Charles Bradley and His Extraordinaires (US)

 

Born in Florida in 1948 and brought up on the streets of Brooklyn, Charles Bradley shares a perspective with Alec and company, but his music doesn’t make you want to man the barricades. It’s more of a glimpse into (and a lament over) the soul of a sick world, as in the poignant song “The World (Is Going Up In Flames),“ although there’s plenty of room for warmth, hope, and love in Bradley’s tunes. The singer — whose records are released by the legendary Daptone Records — is among the great soul voices that have little in common with the genre’s more radio-friendly branch: Bradley set off down a tougher, less spectacular path, alongside the likes of Otis Redding and Gil Scott-Heron. His love of music began in 1962, when his sister took him along to a James Brown show. Although his road to a professional career in music was long and winding — Bradley spent years working as a cook, singing only in his free time — his talent was finally discovered. We’re proud to welcome Charles Bradley to the OFF Festival.