Biography

For over 25 years, folk music has had an enthusiastic and dedicated voice in Charlie Mosbrook. His rich baritone voice and noteworthy finger-style guitar work highlight his performance of original and traditional folk songs, along with his nimble and candid stage presence.

A native and resident of Northeast Ohio, Charlie began his career as a busker, performing familiar and original folk songs on street corners and subway platforms throughout the eastern US. After returning to Cleveland, he began hosting open mics at area coffee shops and performing regularly throughout the great lakes region. Today he travels the country sharing his and many of the songs that have shaped our collective musical history. His recordings have found voice throughout the world on internet and terrestrial radio. As an advocate of folk music, Charlie serves as president of Folknet (Northeast Ohio’s Folk Music Society) and as vice president of FARM (Folk Alliance Region Midwest). In addition to his responsibilities to the greater folk music community, he continues to host a local open mic, supporting his belief that the music needs fertile grounds for continued growth.

In the early 1990’s Charlie found some success with his band The Electric Monkey, but ultimately wanted to pursue folk music in more traditional forms. His focus landed him an appearance at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum during its weeklong conference, “Hard Traveling: The Life and Legacy of Woody Guthrie”. His performance was later noted in a book of the same title by Robert Santelli (R&R HOF, Grammy Foundation, Guthrie Archives).

He has performed on the same bill as CSN, Jewel, Iris Dement, David Bromberg, Suzzy and Lucy Wainwright Roche, Chris Whitley, Dan Bern and many others. Bio Charlie

In early 2010, Charlie suffered a spinal cord injury, limiting his mobility significantly. The injury forced him to adapt as a guitarist. This need to reinvent his technique led to a burst of creativity resulting in five new CDs. The new music has received acclaim, including spotlights from FolkAlley.com, No Depression, WFMT’s Midnight Special, and many other outlets. In 2011, Charlie was voted Best Singer-Songwriter in Scene Magazine's Best of Cleveland edition.

Though he primarily uses a wheelchair, he is not limited in his abilities to spread his musical message. He often travels alone throughout the country, performing his music faithfully to audiences near and far. No stage is too big or tall. As the message of many of his songs suggest, Charlie rises to challenges great and small. Once a month he performs for the patients at MetroHealth Cleveland’s Spinal Cord Injury Unit, where he was treated, sharing his experience and message of strength and hope.