Charlie Wilson (singer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charlie Wilson
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Wilson at Stavernfestivalen in 2016
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Charles Kent Wilson |
| Also known as | Uncle Charlie |
| Born | January 29, 1953 Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1972–present |
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Charles Kent Wilson (born January 29, 1953), known as Uncle Charlie, is an American singer, songwriter, and music producer. He was the lead singer for the Gap Band from 1967 until they stopped performing in 2010.
As a solo artist, Charlie Wilson has been nominated for many awards. These include 13 Grammy Awards and 11 NAACP Image Awards, winning two of them. He also received a Soul Train Icon Award in 2009. Billboard magazine named him the top Adult R&B Artist in 2009 and 2020. His song "There Goes My Baby" was the top Urban Adult Song in 2009.
In 2013, BET honored Wilson with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Charlie Wilson is also a spokesperson for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. He helps raise money for cancer research across the United States.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Charlie Wilson was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on January 29, 1953. His father was a minister, and Charlie often sang in church with his older brother Ronnie and younger brother Robert. Their mother played the piano.
He also sang in his junior high school choir. This helped him prepare for his music career. He later joined the Gap Band and then started his solo career. He went to Booker T. Washington and Langston University. At Langston, he was a drum major in the university's marching band.
Music Career
The Gap Band Years
Charlie Wilson and his brothers, Robert and Ronnie, formed the Gap Band. They created a popular and energetic style of funk music. Their first album, Magicians Holiday, came out in 1974. They recorded at The Church Studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The Gap Band created many famous songs. These include "Outstanding", "Party Train", "Yearning for Your Love", "Burn Rubber on Me", "You Dropped a Bomb on Me", and "Oops Upside Your Head". Many of their songs are still used and sampled by other artists today. After releasing 15 albums, the Gap Band announced their retirement in 2010.
Solo Success
In 1986, Charlie Wilson sang on Roger & Zapp's hit song "Computer Love". Even though his record label was against it, the song became very popular. Wilson and Roger Troutman, another singer, remained good friends and often performed the song together.
In 1989, Wilson worked with Eurythmics on their album We Too Are One. He sang backup vocals and helped write their hit song "Revival". He even performed the song with the band on a British TV show. In 1998, Wilson also performed on Mystikal's album Ghetto Fabulous.
Michael Paran, who leads P Music Group, helped the Gap Band become popular again in 1997. Later, he encouraged Charlie Wilson to start a solo career. Paran has been Wilson's manager ever since.
In 2000, Paran and Wilson released Wilson's first solo album, Bridging the Gap. This album gave Wilson his first number one song on the Billboard Urban Adult Contemporary chart, called "Without You". In 2004, Wilson signed a deal with Jive Records. His album Charlie, Last Name Wilson came out in 2005. It featured songs produced by famous artists like R. Kelly, Justin Timberlake, and will.i.am. This album was certified gold, meaning it sold over 500,000 copies. It also had the hit song "Charlie, Last Name Wilson". Since then, Wilson has continued to have many top songs on the Billboard Urban Adult Contemporary chart. His albums have sold over one million copies in total.
In 2007, Wilson sang on two songs from UGK's album Underground Kingz.
His 2009 album, Uncle Charlie, reached number two on the Billboard Hot 200 chart and number one on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart. It received two Grammy nominations in 2010. In 2010, his album Just Charlie was released. It included the hit song "You Are", which was number one on the Billboard Urban Adult Contemporary chart for 13 weeks. This song also earned two Grammy nominations in 2012.
In 2010, famous producer and artist Kanye West featured Charlie Wilson on his album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Wilson sang on several songs, including "All of the Lights" with Rihanna, and "Runaway". He also appeared on five of Kanye's "G.O.O.D. Friday" releases. Wilson also sang on "Bound 2" from West's 2013 album Yeezus.
On June 30, 2013, Justin Timberlake presented Charlie Wilson with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards. Other artists like India Arie and Jamie Foxx performed Wilson's songs. Wilson himself performed his song "You Are" and a medley of his hits with Justin Timberlake and special guests Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams.
In 2018, Bruno Mars invited Wilson to join his 24K Magic Tour. Mars also helped produce and sing on Wilson's 2020 song "Forever Valentine", which reached number one on Billboard's Adult R&B Chart.
In 2019, Wilson provided backing vocals on Tyler, the Creator's album Igor. He sang on songs like "Earfquake". Wilson also performed with Tyler, the Creator and Boyz II Men at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.
In 2020, Wilson was featured on the song "Roots" with Amine and JID. He also sang on Nas's song "Car #85" from his Grammy-winning album King's Disease. In 2021, he was featured on "I'll Take You On" with Brockhampton.
Charlie Wilson has worked with many artists in hip hop, rap, and R&B. He appeared on The Biggie Duets with R. Kelly. He has collaborated with Snoop Dogg on many projects, starting with Snoop's 1996 album Tha Doggfather. Wilson was also featured on the Grammy-nominated song "Beautiful" with Pharrell from Snoop's 2002 album. He also appeared on Snoop's songs "Signs" (with Justin Timberlake) and "Perfect".
