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 Dion and the Belmonts 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. Once back at the Florida School for The Deaf And Blind, he joined 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.

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, The Consolers, 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 Society
. 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 "I can sing we can sing", which can be found in a published music production called: " A concise introduction to music learning": written by William O. Hughes.
. Wrote the song "Let this love live", Produced and performed by Ben Tankard.Link to listen to Ben Tankard. He did it on his Album: The Keynote Speaker his first release on Atlantic International Records
. Co-Officiated a Blues 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 four Florida Governors (Jeb Bush, Lawton Chiles, Bob Graham and Charlie Crist)
. 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
. Barbara 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 Vault)

OTHER REFERENCES
Dale Olsen Florida State Music
Michael Bakan Florida State Music
Marcus Roberts Florida State Music
Margaret Van Every Tallahassee Symphony
Rich Miller Florida State University Faculty
Ellen Granger Florida State University Faculty
Mary Thornton EverHeart Independent Artist Tallahassee
Billy Riggsby Independent Artist Tallahassee
Craig Spencer Daytona Beach Attorney
Iris Melton Florida State University School Of Music Staff (Secretary Of Band and Orchestra)
Gary Anton Club Owner (BradfordVille Blues Club)
Adam Gaffney Band Member
Deb Berlinger Band Member, Website Designer and Manager

Performed in Shows With:

Chicago Beau
Sam and Dave
Bobby Blue Bland
Benny Latimore
The Red Toppers
Wild Man Steve
Paul Montgomery
Robert Cray
Taj maHall
Willie Nelson
Billy Preston
Diana Shore
Ashford & Simpson
Percy Sledge
Floyd Miles
Bill Wharton And The Ingredients
Billy Branch
Craig Reeder
Delta Moon
Dennis Dunn
Perry Osborn
E. C. Scot
Eric Colberson
Danny Butler
Henry Gray
Howard And The White Boys
John Babbage
Jiggs Walker
Johnny Rawls
Keb’ Mo’
Tony Young
Lois Hinners
Longineu Parsons,
Pat Ramsey And The Blues Disciples
Perry Nelson
Phillip Walker
Precious Bryant
Smokin’ Joe Kubek
T. J. Wheeler
The Blind Boys Of Alabama
Tori Sparks
Velma Frye
Bill And Eli
Mark Hodgson
Mark Rustle
Johnny Marshall
Jon Copps
Sam Early
Woody Green
Clarence Bell
Floyd Dixon
Ace Moreland
Alberta Adams
Anita Franklin
Anson Funderburgh And Sam Myers
Bobby Rush
Gary Premich
Roger Williams
Bob Greenly
Carey Bell
Pamela Laws
Avis Berry
Duke Gainers
Little Willie John