Sometimes talent trumps everything. Yes, Searching For Sugar Man, the 2012 movie about Sixto Rodriguez, told the unlikely story of an artist who released two critically acclaimed albums in the 70's only to disappear into obscurity, poverty, and, rumored death. It was a glorious testament to the human spirit that Rodriguez not only survived, but was able to achieve an amazing amount of fame, appreciation, and, finally, success 40+ years later in musical landscape littered with manufactured no-talent superstars.
Buckle-up...There's more, another story of equal wonder and grace. This time by an artist who really never had a record or any measurable success. Oh, it should be mentioned that Charles Bradley is 62 years old as his unlikely rise takes flight. Not exactly an age an artist can, uh, begin. Remember that phrase "sometimes talent trumps everything"? Well, you'd be excused thinking "yeah, right", but sometimes justice does appear as if out of nowhere and in that vein this story is extremely interesting and infinitely uplifting.
There's some important American R&B that folks still love, but, for the most part, have to revisit old recordings from such artists as James Brown, Otis Redding, Wison Pickett, Sam Cooke, Al Green, and others to enjoy. The common thread is this style is honest and everyone of these performers were truly awesome talents. It seemed that time has past, but something strange has happened. There are some white dudes who truly love this stuff and they're both talented musicians and have a record label in NYC called Daptone Records. This film, warts and all, portrays the sad life of Charles Bradley. Sad, but never defeated Bradley was a born singer. He had the goods, if not the luck. He took some of life's truly dark knocks and through his Faith in God he persevered, not so much as a singer because he was a random James Brown imitator whose musical quest never provided enough money for food or rent. With the only education he had as a cook (i.e.not chef) he, somehow, scratched out a meager existence and even cared for his mother physically as well as monetarily. This is a true "kind soul" who doesn't know the word HATE. He didn't, apparently, fall into drugs or alcohol, but between his own health crisis and the murder of his older brother he certainly knocked at death's door. Importantly, though, he never quit the occasional singing gig and through a small miracle he was heard by a few people with connections to Daptone Records. It would be an uphill climb, but this microscopically small record label had heart and soul, and a fan base because of a degree of success with their artist Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings. The rest is a helluva ride as Charles debut album "No Time for Dreaming" took off and made most critics best of the year lists.
Charles Bradley is a true man with a heart. He is a true kind soul. He has kept his faith in God and never abandoned his mother who relies on him totally. All this while he suffered, but that was then and now the man has broken though in a business that celebrates mediocrity and youth. How unlikely is that? See this documentary and be entertained and uplifted. And, if you love incendiary R&B music get his, now, two albums. You'll be much richer for it.
Buckle-up...There's more, another story of equal wonder and grace. This time by an artist who really never had a record or any measurable success. Oh, it should be mentioned that Charles Bradley is 62 years old as his unlikely rise takes flight. Not exactly an age an artist can, uh, begin. Remember that phrase "sometimes talent trumps everything"? Well, you'd be excused thinking "yeah, right", but sometimes justice does appear as if out of nowhere and in that vein this story is extremely interesting and infinitely uplifting.
There's some important American R&B that folks still love, but, for the most part, have to revisit old recordings from such artists as James Brown, Otis Redding, Wison Pickett, Sam Cooke, Al Green, and others to enjoy. The common thread is this style is honest and everyone of these performers were truly awesome talents. It seemed that time has past, but something strange has happened. There are some white dudes who truly love this stuff and they're both talented musicians and have a record label in NYC called Daptone Records. This film, warts and all, portrays the sad life of Charles Bradley. Sad, but never defeated Bradley was a born singer. He had the goods, if not the luck. He took some of life's truly dark knocks and through his Faith in God he persevered, not so much as a singer because he was a random James Brown imitator whose musical quest never provided enough money for food or rent. With the only education he had as a cook (i.e.not chef) he, somehow, scratched out a meager existence and even cared for his mother physically as well as monetarily. This is a true "kind soul" who doesn't know the word HATE. He didn't, apparently, fall into drugs or alcohol, but between his own health crisis and the murder of his older brother he certainly knocked at death's door. Importantly, though, he never quit the occasional singing gig and through a small miracle he was heard by a few people with connections to Daptone Records. It would be an uphill climb, but this microscopically small record label had heart and soul, and a fan base because of a degree of success with their artist Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings. The rest is a helluva ride as Charles debut album "No Time for Dreaming" took off and made most critics best of the year lists.
Charles Bradley is a true man with a heart. He is a true kind soul. He has kept his faith in God and never abandoned his mother who relies on him totally. All this while he suffered, but that was then and now the man has broken though in a business that celebrates mediocrity and youth. How unlikely is that? See this documentary and be entertained and uplifted. And, if you love incendiary R&B music get his, now, two albums. You'll be much richer for it.
