Charlie Mars

Charlie Mars

Charlie Mars performing at The Saint in Asbury Park, New Jersey on August 25, 2012.
Background information
Born 1974 (age 41–42)
Laurel, Mississippi
Origin Oxford, Mississippi
Genres Folk rock, Indie, acoustic
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, musician
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Years active 1990s–present
Labels Rockingham Records, Thirty Tigers, V2 North America, Dualtone Music
Website charliemars.com

Charlie Mars is a vocalist, guitarist and singer-songwriter from Mississippi.[1][2] Mars has performed at Austin City Limits[3] and South by Southwest.[4][5] Mars was featured in Esquire Magazine's Songwriting Challenge which he says was his brainchild.[6][7]

Biography

Mars was born in Laurel, Mississippi and grew up in Oxford and Jackson, Mississippi.[2][8] Mars' parents are David and Sylvia. Mars has two brothers, Sam and Chad.[8] Mars was transformed to a musician at age 15 or 16, when he heard "Thriller" and "Slippery When Wet". The first Violent Femmes record also figured significantly into his development as a musician. He bought everything that had a similar sound.[9] Mars' family moved to Jackson, Mississippi when he was a senior in high school. He graduated from Jackson Preparatory School in 1992. He was lead singer and guitarist in a band called Adley Madidafus in high school. Mars attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Mars started playing for Jack Ingram in 1992 ("The Charlie Mars Band").[8]

Mars has a floating, mellow croon combined with sensual soul-rock arrangements.[2] Mars has been compared to Jason Mraz and Josh Rouse,[2] and described as a tougher edged version of Jeff Buckley.[10] Mars says that songs come to him spontaneously, and that he relies on the quality and memorability of the material to remember what he creates. Mars says "...the stuff that's any good I remember, and the crap I just forget. I'm a firm believer in the hypothesis that the good shit sticks."[9]

Personal

In 2010 Mars said he would like to live in Austin, Texas if not for his then-girlfriend Mary-Louise Parker, actress on West Wing, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Weeds.[11] As of 2012, he was living in Brooklyn, New York.[9]

Discography

References

  1. ↑ David Swanson (10 June 2004). "Big, emotional rock from Mississippi". Rolling Stone 950. p. 84.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Mikael Wood (4 July 2009). "Like a Bird, Like a Plane". Billboard. 121 (26). p. 48.
  3. ↑ "Austin City Limits Website". Austin City Limits. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  4. ↑ "SXSW Schedule". South by Southwest. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  5. ↑ "SXSW Schedule". South by Southwest. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  6. ↑ Charlie Mars (30 March 2010). "Back of the Room" — Another Free Song from Esquire". Esquire Magazine. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  7. ↑ Danny Clinch (4 April 2010). "The Esquire Songwriting Challenge: "Somewhere in Mississippi"". Esquire Magazine. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 Krystal Jenkins (1999). "Charlie Mars and Matt Ulmer: A Biography by Krystal Jenkins (SHS)". Mississippi Writers and Musicians. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  9. 1 2 3 Staff (2012). "Griffin House, Charlie Mars". 88Nine Radio Milwaukee. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  10. ↑ Sarah Tomlinson (21 May 2004). "Charlie Mars V2 records". Boston Globe [Boston, Mass] 21. p. E12.
  11. ↑ Brian T. Atkinson (14 April 2010). "Mars finds perfect groove with Esquire sessions". Austin 360. Retrieved 17 July 2014.

External links

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