About
Charlie
Berry
Vibrant, ambitious, and
extremely talented says the least about the Bayou City's singing/songwriting
sensation, Charlie Berry. She packs a range that flows from angelic highs to
gritty lows, and possesses the natural ability to tantalize audiences with her
sophisticated vocal instrument. Charlie’s focus is to inspire the world with
her voice and songwriting that reflects her faith in Christ. She desires to
address life’s challenges and triumphs with Christ as the foundation for
everything she does.
Charlie's music style is a
fusion of jazz, gospel, hip-hop and classic R&B. She is a vintage singer
whose voice hearkens back to the classic style of Billie Holliday. Her tone
reflects glimmers of Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, CeCe Winans, Sade, and Mary
J. Blige. Charlie’s talents have allowed her to share the stage with
saxophonist Kyle Turner and guitarist Corey "Funkafangez" Stoot.
Charlie has opened shows for legendary artists such as the Whispers, the
Manhattans, and Temptations Revue, and new-school artists, Ludacris and Tweet.
She has appeared on a variety of artists’ albums including Willie D. of the
Geto Boys, Cl'Che', Zin, and Trae.
A product of a musically
saturated family, Charlie has been embedded in music since her early years. She
recalls singing along with the radio before she could speak fluently. As a
toddler, Charlie's father would sing nursery rhymes to her backed by the sounds
of his bass guitar, and her grandmother is a master of seven instruments
including the French horn, violin, piano and flute. By the age of five, Charlie
acted on her family's influence and began to hone her musical skills. Her
grandmother taught her to play the piano and violin, and Charlie adored putting
on neighborhood shows in her family's living room. From her birthplace of
Tennessee, to Dallas and ultimately Houston, Charlie's exposure to this
harmonious environment foretold her destiny in the world of music.
At ten years of age Charlie
auditioned to be apart of the now defunct Girlstyme. During this period she
also performed at venues such as Rushion MacDonald's Hip-Hop Comedy Stop,
Rockerfeller’s, and The Stafford Civic Center. Soon, Charlie's adolescent years
proved to be another milestone in her professional growth. She wrote her first
song, and was consistent in performing at various talent shows, churches and
school assemblies.
Throughout
her career, Charlie has worked to position herself among the elite in the music
industry by possessing not only beauty and talent, but brains to match. Charlie
received her secondary education at the prestigious Phillips Academy in
Andover, Massachusetts, where she was constantly called upon as a lead
vocalist. Her membership in the academy's choir and theatre departments led to
international performances in England, Scotland, Turkey, and Greece. Upon
returning to Houston, she attended and graduated from Rice University with a
major in music.
Charlie
has served as the lead vocalist for the St. James Contemporary Jazz Ensemble
under the direction of Sam Dinkins for 3 years and is featured on the group’s
album, “Come Away with Me” as well as the ensemble’s 10-year anniversary DVD.
Charlie has been a part of the praise team of Restoring Hope International
Fellowship Church and she has also been a worship leader at Everlasting
Covenant Church of Houston, Texas. Charlie leads her own band, and has
performed at some of Houston's finest venues such as The Hobby Center, Miller
Outdoor Theatre, the Arena Theater, Scott Gertner's Sky Bar, the Mercury Room,
and the Red Cat Jazz Café. Charlie is also the Houston NAACP’s 2004 Image Award
Recipient.
