Progressive. An eclectic mix of Americana styled performances combining old time roots with country folk and melancholy blues folk stylings. The stories are the songs in this collection of enigmatic musical tapestries. Wistfully painted love and lifesong.

14 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Modern Folk, COUNTRY: Country Folk



Details:
Charlie Engle was born in the small Eastern Kentucky town of Whitesburg. His father, an Old Regular Baptist preacher, was his first musical influence. Charlie learned early the âlining outâ style of singing in church. There was also always music in the house. âMom always had the radio on while she would do her housework. I would sit and listen to George Jones, Bill Monroe, Bonnie Lou and Buster, Farron Young and all the old country music stars on WTCW. I used to sneak my transistor radio into bed at night and listen to Ralph Emory on WSM out of Nashville."

During his teen years Charlie, started learning to play the guitar but it wasnât until he entered college that he really started to seriously study the instrument. His roommate, David Strong, was a guitar player in a college sponsored folk group and Charlie would attend practice sessions and pick up new tunes, and guitar licks. In 1975 Charlie heard a recording of John Prine and fell in love with the singer/songwriter style of music. In 1976 Charlie transferred to the University of Virginiaâs College at Wise, in Wise Virginia. There he fell into a pocket of talented musicians who have influenced him throughout the rest of his musical career. Papa Joe Smiddy, a great old time musician, encouraged Charlie to write and supported him in his efforts to perform.

Charlie began writing songs while continuing to listen to songwriters like Guy Clark, Billy Jo Shaver, Robert Earl Keen, Willie Nelson, and Ray Wylie Hubbard, all Texas songwriters. That influence can be heard in the music he now plays and writes. He is also an accomplished storyteller and travels throughout Southwest Virginia telling mountain tales and stories.

Charlie has played in several bands in the past, opening for such acts as John Prine, Robin and Linda Williams, Roy Bookbinder, and John McCutcheon. Out of the Groove is his first release of original material. He also appears on the Home Crafts Days festival compilation CDs. Charlie currently lives in Saint Paul, Virginia and tours with an eclectic Americana/progressive folk band, The Big Red Rug.