Charlie Sayles
Charlie Sayles | |
---|---|
Birth name | Charles Warner Sayles |
Born | Woburn, Massachusetts, U.S. | January 4, 1948
Genres | Chicago blues |
Occupation(s) | Harmonicist, singer and songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Harmonica, vocals |
Years active | 1970s–present |
Charles Warner Sayles (born January 4, 1948) is an American Chicago blues harmonicist, singer and songwriter. At various times, Sayles has played alongside Pete Seeger, Bobby Parker, Deborah Coleman, and Bill Monroe. He has had three albums issued on JSP Records. His most recent release was Charlie Sayles and the Blues Disciples (2015).[1][2]
Life and career
He was born in
Sayles developed his own style of playing by performing regularly on street corners and in subways. He attempted to project as full an overall sound as possible, using extended phrasing and rapid register changes. He found occasional employment as a laborer when money was tight.[3] With assistance from Rinzler, by 1979 Sayles had acquired his own backing band in Washington, D.C. This presented a challenge as he then needed to adapt his playing, to suit having other instruments in the mix.[4][5] Sayles continued to work on his own song writing ability, as he often found it difficult to play other harmonicist's tunes.[4] Sayles lost his right eye and several teeth when he was attacked on the street.[6] He was married for eight years to a woman who played bass guitar in Sayles backing ensemble. However as the marriage fell apart, so did the band, and Sayles was left where he started out playing on the streets.[4] Sayles became a born again Christian at this time, a faith he has maintained.[4][6]
His recording career started again in 1990, after a long break.[3] He recorded Night Ain't Right for the British JSP Records label, and the collection contained many of Sayles own compositions.[5] AllMusic commented "The key to the record's success is the way Sayles twists conventions around, finding tastes of flourishes funk and jazz within the genre's boundaries. His willingness to play with the music is the reason why Night Ain't Right is a modern-day Chicago blues record worth exploring".[7] The follow-up, I've Got Something to Say (1995), was produced by the Washington guitarist, Bobby Parker, with Deborah Coleman making a guest appearance on guitar.[3][8] Hip Guy was released in 2000, which again saw Sayles combine Chicago blues, New Orleans funk and elements of rock and roll in his unique style.[3] However, outside of Sayles general East Coast location, sales figures for all three albums were modest.[5]
More recently, Sayles received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts to teach harmonica playing to prisoners. A photograph taken at one of those lessons appeared on the back cover of his most recent recording.[6] In 2015, Sayles fortunes changed again when he had the opportunity to record another album. He utilised assistance from his landlord, the guitarist Tony Fazio, and the recording team at Fetal Records.[4] His band is known as the Blues Disciples,[5] with Sayles singing and playing the harmonica, Fazio on rhythm and bass guitar, plus drummer Greg Phillips.[6]
Discography
Year | Title | Record label | Additional credits |
---|---|---|---|
1976 | Goin' Up - Goin' Down - The Raw Harmonica Blues of Charlie Sayles | Dusty Road Records | |
1976 | Charlie Sayles: Harp Instruction Record | None credited | |
1990 | Night Ain't Right | JSP Records | |
1995 | I Got Something to Say | JSP Records | |
2000 | Charlie Sayles: Hip Guy | JSP Records | |
2015 | Charlie Sayles and the Blues Disciples | Fetal Records | Charlie Sayles and the Blues Disciples featuring Tony the Legend Fazio |
See also
References
- ^ "Charlie Sayles and the Blues Disciples Featuring Tony the Legend Fazio, by Charlie Sayles". Charliesayles.bandcamp.com. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Illustrated Charlie Sayles discography". Wirz.de. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Charlie Sayles Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Charlie Sayles - Raw Harmonica Genius". Americannluesscene.com. April 24, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ a b c d "CHARLIE SAYLES". Allaboutbluesmusic.com. January 2, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Gunther, Marty (November 7, 2015). "Charlie Sayles And The Blues Disciples | Album Review". Bluesblastmagazine.com. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ "Charlie Sayles - Night Ain't Right: Complete Session Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ "I Got Something to Say - Charlie Sayles | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 22, 2022.