UB Soul Friday: Celebrating the Legendary Charlie Wilson

This weeks “UB Soul Friday” celebrates a legendary artist, whose second act is trumping his legendary first, Charlie Wilson!

This year is the 45th Anniversary of The Gap Bands first platinum album release “The Gap Band III.”

“UB Soul Friday,” spotlighting artists, albums, singles and videos that left a mark in R&B and Soul music!

Hit-making singer/songwriter Charlie Wilson’s timeless music has brought joy to millions across generations.

Not many contemporary artists can lay claim to such superlatives. Charlie Wilson can.

Co-founder of iconic funk trio the Gap Band, has no intentions of slowing down.

Just this week, Charlie Wilson earned his 17th Top 10 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart with his latest single, “Keep Me In Love.”

With the milestone, Charlie surpasses Usher and Tank, reclaiming his title as the male R&B artist with the most #1s in chart history.

Initially signed to MCA and then Interscope as a solo artist, Charlie Wilson has come a long way from the highs of his The Gap Band heyday to the lows of his alcohol and drug addictions.

The Tulsa, Oklahoma native formed the pivotal R&B funk trio The Gap Band with brothers Ronnie and Robert.

The Gap Band is an R&B and Funk band founded in 1967 by the 19-year-old Ronnie Wilson (vocal, trumpet, piano, percussion, songwriter); later joined by his brothers Charlie (lead vocals, piano, synthesizer, organ, drums); and Robert (vocal, bass, guitar, percussion).

The Wilson brothers grew up singing and performing at their father, Oscar Wilson’s Church of God in Christ, in Sand Springs.

Their mother, Irma, was the church’s pianist & minister of music, a talented trumpet player, and a music teacher.

The band’s name originated from the widely recognized streets Greenwood, Archer, and Pine, found in the historic Greenwood area.

In 1974, the band got their big break when they were hired to play backup on Leon Russell’s album, “Stop All That Jazz.”

Throughout the summer of 1974, Russell toured the United States, performing in 35 cities over 120 days, with the Gap Band serving as both the opening act and his touring band.

Their 1974 debut album, “Magician’s Holiday,” was recorded and produced at The Church Studio for Shelter Records.

The siblings hit the charts running in the ‘70s and followed in the ‘80s with a string of hits.

The Gap Band’s first Top 10, “Shake” in 1979, was followed by “Steppin’ (Out)” and “I Don’t Believe You Want To Get Up And Dance (Oops, Up Side Your Head).”

“The Gap Band III” was released in 1980, celebrating it’s 45th anniversary.

The album reached #1 on the Billboard R&B Albums chart.

The trio dropped their first R&B #1 with “Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)” and followed it with another Top 10, the classic “Yearning For Your Love,” which reached #5 on the Billboard chart.

After there were three more #1s (“Early In The Morning” and “Outstanding” in 1982, “All Of My Love” in 1989) and three more #2s (“You Dropped A Bomb On Me” in 1982, “Beep A Freak” in 1984 and “Going In Circles” in 1986).

In 1986, Charlie Wilson contributed his vocals to Roger & Zapp‘s classic “Computer Love.”

With their 1989 Capitol debut, the return to chart favor was particularly rewarding since they were locked into litigation with previous recording affiliation (Total Experience) for awhile.

Ronnie noted, “Our last legitimate album was ‘Gap V’ (spawning the hit single ‘Party Train’) and that came out in 1983.”

“The albums we had out in between, such as “Straight From The Heart” and the other three records, were composed of material that we did not write and produce ourselves. There was some music taken from old sessions and we weren’t all three directly involved as a family. There were out-takes and,” added Charlie, “Some of the tracks that came out as The Gap Band were actually meant for my first solo album.”

Their Capitol Records debut hit single “All Of My Love” was a response to “Round Trip,” from their debut, the Wilson brothers were putting the last few years behind them. “We tried to do some road work,” stated Ronnie, “and our fans appreciated us being out there but we didn’t want to do any major touring for those last few albums that were put out. We did some overseas touring—we went to Germany, Holland, the U.K. and last year, we went to Japan. But it was a real trip because when we were in Europe, it seemed like a lot of folks didn’t even know we were there.”

The Gap Band established a niche for themselves with their distinctive R&B-based Funk-flavored music.

Charlie Wilson said the group was gratified that, with “Round Trip,” “We didn’t have to change our basic sound. Music changes all the time and it seems like the music industry came back to us in a way. But then, we’ve always thought of ourselves as trendsetters rather than people who follow trends.”

Ronnie added that the group deliberately doesn’t pay attention to the radio — “We don’t listen to it because we’re not interested in trying to keep up with what’s going on. Anyway, by the time you’ve finished recording an album and it comes out, the trends have changed.”

The group retired in 2010.

Charlie Wilson released his solo debut “You Turn My Life Around” in 1992.

From the years of 1993 to 1995, Charlie Wilson was a homeless addict, struggling to survive on the streets of Hollywood Boulevard.

However, fate intervened, and he found himself attending a rehabilitation center, where he met his wife, a counselor at the facility.

When he was at his lowest, the love and support of his future wife transformed him into Superman (the title of his 2023 hit), allowing him to fight his demons, get clean and sober, and return to his career faster than a speeding bullet.

Charlie Wilson has been married and sober for 29 years.

