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Josh Charles may have won the ultimate endorsement for a New Orleans style singer/pianist: that of New Orleans’ great musical ambassador, blues/jazz legend Dr. John. Charles became a protégé of Dr. John at the age of 14, incorporating much of his mentor’s style and philosophy into his own musicianship. Of Charles’ debut album ‘Love, Work Money’ Dr. John said “Josh Charles can play them keys.”
‘Love Work Money,’ released earlier this month is earning praise from critics and artists alike. See what others are saying about Josh’s funky blues/gospel piano style and soulful vocals. This is what I call ‘Notown’ music,” says singer/songwriter/pianist Josh Charles of his debut album ‘Love, Work & Money,’  on CC Entertainment/E1 Records. That’s New Orleans-meets-Motown for the uninitiated.
‘Love, Work & Money’ features ten songs, nine written or co-written by Charles, plus a funky, galloping cover of the Jimmy Cliff classic “The Harder They Come.” The album was recorded with members of Dr. John’s backing band, primarily at famed Piety Street Studios in New Orleans. It pairs Charles’ deep love for that city’s unique piano tradition with a knack for soulful, sophisticated arrangements that would do Billy Preston proud.
Josh Charles was mentored by Dr. John and studied music at NYU, Manhattan School of Music and with the legendary jazz pianist Barry Harris. He moved to New Orleans four days before Hurricane Katrina. In the spring of 2009 Josh released “Healing Time.” All the proceeds go toward rebuilding the city of New Orleans.  He is part of The Gap’s Born To Fit campaign, has performed on Good Morning America, Tavis Smiley, CNN, and has been featured in USA Today and the Huffington Post.

Biography

Josh Charles is a singer songwriter who is proving that there are still people in the world who do things for the right reasons and sometimes the right reasons reap a much greater reward than success.

Born in La Jolla, California but growing up in Kansas City, Josh’s musical background is as diverse as the places he’s called home over the years. Beginning classical piano training at 8, he quickly realized Jazz was the sound that described fluidity and passion, something colorful and personal. Something a child with a deep love of music could hold on to and never let go of. Throughout his teenage years, Josh cut his teeth around the clubs in Kansas City playing everything from Jazz to Rock and Roll.

After high school, he moved to New York City to pursue music. He studied at the Manhattan School of Music and graduated from NYU. While in school he studied jazz extensively under Barry Harris (legendary pianist / educator). In addition to his classroom education, Josh earned his stripes the hard way. Playing all around the city at any bar with a piano, he discovered Tramps, a local hangout, which many of the great New Orleans artists continually passed through. Josh spent much time honing his craft by listening and learning from the masters of the New Orleans sound. Picking up their tricks, he used them for his own musical arsenal, which to this day is still evolving.

In August 2005, Josh was in New Orleans preparing to move to the city. He was scheduled to hit the recording studio with Tracey Freeman (Harry Connick, Jr, Jeremy Davenport) on August 30th. Unfortunately, he was forced to catch one of the last buses out of town. Hurricane Katrina happened.

In the spring of 2009, Josh released his emotionally charged single Healing Time. A song that is a small window into the struggle of what the citizens of New Orleans have felt for over four years now. All the proceeds of Healing Time’s success have went back into the city he loves so much, back into the community and back toward rebuilding the city of New Orleans. In support of Healing Time, Josh has toured with The Neville Brothers, Cyril Neville and Buckwheat Zydeco. Those feats mixed in with a massive TV and social media campaign, Healing Time was submitted for Grammy’s in the categories – Best Song, Record of the Year, and Best New Artist.

In January 2010, Josh will release his much anticipated full length CD, Love, Work & Money. Which features members of Dr. John’s band, his touring band, and was recorded in New Orleans and New York. The LP was produced by Josh Charles and Steve Jabas, and is mixed by Grammy Winning engineer and producer Gregg Rubin (Harry Connick Jr) and is being released by CC Entertainment.

Josh has appeared on Good Morning America, Tavis Smiley, CNN, as well as numerous network affiliates around the country, and has been featured in USA Today, and the Huffington Post.

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Here ‘s my blog WHERE IT’S AT so you can keep up to date with everything going on in my life

http://joshcharles.tumblr.com/


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