Charles Bradley Ready to Electrify Music Hall

From the legendary Daptone Records in Brooklyn comes the late blooming “Screaming Eagle of Soul” touring behind his autobiographical album, No Time for Dreaming –  about which Time Out New York said, “may be this year’s most remarkable debut album.” After driving Music Hall fans crazy as the opener for last year’s visit by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Charles Bradley returns as the headliner on Friday February 3, 2012 at 8pm. Don’t miss this!

The mighty and passionate Charles Bradley has brought back the sounds of soul, funk and R&B from the 1960s and 1970s in tune with Daptone’s revivalist approach. Now his successful new album establishes him as a compelling artist in his own right. It is a labor of love, evoking the personal trials and tragic memories of the singer.

“No Time for Dreaming” wants to be part of no movement, heralds no shift in the sonic landscape; it just wants to be. It has the feeling of childbirth, messy and noisy and urgent. Half of it is about heartbreak, and the other half politics and social concerns, with some of the darkest material drawn from Mr. Bradley’s own life.  – The New York Times

As a boy in Brooklyn, Bradley was first inspired to be an entertainer when he saw James Brown perform in 1962. In spite of his difficult childhood, living on the streets, Bradley hung on to the sound and energy of Brown, while practicing his own microphone tricks with a broom attached to a string. It would be a long wait to fulfill his dream. Bradley formed his first band as a young man in Bar Harbor, Maine where he had been given a job placement via Job Corps, a federal program for helping underprivileged families. His charismatic act drove the ladies wild, but he had to quit when his band mates were drafted in the Vietnam War. After years of working as a chef in New York and California while performing gigs on the side, Bradley finally returned to Brooklyn to pursue his musical career.

Bradley became known as a James Brown impersonator, performing his routines under the alter ego “Black Velvet” at clubs around Brooklyn. A new low point came when he learned his brother had been shot and killed by his nephew. It was at this heartbroken time in Bradley’s life that Gabriel Roth of Daptone Records found him performing his act at the Tarheel Lounge in Bedstuy. Recognizing Bradley’s raw talent, Roth helped him release his first single, “Take It As It Comes.” Roth also introduced Bradley to Thomas Brenneck, songwriter and guitarist for the Bullets, a young funk band. The two became close friends and when Bradley confided his life story, Brenneck told him, "Charles, we gotta put that story to music."

Bradley’s heartfelt songs, "The World (Is Going Up In Flames)" and "Heartaches and Pain" were released by Brenneck’s new studio, Dunham Records, a division of Daptone, and paired with instrumentals from a group called the Menahan Street Band. Charles Bradley was finally able to reveal himself worldwide as a true entertainer and songwriter.

“When you give it out, and people show it the love that you actually give it in your heart, they know you're sincere,” said Bradley. “Anybody can get on stage and scream and holler. But you've got to have compassion behind that.” – Capitol New York

Charles Bradley says he spent most of his life dreaming for a better one, and now there is no more time for dreaming, just time for singing, dancing and loving. He will appear at The Music Hall’s Historic Theater in downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Friday, February 3, 2012 at 8pm. Tickets for the show are on sale now.

Submitted by Kathleen Soldati, director of marketing, Music Hall, Portsmouth