Taking to the skies: Young singer launches professional career
With the release of his debut CD, "I Only Dream of You," on Sept. 17 at a dual official release party and 15th birthday party, Charlie Baggett took the first steps to establishing a professional career.
The first thing you notice about Charlie is the incredible humility with which he approaches his craft. He has been performing since the
age of 6 as an a cappella soloist, in multiple venues to large crowds up to 10,000 including the well-known Bay Area professional children’s choir Voices of Eve 'N Angels (VOENA.) With each performance Charlie expands his range and focus working with other vocal professionals. Charlie's style has been compared to the likes of Il Divo, Josh Groban and even a younger Pavarotti.Launching his CD in the main hanger of Pacific States Aviation at Concord's Buchanan Airport where he is working towards his pilot certification seemed the perfect location. With about 200 people in attendance including producer Annabelle Marie, who wrote two original songs for him, Charlie was the recipient of a mayoral Proclamation presented by Concord Mayor Laura Hoffmeister and Vice-Mayor Guy Bjerke. "We express our immense pride and honor in having so talented an artist calling Concord home," Bjerke told him as he handed over the framed Proclamation naming September 17, 2009 as "Charlie Baggett Day in the city of Concord." Charlie's manager, Wally Roker who as a member of The Heartbeats also promoted them along with other major talent such as Laura Branigan, Dionne Warwick, and Roberta Flack, took the stage to express his admiration for the young singer.
“I usually look at a birthday as just another day," Charlie said, visibly touched by the honor bestowed upon him. "I’m 15 – I love planes." Behind him the hanger was lined with assorted light aircraft including a sleek business jet. Charlie often flies
out of the field in a Cessna 172R and has aspirations of getting a commercial pilot license in line with two of his idols, actor John Travolta and pilot Capt. "Sully" Sullenberger, the hero of an emergency landing in the Hudson River in New York in 2009.In 2008, Charlie celebrated a debut performance with the acclaimed California Symphony as the guest vocal artist to a record crowd of over 2,000 people. The California Symphony has been voted the best Symphony by Readers Digest. Charlie performed “Time to Say Goodbye” and “The Prayer” to a crowd that was left in awe of his young age.
A young man with a big heart, Charlie has a love and compassion for everyone around him, qualities that are very easy to spot minutes after meeting him. His concern for animals translates into benefit performances for the Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation. Sharing the stage with star performers like Jonathan Cain of Journey, Carlos Reyes, Holly Stell, and Karl Perazzo from the band Santana, Charlie donated his talents to ARF's cause with a commitment for ongoing involvement.
With vocal coaching from Annabelle Marie a student of Judy Davis known for her work with clients Barbra Streisand and Jefferson Airplane, and with an ongoing regimen of performances, Charlie takes his craft very seriously.James Davis, Mayor for the city of Antioch, CA, agrees. "I've known Charlie since he was 8 years old,” Davis said. "He is a tremendous young man. Very impressive." Davis had asked Charlie to sing at Memorial Day, Veteran's Day and the July 4th Parades.
Charlie is a member of the Grammy Recording Academy and has performed as a soloist for the Bay Area Chapter’s annual end of year celebration in 2007.
Between performances, Charlie also enjoys the technical side of recording and production. He has worked with the Contra Costa Christian Theater's productions of The Wiz, High School Musical and Honk backstage as part of the production crew. Add baseball, dirt bikes and learning to play drums and you have a typical teenager mixed in with his incredible talent.