Working through the lows of drug and alcohol addiction, Charlie Wilson signed to Jive (RCA) in 2004 after landing his first #1 Billboard Urban AC hit in 2000, “Without You.”

His gold-certified Jive debut, 2005’s “Charlie Last Name Wilson,” yielded a Top 15 R&B single via the title track.

“I started late in the game as a solo act,” reflected Charlie at the time. “I came out of the toilet to have a solo career that no one thought would ever happen. Now I’m on the other side of the finish line … and still have something to sing about. I’m blessed to be standing strong from back in the day.”

“Uncle Charlie” arrived in 2009, securing two Grammy nominations: Best R&B Album and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for the hit single “There Goes My Baby.”

A year later, Charlie Wilson stepped back up to the plate with “Just Charlie” and released his biggest hit to date, “You Are.”

Spending 13 consecutive weeks at #1, the song scored Grammy nods for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance.

The album also features the inspirational, tone-setting centerpiece, “If I Believe.”

Both testimony and autobiography, the piano-driven track starts slowly and builds to a crescendo, ending on a beautifully sustained note carried solely by Charlie. “I can always count on you / You never let me down / My trust in you will never leave because you know my destiny / So I know if I believe / I can do anything,” he sings.

“I can’t go anywhere without my God,” explained Charlie Wilson of the song’s meaning. “This is about my faith in him.”

Charlie Wilson garnered yet another Grammy nomination for “If I Believe” in the Best Gospel Song category.

In April 2012 he announced his partnership with Janssen Biotech to launch the company’s Making Awareness A Priority (M.A.P.) campaign.

The program brings together leading voices in advocacy and health education through live events in select cities across the country.

“Love, Charlie” was released in 2013, which featured the hit “My Love Is All I Have.”

That year Charlie received the Living Legend Award by the Trumpet Awards.

Charlie came off a breakthrough year with the release of his sixth solo album “Forever Charlie.”

Uncle Charlie had the highest grossing R&B tour in 2015.

“I went from clubs to theatres, from theatres to arena’s. And I’ve been selling out every arena all over the country,” Charlie stated. “I could give you some top urban names that wasn’t selling as much as Uncle Charlie was because we was busting them places up.”

“Forever Charlie” was nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Album.

2015 brought more favor to Charlie Wilson as he added Best Selling Author to his list of credits.

His memoir, “I Am Charlie Wilson,” was both a New York Times Best Seller and Washington Post Best Seller as well as receiving an honorary mention for non-fiction from the Black Caucus of American Library Associations, Inc.

“Well first of all we are nothing with out God,” stated Charlie Wilson when discussing his spirituality and faith. “He is our creator, he is definitely our provider and I believe in him and I trust in him and everything is working out fine for me. I had in my life earlier days took off on a tantrum, forgot about God and ended in some precarious places and as soon as I got my faith back everything started working.”

“In It to Win It” was released in 2017 and featured “I’m Blessed,” “T.I. was the perfect choice,” Charlie stated. “I just needed him to tell his fans how blessed he’s been as well,” said Wilson. “So it worked great. I got my first No. 1 gospel record from that. It debuted on the gospel charts as #1.”

Charlie Wilson thanked God for his life and career revival. “I’m definitely blessed and highly favored,” said Wilson. “I grew up in church. My father was a minister. Everything that I do, man, I include God.”

Charlie Wilson’s showmanship remains unmatched.

He is an artist who continues to tour the world with his captivating live performances and has previously sold-out two of his own headlining arena tours – “Forever Charlie” (2015- Billboard’s Top Winter Tour), “In It To Win It” (2017) – and toured with Bruno Mars on Bruno’s “24K Magic” tour.

In 2012, Charlie recorded with another legend Smokey Robinson, on the song “All Of My Love.” The song reached #10 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart.

Charlie Wilson received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in January 2024.

In addition to his 13 solo Grammy nominations and one with Gap Band for “Where Are We Going,” Charlie Wilson was a recipient of the 2005 BMI Icon Award.

In 2009, Charlie Wilson was named Billboard’s #1 Adult Artist and he received the Soul Train Icon Award.

“Looking back, I wouldn’t have believed I’d be where I am right now,” states Charlie Wilson, who also survived a bout with prostate cancer and became a spokesperson for the Prostate Cancer Foundation in 2008.

He is now cancer free and continues to use his stage as a platform to educate men and their families about the importance of yearly checkups and conversations with their health care providers. “I was honored to be a part of the Stand Up 2 Cancer telethon last year,” Charlie stated. “It’s important to spread the word. That’s why I shout every night at my concerts because I thank God for allowing me to be here.”

Charlie Wilson remains committed to promoting awareness and educating the male community about prostate cancer.

Still burning rubber on stage as well, the energetic Charlie Wilson averages 75-100 shows a year between concert tours, festivals and private events.

Charlie Wilson has worked with a solid team for decades, who have contributed to his sound and success.

That team includes Charlie Wilson’s longtime collaborators Wirlie “Optimas Pryme” Morris and Greg Pagani. Also contributing and co-writing on several tracks is Charlie Wilson’s wife Mahin.

His creative relationship with “nephew” Snoop Dogg morphed into collaborations with numerous contemporary hitmakers including Chris Brown, Future, Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, Pharrell, and T-Pain.

Throughout his long-running career, Charlie Wilson has stayed true to who he is musically and creatively while simultaneously raising the bar each time.

Take A Trip Down Memory Lane with Charlie Wilson!