Charles Chalmers

Charles ( Charlie ) Chalmers (* Memphis, Tennessee ) is an American saxophonist, backing singer, session musician, songwriter and producer.

Life

His first musical experience was gained in the marching band in high school. At the age of 19 years he was with Jerry Lee Lewis on tour. Soon he built his reputation in Memphis as soulful saxophone player. As a session musician, he began with Bill Black, bassist of Elvis Presley. His reputation spread quickly and he was often called in when a saxophonist was needed. So he played and sang with Willie Mitchell ( Soul Serenade ), Al Green ( Let's stay together ) and Wilson Pickett ( Land of 1000 Dances, Mustang Sally ).

In the session with Wilson Pickett, he met Jerry Wexler and Tom Dowd know, with these two producers he made many recordings for Atlantic Records. So Chalmers wrote most Bläserarrengements in the recording with Aretha Franklin, in which he also played saxophone. Even Rick Hall of Fame Records influenced his career much, so he played for Etta James, Clarence Carter, The Osmonds ( Donnie and Marie ), Paul Anka, Doby Gray, Mac Davis, Andy Williams and Wayne Newton. Rick Hall also produced an album for Chalmers ( Sax and the Single Girl, Chess Records ).

After the recordings with Paul Anka who asked him if he wants to play with a few appearances for him. From these few appearances three years were in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace. Chalmers taught there also a studio. A session with Frank Sinatra took place there, where Chalmers was a background singer, which was a great honor for him, as he said.

After several years in Las Vegas, he went to Miami, where he worked with artists such as Andy Gibb, The Bee Gees, Firefall, Harry Chapin, John Mellencamp and KC and the Sunshine Band worked. In 1989 he built his own studio in Branson, where he still works and lives.

Successful Songs by Charlie Chalmers

• Conway Twitty: The Clown
• Isaac Hayes: One Woman, One Big Unhappy Family
• Oak Ridge Boys: Is Alice In Wonderland
• Al Green: One Woman
• The Staple Singers: City In The Sky
• Boz Scaggs: Look What I Got
• Etta James: It Hurts Me So Much

Artists who worked with Charlie Chelmers (selection)

• Widespread Panic
• Aretha Franklin
• Al Green
• Wilson Pickett
• Etta James
• Liza Minnelli
• Tony Joe White
• Jerry Lee Lewis
• Paul Anka
• Mel Tillis
• T. G. Sheppard
• Mac Davis
• The Bill Black Combo
• Janie Fricke
• Ann Peebles
• Andy Williams
• Andy Gibb
• Melissa Manchester
• The Bee Gees
• Dusty Springfield
• Joe Tex
• Delbert McClinton
• Booker T. & the M. G. ' s
• John Cougar Mellencamp