Background

 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.

 

Location

Houston, Texas

Occupation

Singer/Songwriter

Music That Inspires Me

none entered

Films I'll Watch More Than Once

none entered