August 19, 2005 @ 12:00 am

Charlie...Last Name Wilson

by: Kevin R. Scott

When I saw him, I immediately recognized his swagger, so I melted into the background to try and observe the candor. I was there to interview him. He-- was now adhering to a last minute schedule change and heading to Atlanta to record with a producer who now had time to work on his new project, Charlie...Last Name Wilson - or so I was told.

As we were waiting for the elevator, he paced pensively and began to sing to the elevator. "Come on, come on." You know how when you're in a hurry you start to think out loud? Well, his "out loud" thoughts were in song. His voice was large and round, mature and smooth, and “Come on” sounded like a new melody.

The next day over the phone from his Atlanta hotel our rescheduled talk began. Prior to, I thought about why would Charlie Wilson from the legendary R&B/Funk band The Gap Band want to release an album now, when most people know his chart topping hits such as “You Dropped a Bomb on Me,” “Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me),” and “Yearning for Your Love" only through samples from svengalis like Madonna and not as his own hard labored creations.

The Gap Band has always created hits. On this occasion Charlie Wilson, or Uncle Charlie as Snoop Dogg dubbed him, collaborated with R. Kelly, a long time admirer of Wilson's vocal styling, on three tracks including the lead single “Charlie… Last Name Wilson.” Wilson insists that it was a match made in heaven because “From day one, R. Kelly has always proclaimed himself a modern day Charlie Wilson,” he says. “He and I have been talking about collaborating for years, and now it’s finally happening."

How was it having someone who you’ve influenced so greatly be so heavily involved on this new album? It was quite an experience, because it was his opportunity to create for me after learning from me.

Was it difficult going from writing your own music to putting that in someone else’s hands? It was scary at first, but when dealing with my man R. Kelly, then it’s ok. He knows me. He is at the top of his game. He even came up with the title. He said just call it Charlie…. Last Name Wilson. Your work with the Gap Band has been sampled by many artists, is it important to you that younger listeners know where the music originated or are you just happy that they are listening to good music? It’s good that they are listening to good music but you have to teach the kids. Good example [is] in rock music, when you out to a Rolling Stone concert, you see the young, the old, and all them in between. All the generations know the music, but it ain’t the same for us. What about the music will get people, old fans and new, to remember your name?

The music itself… it’s good music. Ask Justin Timberlake, ask Snoop. It’s quality music, just like it was then. Who in R&B, particularly male crooners, are you most impressed with and why? I like Kem. I think he is really creating some really good soul music. He’s natural. When recording songs like “You Dropped a Bomb on Me,” “Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me),” and “Yearning for Your Love,” did you sense then that they’d be the mega hits that they have become? Yeah, ‘cause we worked hard at creating them. You felt good about them all. Are there any songs on this new album that give you that same feeling or are reminiscent of those hits? All of them. (I laugh) Which is your favorite song? All of them. (He laughs) Do you think younger generations will connect to this new album and why? Why wouldn’t they? Kev’s Conclusion: By the end of our conversation, one thing was certain. Charlie Wilson is music. It’s in his every thought. Simply put, it’s a part of him. After listening to him revel in his love for performance and witnessing his excitement to be back in the game, I’m not mad at his comeback and I think we should listen up. He might have the right kind of old school flava for us new school fools.

Kevin R. Scott is a Harlem resident, freelance writer and music critic with a penchant for the newest, hottest, freshest and dopest. He's a mad man for anything R&B. You can find him blogging at www.kevinrscott.com.

The views expressed by this writer do not represent beliefs held by VIBE.

Article tags: Charlie Wilson, The Gap Band, R. Kelly, Charlie...Last Name Wilson 

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