A testament to the power of perseverance, Charles Bradley is
a commanding soul artist who gives new meaning to the oft-used
phrase “the voice of experience.” Inspired by seeing James
Brown live at the Apollo in the 1960s, Bradley spent the next 48
years working day jobs from Maine to Alaska, all while stoking
the flame of his unfulfilled music career. Now settled back
in his hometown of Brooklyn, Bradley has received glowing
reviews for his debut album No Time for Dreaming (at age 62),
including a nod among Rolling Stone’s Top 50 Albums of 2011.
Each note and gruff inflection is a reflection of his extended,
sometimes rocky, personal path. And while his stage presence is
profoundly unique, one can still see the traces of a young man,
doing his best James Brown moves before the mirror.
PROGRAM NOTES | 
