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The Original Florida Song | (Lyrics)
(Performed by The Tallahassee
Boys Choir at the 2007 Governor's Inauguration)
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 Charles
Atkins has become one of the finest blues men that Florida has
ever produced. His performances interpret blues at its best,
from fast-paced shuffles to foot-stomping rockers to mournful,
slow blues. His playing and singing evoke the healing power
of the blues. Since becoming a driving force of the Daytona
music scene in the 60's and 70's, Charles has worked throughout
the Eastern U.S. and California. His performances at the Florida
Folk Festival and at other Florida and Georgia festivals have
been celebrated events.
Charles Atkins cranks out the kind of big-voiced, jump shuffle
blues generally associated with Big Joe Turner, Bobby Blue Bland
and Little Milton. Atkins learned his craft at The Florida School
for the Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine, just like Ray Charles
before him. "At the school for the blind, we had about 40
people in the dorm and one piano on the floor, so you had to wait
your turn," Charles recalls. "I've been playing ever
since then, in some way, shape, form or fashion."
Charles Atkins was born in Daytona Beach Florida, 1944, October
23. While he was raised in St. Augustine and Daytona Beach, he
attended middleschool in New York City, at the New York Institute
For The Blind. During this time he became a member of a seven
piece band, The Camerons. Dion Di Mucci of The Wanderer's fame
frequented the band's sets. He did not graduate from highschool
in New York City but, back in Florida, from the Florida School
for The Deaf and Blind. He had a band at the Florida School for
The Deaf And Blind, The D and B Romeos. The band was pretty famous
around those parts of Florida. The Romeos got the chance to play
on a bill with Sam and Dave. Sam and Dave liked The Romeos and,
hired the Romeos at The King of Hearts in Miami. The King of Hearts
job lasted for not more than two thirds of a summer's break. The
band played each night before Sam and Dave came on to perform.
The owner of the King of Hearts tried to talk The Romeos in to
not leaving the club and becoming a road band and signing a recording
contract. We did not have a manager at the time from the school
who would overrule my decision not to sign the contract and travel
and record. The Romeos were back in school that September ready
for classes as usual.
After that began a long stint of road and session work with a
variety of bands such as Benny Latimore, The Red Toppers, The
VIPs and Paul Montgomery of The Five Blind Boys. In 1963, while
playing in The Daytona area with The Lindsey Morris Band, Charles
remembers two young local musicians, Greg and Duane Allman, sneaking
in the club to come sit in with the band. Years later, while working
on the Chitlin Circuit, an incident in a Daytona Beach nightclub
changed Charles' life drastically.
A stray bullet fired from the gun during a fight between two lovers
hit Charles in the leg. It must have hit something else first,
though, because it didn't have any force. "It just hit me
in the leg and fell to the floor. That was a sign. After that
I hadn't been in another group until I started working with The
Blues Boys."Soon after his premature retirement from the
stage, Charles attended Florida State University and earned a
degree in Music Education.
Soon thereafter he moved to Los Angeles to work as a songwriter
and session musician. After several years he once more returned
to Florida and began teaching at the Blues Lab at F.S.U. It was
then that he met the Blues Boys. After a year's worth of successful
gigging they recorded "Animal Called The Blues" and
a year later "The Blues Says It All". Their public appearances
included shows at the 1995 & 1996 Florida Folk Festival, openers
for such blues greats as Duke Robillard and Bobby Blue Bland,
and headliners for PBS's award-winning Southern Jam!
More Bio Info:
EDUCATION
Daytona Beach Community College, Daytona Beach, FL, Associate
of Arts, 1978.
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, Bachelor of Music Education
CREDENTIALS
. Currently a Broadcast Music Incorporated Affiliate (1989 - Present)
. Board member of the Apalachee Blues Association
. Founder & Director of the Blues Lab at Florida State University
. Head of the "Sir Charles" blues lab, a non-profit
organization
. Inventor of "Cosmetic Music"
. Board Member and Art Director for the Florida Arts and Community
Enrichment Program
ACHEIVEMENTS
. Recorded, submitted and had accepted the song "Don't let
her die" by Senator Bob Graham for the purpose of saving
the Everglades
. Wrote the album " The Blues says it all" on Songbear
Productions
. Wrote the album "Animal called the Blues" on Blues
Bear Productions
. Recorded the album "Sweet Voice" on Kingsnake Records
. Contributed to the book "101 Blues Licks", a publication
by Mel Bay Books
. Wrote the song "I can sing", which can be found in
a published music production called: " A concise introduction
to music learning"
. Wrote the song "Let this love live", the first international
release on Atlantic Records
. Attended a workshop with Bonnie Raitt at the Hollywood Bowl
in Los Angeles
. Attended & directed the blues lab at Ray Charles' lifetime
achievement party
. Wrote & performed "The Original Florida Song"
at various functions for three Florida Governors (Jeb Bush,
Lawton Chiles, and Bob Graham)
. Directed the blues lab at Britney Spears' Performing Arts Camp
. Recorded the award winning "Apalachicola Blues"
AWARDS
. Florida Folk Heritage Award (2002)
. American Foundation "keeping the blues alive" Award
(2001)
. Tallahassee Urban League Shining Star (2000)
. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration community involvement Award
(2000)
. Outstanding Volunteer Service Certificate (1997)
. Florida Folk Life Apprenticeship Award (1996)
. Center for Music of the Americas Award (1994)
. St. Peter Choir Appreciation Award (1993)
. Franklin Music Services Appreciation Award
. Knighted an Official Florida Treasure under the Jeb Bush Administration
STUDENTS & MENTORS
. Jonathon Dane Gillibrand, founder of the "Sir Charles"
blues lab
. William O. Hughes, teacher, mentor & advisor
. Bob Smith, mentor for the Center for Music of the Americas
. David Wingate, vocal teacher
. Larry Gurber, vocal teacher
. Barbard Ford, vocal teacher
. Cliff Madson, music mentor & advisor
. Janice Hashani, teacher of music pedagogy
. A member of the Montgomery Express on Folkways Records Smithsonian
Institute
. An original member of the Camerons (See "Out of the Bronx-doo-wop"
from Cousin's Volt)
OTHER REFERENCES
. Chicago Beau
. Bobby Blue Bland
. Robert Cray
. Tashma Hall
. Willie Nelson
. Billy Preston
. Diana Shore
. Ashford & Simpson
. Percy Sledge
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