A native of Atlanta, Charles has an AA from Emory and a BM in classical guitar from GSU. He has attended master classes with Christopher Parkening and Jose Thomas. As a founding member of the seminal jam band ‘The Aquarium Rescue Unit featuring Col. Bruce Hampton’ (which included Jimmy Herring of Widespread Panic, Oteil Burbridge of the Allman Bros, and Jeff Sipe from Trey Anastasio), he contributed songs to the ARU’s Capricorn CDs. Two of these have been performed regularly on the Tonight Show featuring Jay Leno. He has also performed with Charles Dennis Edwards of the Temptations, the Platters, recorded national commercials for Coke, Turner and others, opened for Steve Morse, NRBQ, Widespread Panic and has performed and recorded with members of Widespread Panic, the Allman Bros, and Phish.
He writes for and performs with The Bonaventure Quartet, (Best of Atlanta 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011), Caroline Herring, and Bernadette Seacrest and her Provocateurs. The Bonaventure Quartet's CD, The Secret Seduction of the Grand Pompadour, was chosen as one of the Best 101 Albums of the Decade by Creative Loafing as well as receiving rave national reviews. In addition to numerous articles and reviews in both the domestic and international press, the BVQ has been profiled by Michael Dregni, (biographer of Django Reinhardt), in his definitive books on gypsy jazz. He has toured Europe twice with Bernadette Seacrest and her Provocateurs, (winner of Best of Atlanta 2007). His groups have performed in almost every venue in the Atlanta area from the Variety Playhouse to the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
Charles enjoys playing and teaching all styles at all levels with the structure of the lessons being informed by the interests of the individual student. He is also a specialist in the style of Django Reinhardt, and especially enjoys working with students who are interested in the art of songwriting.
Email: charlesrobinswilliams@gmail.com
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