Super Soul Revue
With Charles “Wigg’ Walker & his Band – featuring Pat Bergeson on guitar.
Charles Walker was born in Nashville, Tennessee on July 12, 1940 and cut his first record in 1959 for Ted Jarrett’s legendary Champion label.
In 1960, Charles moved to New York City where studios and nightclub work were plentiful. 1962 found Charles recording with Chess Records out of Chicago, and soon he signed on as lead singer with the J.C. Davis Band. This band began touring the country opening for the greats of the era including James Brown, Jackie Wilson, Etta James, Wilson Pickett, Little Willie John, Otis Redding, and Sam Cooke. The J.C. Davis Band recorded some real barnstormers for Chess like Sweet Sweet Love and The Chicken Scratch.
In 1964, Charles formed his own group, Little Charles and the Sidewinders. They became one of the most in demand soul bands in New York City’s nightclub scene, performing at the Apollo Theater, Small’s Paradise and venturing out to Las Vegas and Atlantic City. They subsequently recorded for Chess and Decca labels. The Sidewinders stayed together through the ’60s, and in 1969 Charles cut some sides for Botanic Records. The Sidewinders reformed in 1973 and worked as a show band in hotels, nightclubs, and casinos without the benefit of a recording contract. In 1979, Charles signed on with Motown as a staff writer.
Early in the ’80s, Charles recorded in England and re-issued many of the Sidewinders classic sides. Realizing that there was a market for soul music in the U.K., he formed his own label P.R.G. and released the single See Me in Europe. Charles spent most of the 1980s in England and Spain and worked steadily and recorded occasionally, but this wasn’t enough. In 1993, he moved back to Nashville to do some serious recording, since Nashville’s blues and R&B scene was really booming. His solo releases include I’m Available, Leavin’ This Old Town, In the House (live with Johnny Jones) and Soul Stirring Thing. He also released an album on the U.K. label Zane records called Number By Heart in 2003.
Charles is one of the few remaining original soul singers from back in the day when old school R&B/soul was brand-new on the music scene. There has recently been a resurgence of this style of music, and it is finding a younger audience while rekindling memories for the old school crowd. Wigg is still delivering this style of music at a very high level, and his experience and maturity in the field of soul music gives him a perspective that is unmatched.
Charles “Wigg” Walker & his Band perform Saturday, November 12, 2016 at The Altamont Theatre. Doors open at 7 p.m.; show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets: $17 adv.; $20 d.o.s.; $30 VIP. The Altamont Theatre, 18 Church St., Asheville. Call (828) 270-7747 or visit www.TheAltamont.com
