It’s a heartwarming story. After years of toiling away, struggling through personal tragedy of his brother’s murder, working as a cook as a fallback and playing in bars, 62 year-old Charles Bradley has finally brought his soulful voice to an audience thanks to Gabriel Roth of Daptone Records (home to Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings).
Watch that video above, like all great soul singers, Bradley tells you his life story in a cathartic but affirming way, sweating it all out at every performance. Listen to ‘Heartaches & Pain’ below and let him tell you how how he agonisingly, found out his brother died. Those screams are elemental, necessary. It’s his soul and his heart letting it all out. Soul music is his life. Which is why that weathered classic voice is making people take notice, belatedly yet justifiably.
At 62, No Time For Dreaming is Bradley’s debut album. He plays the Sea Sessions festival in Donegal in June.
♡ Nialler9 is independent and reader-supported. Support us on Patreon →
Charles Bradley – Heartaches And Pain
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
