Charlie Williams, age 15, already has a head start in his career that most experienced singers could only dream about. He previously recorded under the name of Charlie Baggett and in 2009, through the guidance, coordination and marketing expertise of veteran music executive Wally Roker, Charlie’s first CD entitled “I Only Dream Of You” debuted at #8 on Billboard’s Classical Crossover chart and remained on the charts for 22 weeks; certainly an auspicious beginning for a new recording career at the age of 14.
Charlie is from Concord, California, where he actually has his own day named after him! Charlie has been singing since the age of 6. He spent 3 of those years as a soloist with the world renowned VOENA (Voices of Eve ‘n Angels) Children’s Choir, which afforded him the opportunity to study music in 20 different languages, in addition to having built a repertoire of over 125 songs. VOENA has performed for President Clinton, President Bush, and even the Pope.
He sang at many local community events, including a 4th of July parade and Memorial Day ceremony honoring his late grandfather, who served in World War II. He has performed at venues including Moscone Center, Napa Valley Opera House, Bass Hall in Dallas, Texas and Lesher Center for the Arts where he shared the stage with well-known talents such as Jonathan Cain of Journey, Karl Perazzo from Santana and Jon Anderson of YES. As a special guest artist with the California Symphony, a mere 14 year old Charlie brought 2,000+ concert attendees to their feet. Charlie’s vocal performances, more often than not, bring tears to the faces of his admiring fans.
Charlie received his vocal training from Miss Annabelle Marie, a student of the esteemed vocal coach Judy Davis. Charlie has also studied acting, has an amazing quick wit and an unexpected clownish sense of humor yet elegant when he needs to be. His #1 leisure-time passion is flying and he is currently training for his pilot’s license. Any spare time after that he has, he donates to supporting philanthropic organizations within his community, including Tony LaRussa's Animal Rescue Foundation.
In 2010 Charlie caught the eye and attention of multi platinum and Grammy record producers Joel Diamond and Rudy Perez. They were not only impressed with Charlie’s already proven track record but convinced that with their direction in the recording studio, Charlie could not only rule the Classical Crossover charts but also cross over and have a top 10 Pop record as well; not to mention becoming one of the biggest concert attractions in the world, appealing to both older as well as the younger audiences.
After months of pre-production and very careful song selection, Charlie’s new album entitled “Dreams Come True” was under way at Bullseye Recording Studios in Miami Beach, FL. The album is a mixture of both well known and well loved standards in addition to magnificent Classical pieces written and performed for the first time with lyrics. The magic is all pulled together with Charlie’s powerful yet very commercial sounding voice. The orchestrations by Rudy Perez are not only lush and beautiful, but also edgy and contemporary.
Joel Diamond, who has now taken over Charlie’s personal management, was out to make lightning strike twice, in the respect that he felt Charlie’s last name should be changed to something with a little more of an international appeal. Certainly not as radical a name change as another former artist that Joel Diamond produced who started out his career as Jerry Dorsey and then morphed into the legendary Engelbert Humperdinck selling over 120 million records...Charlie Baggett has now become Charlie Williams. In addition, Joel found a backup group for Charlie called Rouge, consisting of four classically trained and very hot young ladies who perform on violin, viola, keyboards, and drums.
Rudy Perez is a multi Grammy Winner and has written and/or produced over 200 #1 records in his career including Il Divo, Beyonce, Luis Miguel, Julio Iglesias, Christina Aguilera, etc. Joel Diamond, a double Grammy nominee, has produced 36 gold and platinum recordings including Engelbert Humperdinck, Gloria Gaynor, David Hasselhoff, etc. Joel also produced and managed one of the most breakthrough and successful Classical Groups of the past 10 years, The 5 Browns, earning them 3 consecutive #1 CD’s, sold out concerts, major book deal, print features in The New York Times, People Magazine, Los Angeles Times and Sunday London Telegraph, and TV appearances on Oprah, 60 Minutes, The View, Good Morning America, The Tonight Show, and a PBS Special. “Charlie’s ultimate dream is to perform with a symphony at the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall and grace many stages in Europe, and my goal is to make that happen for him,” says Joel.
Charlie Williams is about to embark on a voyage in unchartered waters. Now with his “Dreams Come True” album complete, he is about to reach out and touch a whole new generation of young people with his ground breaking, fresh, and exciting treatment of the songs he recorded, along with his unparalleled live performances; and his in-person charm and wit. We are all about to experience one of the hottest new recording artists and concert attractions in decades.
www.CharlieWilliamsMusic.com www.RougeBand.com
www.JoelDiamond.com www.RudyPerez.com
Personal Management and Contact:
Joel Diamond
Phone: 818 980-9588
E-mail: JDiamond20@aol.com