According to Wilson's website, Snoop Dogg gave him the nickname "Uncle Charlie". Snoop and his wife renewed their wedding vows at Wilson's ranch in 2008. This event inspired the music video for Wilson's hit song "There Goes My Baby".
In 2024, Charlie Wilson appeared on season eleven of The Masked Singer as "Ugly Sweater". He performed "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" by the Gap Band.
Supporting American Troops
Charlie Wilson has made it his mission to support American troops. In 2008, he performed on an ABC Television Special called America United: Supporting Our Troops.
He and his band have traveled to Kuwait and Iraq four times (in 2009, 2010, and twice in 2011). They performed high-energy shows at many military bases. This gave American service members a "little taste of home." In November 2011, the U.S. Armed Forces specifically asked Wilson to return to Kuwait to perform for thousands of troops.
Personal Life
In 1995, Charlie Wilson married Mahin Tat.
In 2008, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He was successfully treated. Since then, he has worked with the Prostate Cancer Foundation. He encourages Black men to get tested for the disease. He also helped spread awareness by singing on Lupe Fiasco's song "Mission", which is about cancer survivors.
Discography
- Studio albums
- You Turn My Life Around (1992)
- Bridging the Gap (2000)
- Charlie, Last Name Wilson (2005)
- Uncle Charlie (2009)
- Just Charlie (2010)
- Love, Charlie (2013)
- Forever Charlie (2015)
- In It to Win It (2017)
Awards and Nominations
Grammy Awards
Charlie Wilson has been nominated for thirteen Grammy Awards.
- 2018 Grammy Nomination – Best Traditional R&B Performance for "Made For Love"
- 2016 Grammy Nomination – Best R&B Album for Forever Charlie
- 2016 Grammy Nomination – Best Traditional R&B Performance for "My Favorite Part of You"
- 2015 Grammy Nomination – Best Rap Song (with Kanye West) for "Bound 2"
- 2015 Grammy Nomination – Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (with Kanye West) for "Bound 2"
- 2014 Grammy Nomination – Best Gospel Song for "If I Believe"
- 2012 Grammy Nomination – Best R&B Performance "You Are"
- 2012 Grammy Nomination – Best R&B Song for "You Are"
- 2010 Grammy Nomination – Best R&B Album for Uncle Charlie
- 2010 Grammy Nomination – Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "There Goes My Baby"
- 2003 Grammy Nomination – Best Rap/Song Collaboration (with Pharrell & Snoop Dogg) for "Beautiful"
- 1997 Grammy Nomination – Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals (with Luke, Mr. X, Melle Mel, Yo-Yo, Chaka Khan, Da Luniz, Shaquille O'Neal, Quincy Jones & Coolio) for "Stomp"
- 1983 Grammy Nomination – Best R&B Instrumental Performance for "Where Are We Going"
NAACP Image Awards
- 2021 NAACP Image Award Nomination - Outstanding Male Artist
- 2018 NAACP Image Award WINNER - Music Makes A Difference Honor
- 2018 NAACP Image Award Nomination - Outstanding Male Artist
- 2018 NAACP Image Award Nomination - Outstanding Album for In It To Win It
- 2018 NAACP Image Award Nomination - Outstanding Duo, Group, or Collaboration for "I'm Blessed"
- 2016 NAACP Image Award Nomination – Outstanding Male Artist
- 2016 NAACP Image Award Nomination – Outstanding Album for Forever Charlie
- 2016 NAACP Image Award Nomination – Outstanding Song Traditional for "Goodnight Kisses"
- 2014 NAACP Image Award WINNER – Outstanding Album for Love, Charlie
- 2014 NAACP Image Award Nomination – Outstanding Male Artist
- 2010 NAACP Image Award Nomination – Outstanding Male Artist
Other Honors
- November 5, 2013 – SoulTracks Reader's Choice Award – Major Label Album of the Year – Charlie Wilson Love, Charlie
- June 30, 2013 – Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Charlie Wilson at the BET Awards
- January 2013 – Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Charlie Wilson by the Trumpet Awards Foundation
- December 2011 – Billboard Magazine names Charlie Wilson the No. 2 Adult R&B Artist for 2011
- December 2011 – Billboard Magazine names "You Are" the No. 2 Urban Adult Song for 2011
- December 2011 – Mediabase names Charlie Wilson No. 1 Adult R&B Artist for 2011
- December 2011 – Mediabase names "You Are" the No. 1 Urban Adult Song for 2011
- February 2010 – NAACP Image Award Nomination for Outstanding Male Artist
- December 2009 – Billboard Magazine names Charlie Wilson No. 1 Adult R&B Artist for 2009
- December 2009 – Billboard Magazine names "There Goes My Baby" the No. 1 Urban Adult Song for 2009
- November 2009 – Soul Train Icon Award presented to Charlie Wilson
- September 2005 – BMI Icon Award presented to Charlie Wilson
See also
In Spanish: Charlie Wilson (cantante) para niños
