Charley Orlando

“This stuff rocks. The harmonies in the choruses really make this special.” - Taxi.com

“This is some solid stuff. Very engaging and "real" it is inspired and unique.”

- Taxi.com

“Years of experience show through here by the intricacies on these recordings and the attention to detail here. There are some tasty arrangement ideas throughout these tracks and a nice chemistry between the players on them. There is a knack for crafting choruses that effectively stand out from the verses and arrive with a release. There is some original lyrical imagery here that adds to the emotional impact of these tunes.”

- Taxi.com

I wrote about the show by singer-songwriter Charley Orlando at 7 p.m. May 20 at Unity Church & Spiritual Center as the Next Week's Planner portion of my Music Notes column in today's Post-Standard.

Orlando got back to me by phone to talk more about his career.

He moved to Syracuse three years ago. Orlando's a native of Albany who attended Oswego State from 1987 to 1991. The 10 years prior to relocating to Syracuse, he toured North America as part of an acoustic duo. Then they split, and the woman Orlando fell in love with called Syracuse home.

"I decided to put myself here and start all over again," Orlando says.

He's working on a solo career as well as working with a New York-based band, Ruha.

"We say that we're a New York band because the members are scattered from all over the state," he says.

His solo show May 20 at Unity, 300 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse will concentrate on his original songs.

"I've been working as hard as I can to get some sort of something going with originals," Orlando says. "It's a difficult area to play original stuff. I'm so excited about this show at Unity because that's what they're having me do."

Orlando describes his work as optimistic, adding that barroom settings don't seem to be the place for him to perform originals. "The lyrics in my songs are hopeful and inspirational," he says. "Folks drinking in bars would rather forget than remember. Sometimes I feel like I'm knocking my head against a wall."

The Unity location fits well in many ways, he says.

"I would say it's more of an inspirational music than anything else. My basic tagline is unity through music," Orlando says. "Which is, basically, anybody who wants to be involved in the music is welcome."

Orlando just completed recording his second solo disc in a New York City studio. Look for my review sometime in the month to come, before it hits the streets. - by Mark Bialczak May 10, 2007 Post Standard; Syracuse,NY

It’s a long journey from Syracuse, N.Y. to Chehalis, but singer and songwriter Charley Orlando is enjoying the trip.
Orlando, who will appear Sunday at 8 p.m. at The Matrix Coffeehouse in Chehalis, began playing the guitar when he was 11, and started writing when he was about 15.
“My style has changed here and there, but I still play the first three songs I ever wrote,” says Orlando, during a recent interview from the road in Wyoming, while on his way to a show in Bozeman, Mont.
His self-titled album has just been released, making a total of 11 so far in his career. His 2004 album, “Beauty and Pain,” was nominated for four Grammies. He says he didn’t mind losing because he lost to the likes of Ry Cooter and Bruce Springsteen.
Orlando doesn’t like to classify his style, but says it’s most often described as “Americana roots”, which he defines as “American-created and inspired music born of the earth, that cuts straight to the heart.”
“I write whatever comes out, what needs to be written, for me. My newest album is a lot of me looking at the world and its inhabitants, wondering,” he says, adding that being on tour is great inspiration. “I pick up a pen whenever it hits me and write it down on whatever I can.”
While Orlando has been to the Northwest before, this is his first stop in the Twin Cities. He says he’s enjoying concentrating on smaller venues for this tour because people seem more appreciative and alive. He says he feels fortunate to get to do what he loves, saying only a small percentage of musicians achieve the commercial success associated with hitting the top of the charts.
“I’m 38 years old, I’ve been playing since I was 11. I’ve rarely had to hold down a full-time job. For me, it’s OK to just play music.”
Admission to see Orlando is $6 per person. The Matrix is located at 434 N.W. Prindle St., Chehalis. Call 740-0492 for information.






- The Chronicle By Kathy Hall July 12th 2007