It’s funny how many times I’ve heard the name, Charlie Worsham mentioned. People, country people it seems all love Charlie Worsham. It’s not difficult to see why. Having played his music over a long number of years, intentionally or unintentionally, (I’ll explain that later) it was a joy to be sitting chatting to the man himself a couple of months ago in Glasgow.
On that day Charlie had been a busy fellow. He’d crossed the Atlantic, completed a soundcheck for that evening’s headline act and slipped in a solo performance at King Tut’s in the afternoon. To look at Charlie’s eternally youthful complexion and how relaxed and generally chipper he seemed you could imagine another couple of musical commitments before bedtime wouldn’t phase him. Later on, as part of Dierks Bentley’s brilliant band he played beautiful guitar and mandolin and smiled and laughed as Dierks did his level best to trip up his sidemen…all in the best possible taste.
Charlie Worsham spends so much time making other people’s music sound better it seems he barely gets time to make his own music. However this C2C he has taken the time to play some of his own songs at a fringe event in King Tuts and the AC has been given access to that gig from which we’ll play a few tracks on this week’s show. We’ll also have a sneak preview of songs which will be part of the next Charlie solo album. It’s one I’m looking forward to hugely as Charlie’s own voice has a great way of welcoming you in and doing what great country artists always do so well: telling you a story.
So, let me explain that ‘unintentional’ comment. I realise we probably play Charlie’s guitar, mandolin, dobro or banjo on a very regular basis. His playing has graced so many of our favourite tracks of the last ten years and more. Charlie has contributed so much to other artists’ records it’s nice to see some of these acts returning the favour. If you need a quick primer try the Luke Combs duet on Learning To Pray – a song from Charlie’s debut record album. But it’s Charlie’s playing that has made him everyone’s favourite picker. You can hear that picking on records by Eric Church, Kip Moore, Lainey Wilson, Kacey Musgraves and many more. Arriving in Tennessee from Mississippi he played live at The Opry aged 12 and has been in studios or on the road ever since.
On this week’s AC we have given over hour two of the show to a Charlie Worsham hour. You’ll hear his songs and the songs he’s played on as well as cuts from that gig in King Tuts. As well as that you’ll hear Charlie in conversation with me backstage at C2C and like the Nashville community, you’ll find yourself falling in love with Charlie. It alls starts this Tuesday evening at five past eight on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Scotland. Do join me if you can.