KAMSACK — Kamsack and area residents have an exciting night of music to look forward to as Tommy Charles and his band stop in town on April 22 during their Saskatchewan tour.
Charles started developing an interest in music at a young age.
“[My mom] saw the curiosity I had for music and singing when I was young,” said Charles. “She showed me a lot of music.”
As this interest in music continued to develop, Charles’ mum pushed him to audition for singing contests at 13.
“I then did a lot of singing contests,” said Charles.
Charles also had secondary school bands and did some ballroom of Frank Sinatra, Michael Bublé, and music of the sort for dance halls.
“That’s where everything started,” said Charles.
It was around this time that Charles decided to make music his profession, not just a hobby.
“When I realized singing could make a difference in people’s lives and that I was paid to sing, it felt natural,” said Charles. “I felt something could come out of it. [Music] progressively became a career.”
That doesn’t mean this career path has been all smooth sailing for Charles.
“I’ve been challenged every year that I have been doing this professionally. Once a year, I wonder if I want to be doing this right now,” Charles said. “There is a lot of behind-the-scenes work that happens. There’s a lot more than sitting on a stage with a guitar and singing.”
Over the last 12 years of doing this professionally, Charles says he is influenced by everything from Elvis Presley and Tony Bennett to blues and soul, as that’s what Charles grew up on.
“I feel like I am somewhere at the intersection of that music,” said Charles. “I have been into country music for a few years, but the older I get, the more I feel myself steer back into my roots, which is more of the broader Americana, soul, crooner, and rock ‘n roll.”
Charles says this upcoming tour of Saskatchewan was routed with help from the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils.
“We showcased there a few years ago. We presented in front of several arts councils and cultural associations across the province,” said Charles. “Nine of them, including Kamsack, have invited us to perform for their rural communities.”
Charles and his band plan to spend half of April driving around part of Saskatchewan.
Charles says this tour and show format is stripped back in sound.
“There is no high-energy loud electric guitar,” said Charles.
It will be a six-piece band and include three backup singers.
“It’s got an old school vibe to it,” said Charles. “Like Ray Charles would have his trio or Elvis had his choir.”
Although the set list will be a lot of music from the 1960s, half of the show will be originals.
“I am taking people into my world and telling them about my songs,” said Charles.
“It’s a cool show. It’s curated for people who don’t know us yet. We give them a good taste of what we do, but we try to reel them in with the music that they like,” continued Charles.
Charles is looking forward to this tour of Saskatchewan.
“This will be a great opportunity for me to get to know people,” said Charles. “I want to take the time to chat and meet people after the show, and try to create some bonds for the future, and hopefully come back the following year. I’m excited to meet everyone.”
Tommy Charles’ Kamsack stop on this tour will be on Wednesday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m. at the Kamsack Playhouse Theatre.
