Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Charlie King and Martha Leader Concert, Saturday, April 2, 2016 in Rock Island, IL

7:00 p.m. in a fund-raising performance on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at Broadway Presbyterian Church, 710 23rd St., Rock Island, IL 61201.

Music to make you think, to make you laugh, to inspire your dreams of a better world.

In addition to hearing wonderful folk music with inspiring songs about the movements that make our country, and the human race, great, you can support these organizations with the same goals of human rights, appreciation of cultural groups, and peace:

Palomares Social Justice Center * Oaks of Mamre Catholic Worker House * Centro Maya 

Project * Quad Cities African American Museum * Quad Cities League of Native Americans

Displays and sales of items will be held before the concert and during intermission.

Donations of $10 at the door, $8 in advance, or whatever you can give, are requested.

For more information, please call Marg or Vince Thomas at (309) 786 6944 or, if you would like, send a donation to Benefit Concert, 1000 21st St., Rock Island, IL 61201.

CHARLIE KING BIOGRAPHY

Charlie King is a musical storyteller and political satirist.  His repertoire covers a century and a half and four continents.   He sings and writes passionately about the extraordinary lives of ordinary people.

Charlie has been at the heart of American folk music for half a century and has been writing songs for the past 40 years.  In recognition of those milestones he released, in the Fall of 2013, a retrospective album, SO FAR, SO GOOD - 40 Songs For 40 Years.  Honors include: an "Indie" award for one of the top three folk recordings of 1984; the War Resisters League’s 1998 Peacemaker Award given to Charlie and Odetta; the 1999 Sacco-Vanzetti Social Justice Award for which he was nominated by Pete Seeger; the 2009 International Labor Communications Association award for Best Labor History Story; and the 2014 Joe Hill Award from the Labor Heritage foundation, a Lifetime Award for excellence in the field of labor culture.  His songs have been recorded and sung by other performers such as Pete Seeger, Holly Near, Ronnie Gilbert, John McCutcheon, Arlo Guthrie, Peggy Seeger, Chad Mitchell and Judy Small.  

Charlie has recorded a dozen solo albums since 1976, as well as three albums with the touring ensemble Bright Morning Star, and numerous compilation albums with other artists.  From 2001 to 2014 he recorded with his partner, Karen Brandow.  Titles include: THE DISTANCE REMAINING; HIGHER GROUND; ON THE JOURNEY; SPARKS & TEARS; PUPPET TOWN; BRILLIANT - Songs of Ireland;  REMEMBERING SACCO & VANZETTI; and their premier 2001 Appleseed Recording, I STRUCK GOLD.  In addition to a full time career of concert touring, King has sung in support of numerous groups working for peace, human rights, environmental sanity and alternatives to violence.

His central vision as an entertainer is to leave audiences with a sense of optimism and possibility about the future.  "I try to cover a broad emotional landscape in my concerts.  The stories I collect and the songs I write take the listener on a journey of humor, heartache and hope.  What I most value in a song is the way it helps us see an old reality in a totally new light."

Charlie was born in 1947, and was raised in Brockton, MA.  He cites as musical influences the folk music revival of the 1960's, the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War era.  

Folk legend Peggy Seeger says, "If we had more Charlie Kings in the world I'd be less worried," and Tom Paxton adds, "Luckily, we have him!"

You can visit Charlie's website:  http://www.charlieking.org

Poster: Craig Clough, clough7@gmail.com


Charlie King, Folksinger

Charlie King and Martha Leader Concert in Rock Island, IL

Charlie King in Concert

Charlie King Playing Guitar in Rock Island, IL 61201