charles bradley

Biography

Charles Bradley, known as the 'Screaming Eagle of Soul,' was born on November 5, 1948, in Gainesville, Florida, and raised initially by his grandmother until age eight, when his mother took him to Brooklyn, New York.[1][3][4][6] His early life was marked by hardship; after his bandmates were drafted into the Vietnam War, he hitchhiked across the U.S., living in places like upstate New York, Seattle, Canada, Alaska, and settling in California from 1977 to 1994, where he worked odd jobs and performed as a James Brown impersonator under names like James Brown Jr. and Black Velvet.[1][3][4] Returning to Brooklyn in 1996 at his mother's request due to her illness, he continued performing as Black Velvet while facing tragedies, including his brother's murder and a near-fatal allergic reaction to penicillin.[3][4][5]

Discovered in 2002 by Daptone Records co-founder Gabriel Roth while performing as Black Velvet, Bradley was introduced to guitarist Tom Brenneck, who became his key producer and collaborator.[3][4][5] At age 62, he released his debut album No Time for Dreaming in 2011, backed by the Menahan Street Band, featuring signature tracks like 'The World (Is Going Up in Flames)' and drawing from his life's struggles in soulful, raw performances.[1][3][4][5] Followed by Victim of Love (2013), Changes (2016, dedicated to his late mother), and the posthumous Black Velvet (2018), his retro soul style—blending vintage R&B, funk, and personal pain—earned critical acclaim, festival appearances at Coachella and Glastonbury, and late-life success akin to labelmate Sharon Jones.[1][3][5] Bradley passed away on September 23, 2017, from cancer, leaving a legacy of transcendent soul music that channeled adversity into universal love.[5][7]

Bradley evolved from James Brown tributes to original material reflecting his trials, mesmerizing audiences with high-energy live shows alongside his band the Extraordinaries and Daptone crew, solidifying his place in the 2010s soul revival.[3][5]

Fun Facts

• Released his debut album No Time for Dreaming at age 62, an unheard-of late breakthrough that earned Rolling Stone's Top 50 Albums of 2011.[5]
• Woke to gunshots and sirens on the day his brother Joseph was murdered near his mother's Brooklyn house, an event chronicled in 'Heartaches & Pain'.[4][5]
• Performed under the stage name 'Black Velvet' as a James Brown impersonator for decades before his discovery, even using 'James Brown Jr.'.[1][3][4]
• Nearly died in hospital after being given penicillin, to which he was allergic, during his later Brooklyn years.[4]

Associated Acts

• Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• James Brown - Primary stylistic influence and impersonation subject throughout early career (Performed as James Brown impersonator 'Black Velvet' and 'James Brown Jr.') [1960s-2002]

Key Collaborators

• Gabriel Roth - Daptone Records co-founder who discovered him and facilitated entry into recording (Early singles and all Daptone albums) [2002-2017]
• Tom Brenneck - Producer, songwriter, guitarist (Menahan Street Band, The Bullets); main creative partner (No Time for Dreaming (2011), Victim of Love (2013), Changes (2016)) [2003-2017]
• Menahan Street Band - Backing band for debut recordings and tours (No Time for Dreaming (2011), singles like 'The World (Is Going Up in Flames)') [2007-2011]
• Sharon Jones - Daptone labelmate; toured together (Daptone Super Soul Revue tour) [2014]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. The World (Is Going Up in Flames) (No Time For Dreaming)
2. Changes (Changes)
3. Heart of Gold (No Time For Dreaming)
4. How Long (No Time For Dreaming)
5. No Time for Dreaming (No Time For Dreaming)
6. Victim of Love (Victim of Love)
7. Where Do We Go From Here (Victim of Love)
8. Stay Away (No Time For Dreaming)
9. Strictly Reserved for You (Victim of Love)
10. Good to Be Back Home (Changes)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #funk, #soul