performing as an opening act, featured artist or headliner. In events which require a larger sound, he will back himself with a rhythm section large enough for the occasion, although he primarily and customarily performs alone as an acoustic solo artist.

Whether he is belting out the Blues in a gravelly voice, singing the soulful tune of a favorite standard or crooning a sentimental ballad in smooth mellow tones, you're sure to be impressed when you experience his radiant, friendly and charismatic stage presence.