Charlie Landsborough
 |
Charlie Landsborough | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Charles Alexander Landsborough |
| Born | 26 October 1941 |
| Origin | Birkenhead, Cheshire, UK |
| Genres | Folk, Country |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, Songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals Guitar |
| Years active | 1994-Present |
Charlie Landsborough, (born Charles Alexander Landsborough, 26 October 1941) is a British country and folk musician and singer-songwriter. He started singing professionally in the 1970s, although his major success didn't come until 1994 with his song "What Colour is the Wind" and since the hit in 1994 he is now one of the UK's top country acts. He is also popular in Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
Life
Born in Wrexham, Wales, Landsborough was the youngest of 11 children. Soon after he was born, his mother (Aggie) moved the family back to Birkenhead after the World War II bombing raids. He was reared by the docklands of Birkenhead near the dumps, railway lines, coal wharf and oil factories.[1]
He left school early and worked intermittently as an apprentice telephone engineer, on the railways, and in the flour mills before joining the army. He left after four years, in the early 1960s, and joined a group, The Chicago Sect, in Dortmund, Germany. Returning to England, he married, played in local bands, and worked in a variety of jobs before becoming a teacher at Portland Combined School on Laird street, Birkenhead.
While working as a teacher, he wrote songs and continued to perform on a semi-professional basis, with limited success. However, in 1994 his song "What Colour is the Wind", which tells the story of a young blind child’s attempts to envision the world, began to be played in Ireland after a TV appearance on RTÉ's Kenny Live Show. The song was used as the title track of Landsborough's first album.
Following the album's success in Ireland, Landsborough appeared on several TV shows in the UK. Since then, he has released ten additional albums, including originals, greatest hits and double CDs of previous releases. Overall, sales of his albums have exceeded 700,000 units. He also has had two number ones singles in the Irish pop charts, and several of his albums have topped the British country charts.
One of his most successful releases, Still Can't Say Goodbye was recorded in Nashville in 1999 and resulted in Landsborough winning the BMCA Best Male Vocalist (2000) for the third year in succession, and the Southern Country Award for best album. He has performed at most major concert halls and theatres in the UK, including the London Palladium. He also toured Australia and New Zealand in 2001.[2]
Discography
Albums
- Nothing Lasts Forever (September 2009)
- Under Blue Skies (2008) No. 73 (UK)
- The Storyteller
- Heart and Soul
- My Heart Would Know
- The Lighter Side (Comedy Album)
- Reflections
- Smile
- Movin' On
- Once in a While
- Songs from the Heart
- What Colour is the Wind
- Further Down The Road
- With You in Mind
- Still Can't Say Goodbye
- The Greatest Gift (Christmas Album)
Singles
| Year | Album | Song |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Heart and Soul | "Half the Ghost of a Chance" |
| "Saviours Song" | ||
| "My Most Wonderful Time" | ||
| 2002 | "I'm A Lucky Man" | |
| "I Don't Know" | ||
| "Who is this Man" | ||
| "It's About Loving You" | ||
| "Song for the Dragonfly" | ||
| 2004 | My Heart Would Know | "Twenty-Four Hours Times Two" |
| "My Heart Would Know" | ||
| "I Am Red" | ||
| "I Know What it is to be Loved" | ||
| "The Closest Thing to my Heart" | ||
| "Going My Own Sweet Way" | ||
| "Moate" | ||
| "He Still Holds You" | ||
| "Nothing Will Ever Be The Same Again" | ||
| "Like A Stone" | ||
| "I'll Be Missing You" | ||
| 2008 | Under Blue Skies | "Long Way Down" |
| "Some Mothers Son" | ||
| "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness" |
DVDs
- Charlie Landsborough A Special Performance
- An Evening With/Shine Your Light Double DVD Collection
The Team
- Jamie Landsborough - Tour Manager
- Ken Davies - Manager
- Tony Ariss - Keyboards, Vocals
- Shane O'Borne Guitar, Vocals
- Phil Mcdonough - Guitar, Vocals
- Smithy - Merchandise
Awards
| Year | Awarding Body | Award |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | British Country Music Awards | Single of the Year - How Do You Do Those Things |
| BBC Radio 2 - Prestigious Award | Record of the Week - Heaven Knows | |
| 1992 | British Country Music Awards | Top Solo Performer of the Year |
| 1994 | BBC East Midlands | North Country Music Song of the Year - What Colour is the Wind |
| Country Music Round Up International Awards | Favourite Album - What Colour is the Wind | |
| Most Popular Male Vocalist | ||
| 1995 | UK Country Awards | Best Album by a British Act (Recorded Anywhere) - What Colour is the Wind |
| Best Single - What Colour is the Wind | ||
| Best Song by a British Songwriter - What Colour is the Wind | ||
| 1996 | The Great British Country Music Awards | Best British Male Vocalist |
| The Irish Record Music Association | International Country Album of the Year - With You in Mind | |
| UK Country Radio Awards | Best Single - Forever Friend | |
| Best Song - Forever Friend | ||
| Most Nominations | ||
| Best Single - Further Down the Road | ||
| Scottish Country Music Awards | Most Popular Male Artist | |
| Most Popular British Album - What Colour is the Wind | ||
| Most Popular British Song - Forever Friend | ||
| 1997 | The Great British Country Music Awards | Best British Male Vocalist |
| 1998 | BBC Radio Merseyside Scouseology Award | Best Music - Top Personality |
| The Great British Country Music Awards | Best British Male Vocalist | |
| UK Country Radio Awards | Best Single - Further Down the Road | |
| Most Nominations | ||
| 2000 | The Great British Country Music Awards | Best British Male Vocalist |
| Best British Album - Still Can't Say Goodbye | ||
| UK Country Music Radio Awards | Best Album - Still Can't Say Goodbye |
Professional comments
- "The greatest response ever on the show".Pat Kenny - Kenny Live RTÉ TV
- "The biggest reaction for any artist on our last series".BBC TV Pebble Mill
- "If you like warmth, honesty and credibility in a performer you'll love Charlie Landsborough".Gerry Kelly - Kelly Ulster TV.
- "Incredible talent and unique style, deserves to be a major success".Sean Murphy - London Weekend TV
- "Charlie's like good wine, he matures quietly over a long period of time, when the cork was popped it was well worth the wait".Gerry Anderson - BBC TV
- "A brand new album of brand new songs, all written and performed by a quiet, unassuming gentle man who could very well be Britain's next country-folk superstar, internationally".George Hamilton IV
References
External links
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
