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There are no gaps in Charlie Wilson’s career
By John Benson
It turns out R&B singer Charlie Wilson has been on a 40-year marathon.
As the lead singer of the ’70s and ’80s funk act The Gap Band, the 11-time Grammy Award-nominee enjoyed platinum success in the early ’80s. While the outfit’s career cooled down in the ’90s, Wilson rejuvenated his by going solo.
That led to eight No. 1 urban adult contemporary songs (“Without You,” “Charlie, Last Name Wilson,” “Magic,” “There Goes My Baby,” “Can’t Live Without You,” “You Are,” “Life of the Party” and “My Love Is All I Have”). Just when it appeared the wave crested again, Wilson was nominated for a Grammy Award for his contribution to Kanye West’s “Bound 2.”
“A lot of people think this is a race, but I’m on a marathon,” said Wilson, calling from Detroit. “It never stops, basically. I’m not stopping, I’m not slowing down.”
You could say Wilson is “In It to Win It,’ which is actually the title of his new album due out next week. The up-tempo affair finds the legend joined by musical guests Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Robin Thicke, Lalah Hathaway and T.I. The latter appears on lead single, “I’m Blessed.” There’s also the ’90s R&B-sounding “Chills.”
Whereas Wilson’s prominence in R&B and funk music may have been overlooked previously, he said that’s not the case today with a slew of contemporary artists coming to him with different projects.
“A lot of people look up to me,” Wilson said. “I’m Uncle Charlie to the whole industry, basically. Everybody knows who Uncle Charlie is. And it’s quite different than it was 15 years ago. If I were to reach out to people before, they’d be like, ‘What is he trying to do?’
“But I’m the leader right now, and everybody is looking at me. You wouldn’t believe some of the people asking me to do a duet. It’s because I’m the king right now.”
Considering Wilson has made a career out of singing heart-shaped funk and R&B tunes, the idea of this Gap Band legend returning to Northeast Ohio for a Valentine’s Day performance at Quicken Loans Arena will have fans excited.
“It’s going to be crazy, man, I love it,” Wilson said. “I’m asking all the fellas to give their loved ones flowers at the show. I can’t wait to see all of the colors of bouquets everywhere.”
There’s a good chance if Wilson’s plan is carried out some of those flowers will end up on stage as gifts to him. If that happens, the singer has a message for those throwing roses. This won’t be a “There Goes My Baby” situation.
“I’ll accept a flower just because it’s a fan giving me a flower,” Wilson said. “It’s all in fun, but if they give me a flower, they need to remember they’re going home with their man. They ain’t going home with me because I’m going home with my woman.”