The greatest blessings come when we least expect them. In this case the blessing is the gift of song and I am a recipient. After years of performing as a singer and actor around the world, most recently in the Broadway production of THE COLOR PURPLE, I find myself in a new place. Songwriting has always been a passion of mine; shared with family and friends, and now I am finding ways to get my music out to a broader audience. Having originally studied opera in Baltimore, I came to New York to perform in musical theater, a diverse and rewarding experience. I have had the opportunity to perform in many different types of venues, situations and styles - as a concert soloist, back up singer, voice-overs, commercials, Pop, Jazz, Classical, Gospel, R&B, even New Age. It’s no surprise that all of those elements are now coming through in my songwriting. I have produced an eclectic catalogue of songs, which reflect my musical life experience. Recently I had a conversation with my father about the importance of the times in which we are currently living, especially the significance of the Barak Obama presidential campaign. My father suggested that I might try to express the needs of our nation in a song and so I ended up writing “Freedom Is Mine”. I wrote this song to inspire, reassure and motivate people. It’s to be enjoyed but also shared with as many like-minded souls as it can reach. I recognize that some people may have issue with my use of the word “freedom”, but after living through the last eight years of the current administration, it seemed the most appropriate term. I want this song to express the aspirations of Obama's campaign but also to transcend and speak to the universal need for hope and promise in times of political, emotional and financial uncertainty. The greatest joy for me would be to have this song sung by disparate groups around the world – rock bands and church choirs, union workers and students, inner-city children and Mexican immigrants. The ideals are universal and hopefully the song is as well. This is my first broad musical release. I have additional works in progress and hope to get them produced in the near future. So for now, enjoy “Freedom Is Mine”. The song can be downloaded from many sites, including CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon, to name just a few. If you do like it, send it to a friend, share it with your loved ones and teach it to your children. Peace, Charles