Biography

"I've been in this business for a long time." True enough, Charles Hearn has been playing professionally for 40+ years. As a child, he grew up living virtually all over the world (his father was in the Air Force), thus had the opportunity to experience many different cultures as well as a vast array of musical styles. As an adult, Charles has toured extensively as a performing artist to places such as; Isreal, Africa, Mexico, the Middle East, and across the United States. His taste in music is just as varied and diverse as his travel history. "I enjoy listening to all types of music - Jazz, Classsical, Salsa, World Beat, International, etc. When I'm composing or arranging music, at times I tend to put some of my life's experiences from some of the countries I lived in (or traveled to) intertwined into maybe my melodies, or in some cases into the chordal structure."
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Over the years, Charles has worked with, toured with, or performed in front of a virtual list of some of the most recognizable artist in the music industry. "I've been very fortunate over the years to have been in the right place at the right time. I've worked with some of the legends like Ray Charles and Salsa legend, Celia Cruz. I've also had the pleasure to share the stage with the likes of Lionel Ritchie, Tito Puente, Grover Washington Jr., Spyro Gyra, Russ Freeman and the Rippingtons, Kirk Whalum, Brian McKnight, and Najee- just to name a few."
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Charles is currently pushing two musical endeavors, the "Charles Hearn Quartet" and his neo-soul/funk band, "Soul Finger." "Leading two groups of this magnitude, talent, and energy is a labor of love. Love for the music, as well as love for the musicians involved. I've watched my bands evolve and grow into what you see and hear today." Charles' roots in music stem from a variety of genres including Jazz (contemporary and post-bop), Neo-Soul, R&B, and Funk. "My influences are many." They include John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, Grover Washington Jr., Earth, Wind, and Fire, Pleasure, Cameo, Prince, Dave Mathews Band and Tower of Power (of course!). "Being a saxophonist and a keyboardist, I sometimes tend to listen to stuff that emphasizes reeds and keys, but I love artists who can express themselves vocally as well, like Raul Midon or Ledisi."
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As an alumni of the internationally renowned University of Texas at Brownsville One O'clock Jazz Band, and the Two O'clock Jazz Band director there as well, Charles took the opportunity to operate as both a performer (lead tenor saxophonist for the One O'clock band) as well as a director/writer/arranger for the Two O'clock band. "that experience gave me a working knowledge of how to write and arrange songs-not just for my two groups, but for other artists as well."
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Currently Charles is producing several artists in the recording studio, working on his own solo album, and writing/arranging music for several artists across multiple genres of musical styles. He is also Chief Executive Officer at Red Tide Music Group and CHR Records. "Music and the business of creating music are like air to me. I have no time or desire to slow down at this juncture. Maybe in about 20 years or so I'll revisit that notion. Maybe..."