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Ian started playing drums at 6 years of age joined his first band at 14. 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/Alt-Country to Ambient and basic college rock from the 80's. Along the way, he discovered a melodic style which was from the first waves of rock-n-roll, traditional country, Delta blues, Rhythm-n-Blues and Folk. 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".
With all of the bumps, twists and turns in the music business along for the ride. This 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 own sound.
While working a day-job in April of 1994, he met a young music fan who wanted into the business who would become his first legitimate manager; Colin Shaw.
Through a casual conversation and a request from Colin. Ian began putting together a handful of demos and LIVE in-studio outtakes that would become his debut release in March of 1995 entitled, "...TO THOSE WHO WAIT". These, mostly LIVE-In-Studio recordings gained him his first northeast regional airplay. Mostly with the song entitled, "Wild Oats". After touring regionally with a pick-up band aptly titled, IAN CHARLES BAND (ICB) and opening for Blues Traveler, Blue Oyster Cult, For Squirrels, The Mighty, Mighty Bosstones, The Outlaws, and many other diverse acts, while promoting the album. He began writing new songs. Many of which would become his follow-up CD, LONG HILL ROAD. Released on the first tuesday of January 1998. The album was a stunning balance of power between Rock and Acoustic songs. The record gained him an even larger regional fan base. At this time, he was listening heavily to old folk and blues, rockabilly, early classic country artists like, Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly, Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams, Merle Haggard and George Jones and revisiting his most profound influences in; Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Leonard Cohen, Joan Armatrading and Van Morrison. All of this re-discovery of the exact music that had first impacted on him when he was just a kid. Inspired his own musical direction in undeniable ways. His songwriting changed drastically to a more stripped down sound and metaphoric, poetic lyrical style. The music was saturated with a rootsy groove, He began working with a producer for the first time, Crit Harmon (Martin Sexton, Mary Gauthier, Jess Klein, etc.). Crit brought a more arranged commercial sound to his songs with the influences of vintage gospel and blues and "Nashville Sound" Country recordings. His first true breakthrough came with the resulting CD. His 3rd as a solo artist entitled, WISHING STREET. Released in February 2000. It was an instant indie critical success. It gained him national airplay with several of the songs featured. Particularly a song about the classic theme of broken hearted lost love called, HEAVENS' KEY.
"Heavens' Key" won Ian his first national awards in songwriting. One came from the internet based, dMusic.com network. Being awarded an internet Grammy for "Best Country Song" for the song "Heaven's Key".
Then moving forward and playing gigs with Melissa Ferrick, The Weepies among many others. on the folk/coffeehouse circuit.Into 2001, where Ian met up with music promoter, Staci Broski from 7th Row Music/Kansas City. Staci was working initially as a booking agent for Ian. Staci's incredible commitment to the entertainment industry and her promotion and overall success of Wishing Street was bringing Ian's newest music to a larger audience. She helped establish Ian with a deep fan base foothold throughout the mid-west. After almost endless touring for WISHING STREET he subsequently released a LIVE Solo Acoustic EP, LIVE At THE PUPPETHOUSE THEATRE in December of 2002.
Up to this point, he had performed upwards of 300 plus solo concerts worldwide in 2 years.
In late 2003 after almost constant touring, he took a creative sojourn. Through the advice of a lifelong friend, Ian retreated to the village of Woodstock, NY to reflect on his travels, get some needed rest, develop a new batch of songs, and reconnect with his love for painting and poetry.
After a short time he brought the various songs, images and words he had in his head, into THE TURNING MILL and DIRT FLOOR STUDIOS with a longtime collaborative musician/engineer and friends, Eric Lichter and Owen Swenson.
These songs became his 4th full length Solo CD, MINUTES FROM MIDNIGHT. Released in March 2004. Ian considers this record in retrospect to be his most directly connected to where he came and where he was heading musically.
While doing some additional recording he met a like-minded recording engineer/guitarist from Minnesota named, Mike Burke. Mike began working on post-production with Ian on MFM, and they built a working relationship that still continues today. Mike was working a side-gig as guitarist with a few musicians that complimented Ian's developed songs and most recent stylistic leanings. So in May 2006 Bassist; Marshall St. Clair, Drummer; Dennis DeMorro, Mike Burke on Guitar, Jon Light on Pedal Steel and Ian handling rhythm guitars, piano and organ. Began recording a large body of new songs.
But then after basic tracks were recorded. Ian decided he wanted to put the project on a short hiatus to continue writing. Fleshing out his newest ideas... This resulted in a wellspring of creative activity. Some outside of music. Ian began to work again with paint, brush and canvas. Creating feverishly on impulse. A body of work developed quickly. When not painting, Ian also began to build on a first collection of poetry and verse entitled, "FOR PARKER & OTHER TREES" (2009/Bell Hand) influenced by one his mentor's Parker Holden.
He also had the opportunity to take on the role of PRODUCER for the debut album by his friend and fellow singer/songwriter, JOHN HOLT and his band, GENEROUS THIEF. The result was the CD entitled, NO REST (2006).
The project with John inspired his own songwriting and brought him back to the studio.
More than ever before, Ian felt the freedom of true independence as an artist. Resulting in a vastly developed collection of new songs with an increasingly strong emphasis on poetic lyricism.
September 16th 2008:
The hiatus from the 2006 album project with his band worked well for the songs they had recorded. So, now after revisiting the work. It has been released as a 6th Ian Charles CD entitled, BORN RIGHT INSIDE. A milestone of "crossroads" Roots/Alternative Rock/ and Folk.
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.
Ian feels that it completes a creative triad of "Wishing Street (2000), Minutes From Midnight (2004), and Born Right Inside(2008).Look for IAN CHARLES on Tour through 2009 and beyond.
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