Charlie Walker

Beaches performer Walker branches out with his music


By TAMARA McCLARAN, Shorelines

Jacksonville Beach singer/songwriter Charlie Walker has learned to appreciate and expect the unexpected.

In the past two years, Walker has become a familiar face playing the Beaches club circuit. Now, much to his delight, other opportunities are also coming his way. Recently, Walker performed at Walt Disney World and opened for Sister Hazel and Tim Reynolds concerts.

"It's starting to turn into something bigger than playing in the bars," Walker said. "I never went into this expecting this to become what it's started to become."

For now, Walker is still playing the Beaches club scene and has several gigs during the next week. He will play solo at Caribbee Key in Neptune Beach tomorrow night and with his band at Ocean Club in Jacksonville Beach Friday night. Walker and his band also will be at The Brix in Jacksonville Beach Sunday night and he will perform solo at Fly's Tie in Atlantic Beach on Monday night.

Walker sings and plays guitar as well as harp and piano. His band features Johnny Flood on saxophone, Jutti Mandel on bass and guitar and Will Neal on drums and trombone.

Performing a mix of pop, rock, jazz and blues, Walker's earthy musical style is often compared to Jack Johnson. His solo gigs typically have a relaxed vibe while the band performs more of the upbeat material. Walker usually plays a variety of originals, like Jim in a Bottle, along with cover songs, such as Still My Kisses by Ben Harper and Cannonball by Damien Rice. He loves performing and connecting with the audience.

"It doesn't matter where I play," Walker said. "This is so inspiring for me."

Walker is currently working on a new album with producer Adam Wacht of Dart Recording in Ponte Vedra Beach. A four-song self-titled EP is available for sampling on Walker's myspace page (www.myspace.com/charlieawalker). Wacht says people can learn a lot about Walker by listening to his music.

"When I met him, I could tell right away that he is a true artist, a genuine artist," Wacht said. "This is a very exciting project for me. It's different than the other rock 'n' roll projects I have done."

Walker first acoustic album, Away, which was independently produced two years ago, is available on iTunes.

His musical journey started with violin lessons at age 3 and he believes performing recitals taught him to be comfortable in front of an audience. However, he gave up violin as he got older because it wasn't "cool" and later started playing guitar. Living in Ocala, Walker played with a Christian rock band, Fidelity Anthem, for a couple of years until he was kicked out because the band's leader didn't think he was committed.

"It's kind of funny now because I'm the only one from the band still involved in music," Walker said.

In spite of leaving the band, Walker continued to play music and was contacted by an Ocala church in search of an interim music director. He took the position and later was named the permanent music director.

Although he learned a lot, Walker said the position didn't fulfill his personal passion for music.

So he left the church and moved to Jacksonville in search of something different.

Jacksonville Beach graphic designer Tim Lenoir, whom Walker met at Central Florida Community College, helped with local introductions. Walker's first area gig was at Freebird Live as part of a Surf Expo two years ago. He has been performing at local bars and clubs ever since.

"I took the only thing I knew at the time," Walker said. "The rest has been history."

Walker is passionate about his music and inspired about his future. He admits he didn't intend to pursue a career in music. However, Walker has a spiritual connection and has discovered music is his calling.

"My goal is to speak to thousands," Walker said. "Music has become that tool for me to share my story." - The Florida Times-Union

Album Name: Charlie Walker
DATE: 4/22/2008

Local musician Charlie Walker (guitar & vocals) and friend Victor Gagnon (violin) a touring member of the 7 Nations band opened for Sister Hazel April 17 in the JU Swisher Gym. Visit this gallery to see more of them. Visit his website at CharlieWalker.org

- Jacksonville.com

Local Musician: Charlie Walker

How would you describe your sound?
I would describe it as a blend of blues, soul and acoustic pop...if I could be so bold.

Are you a Jacksonville native?

Nope. I bounced around a bit. I was born in Urbana, OH and stayed there till the age of 6. I lived in Greenwood, SC for four years. I moved to Ocala, FL at around 10 years old. Then at around 23, I moved to Jax Beach, bounced out to St. Augustine for a little bit, moved back, and I have been here since.

I know you do solo acts as well as the Charlie Walker Band. Do you prefer playing by yourself or in a band?

I don't have a preference, as long as there is a good vibe with the crowd. I'm playing for the people. However, I connect with them, it doesn't matter, just as long as I connect. That can be with or without the band.

How does your individual act differ from your band show?

When I play as a solo musician I generally play more mellow songs. Probably the songs, I would say, I put more of my soul into. I wouldn't say the energy level is necessarily lower, I'd just say it is more personal.

When I play with the band, we are all focusing on the music as a whole. We are conscious of our timing, our layers, our dynamics, being intentional and so on. As a team, we play together and individually we gain less attention, but as a whole, we generally gain more. I honestly feel like I have the privilege of playing with some of the best musicians in Jacksonville. Those musicians being: Johnny Flood, Will Neal and Jutti Mandel.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

I don't know. The journey is the destination as far as I am concerned. I am happy with where I am now, and I'm sure wherever I end up I'll be happy there too. I'd like to think that I will become an accomplished musician and producer, and maybe even dabble in the film industry someday...maybe 20 years from now.

If you could do a duet with anyone, famous or not, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Justin Nozuka. He said we should do a song together someday. I'm going to hold him to that. He has a got the most organic and soulful voice I think I've ever heard from a 19 year-old dude.

What are your top 5 favorite CD's ever?

Jack Johnson (In Between Dreams), Damien Rice (9), Brett Dennen (So Much More), Dave Matthews (Live at Luther College), Justine Nozuka (Holly)

- Buzz Magazine


It’s been too long since I last wrote one of these, so here goes:
While venturing down to the Lower East Side’s Rockwood Music Hall to see Washington, D.C.’s Shane Hines, I managed to catch a set by 26-year-old Jacksonville, FL singer/songwriter Charlie Walker. Were it not for the camel-colored fedora on his head, Walker would have resembled just another innocent citizen instead of that of say, a starving musician. Small in stature and rather wispy, Walker overcame his everyday appearance with a set of 10 acoustic-pop gems.
Admitting after the show that he’s influenced by folks like Jack Johnson, John Mayer and Justin Nozuka, the songs he played revealed exactly that. This is light, airy stuff that should probably be flooding the iPods of college students across the country. Armed with clever wordplay, an incredible ability to rhyme and beatbox, Walker revealed an innate sense of urban rhythms as well as the bubblegum sweet acoustic yarns that Mayer and Johnson have made radio staples.

Though his on-stage banter at times appeared sophomoric and unrefined, it was at least earnest and sincere. A jaw-dropping rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and an admirable attempt at the ever-difficult “Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone,” displayed a reverence for classic works and an ability to pull off a cover without sounding trite and banal. While Walker is probably a year or two away from major record label status, I’ll certainly add him as an artist on the rise.

- http://residentmediapundit.com