(Orleans) OR-1911
I had never heard of Rockie Charles prior to receiving this CD from the New Orleans-based Orleans label run by Carlo Ditta. The accompanying literature was quite interesting. Rockie had quite a unique background - briefly famous in South Louisiana in the late 1960s for a self-produced single that became a popular radio item. "The President Of Soul,
Pt.1 & 2" - he has spent most of his life as a Mississippi River tugboat captain.
He was born 54 years ago in Boothville, Louisiana, a fishing village at the mouth of the mighty Mississippi, his father a fisherman and a guitar-player, Rockie quickly picked up a love for music and a respected ability on guitar. After moving to New Orleans in the early 1950s at the height of the great Crescent City music scene, Rockie formed an R&B and blues band called The Eagles and later another called The Ganges which became locally popular. He eventually went on the road playing guitar behind Al White, a fine New Orleans singer who had some great 45s out in the early 1960s. Rockie also connected with the legendary producer Senator Jones who used him as a session guitarist on many Jones-produced sides in the mid-'60s. Rockie also released his first solo 45 on Jones' Black Patch label in 1967 and enjoyed some success with it ("Mr. Rickashay/Sinking Like a Ship"). He then relocated to Nashville in 1968 and played guitar behind O.V. Wright, Percy Sledge, Little Johnny Taylor and Otis Redding! That says a lot for Rockie's guitar prowess!
After another move back to New Orleans, he started his own Soulmate label and released his big hit "President Of Soul". Rockie continued playing in the New Orleans and South Louisiana clubs, yet at the same time he was a tugboat captain by day, something he'd been doing off and on since he was 18 years old. When disco killed a lot of the music opportunities in the mid-1970s, Rockie went back to the boats full time where he stayed until this CD became a reality. Rockie apparently placed an ad in a New Orleans music directory back in '93, and Orleans record label boss Ditta saw it and called the number listed, and the end result is this disc.
With much anticipation I put this disc on and, right away from the opening notes, I knew this was going to be an exceptional experience. This is simply an incredible disc by a magnificently talented and unique artist. This is classic Southern soul at its very, very best! Sanctified Southern soul. Full of feeling, beautifully arranged and executed and lushly produced and recorded. This by far is Orleans' biggest and best find talent-wise and that's saying a lot.
Rockie's song titles say it all, "I Like To Make Love When It's Pouring Down Rain", "I Need Your Love So Bad I'm About To Lose My Mind" and "There Is A Rainbow Hangin' Over My Shoulder". He bares his soul and feelings and that's what makes this one of the most soulful and full-of-feeling recordings you're [bound to find in] this era. Beautiful music. Full marks to producer Carlo Ditta for bringing Rockie Charles back from obscurity and for producing a perfect album. 5 bottles for a wonderful slice of Southern Louisiana Soul that's sure to bring a warm glow to every soul and R&B lover out there. A real unexpected but most welcome treat.
---AG
Originally published in Real Blues (December '96 / January '97) No. 4