His latest studio sessions have been recording “A Hotel In Valdosta”. A native of Charlotte, TN he is making his mark in Outlaw Country with the songs that actually mean something to the fans.
The main thing I like? He is not a fake. He is down home outlaw. You can see him sitting across from your bonfire with just his guitar and voice in the still night before the first morning of Deer Season. Yeah, that kind of outlaw music. That comes from the hills of TN to the Ozarks of Arkansas, our states share quite a bit, except Armadillo's. I like to quote from Johnny Cash...”People call me wild. Not Really, I'm not. I guess I have never been what you call Establishment. I'm Country.” CB3 is the perfect living explanation of this JC quote.
He is not afraid to pick up his guitar and do completely acoustic and it still be his voice, his feelings. It takes guts, and natural talent, to go acoustic when you want or need to. A lot of places you play, paying your dues, have no sound systems and just a stool in a corner with a mic. You better have something good to be able to draw a crowd that way. On the other hand, he has a kick ass band backing him for full on performances!
CB3 has just signed on with John Connor and David Ray in a big production and distribution deal and says he has some upcoming surprises on this next CD, maybe a couple of guest we may know?? Can't wait to find out!!
I sent a few questions for him to answer as he is pretty busy right now with dates, so maybe a follow up live interview can be fit in for later on.
OW: A Hotel In Valdosta is your 7th CD? I thought that was what I had read but can't find it again.
CB3 - My new record is called "A Hotel In Valdosta," and it's actually my eighth solo cd, but only my second full band record as a solo artist. I have six acoustic demo records that I released over the years, called "The Living Room Sessions," where I would write songs and immediately record an acoustic demo to capture the idea. Then in 2011 I released a full band studio album called "Household Name," but it didn't get promoted the way it deserved to be, because by that time I was working with a couple other bands, and my attention and focus was divided. The good news is now I am fully committed to building and promoting the Charlie Bonnet III solo brand name, and that includes the brand new studio album!
OW: I didn't see any Arkansas dates on the calendar this year. Any chance there might be a change in that in the near future? We would love to have you here for a show!
CB3 - As of now I haven't played in Arkansas as a solo act, but I'm looking to change that soon. I am putting a band together now that will be focusing on festival gigs, mud bogs, bike rallies, and that sort of thing. I'd say we will be playing regionally by the end of the year. Arkansas would definitely be within our reach if we get an offer to play something. Currently I am playing acoustic solo shows, where I show up and play four hours on a barstool, just me with a guitar. Most of these are done in smaller bars and pubs, and Arkansas is again a feasible driving distance for this type of show, so I will be coming to see you folks at some point soon with either a band or with an acoustic gig. I'm looking forward to it!
OW: I read about your time with some Hard/Heavy Rock and those influences... who were your biggest influences in country music?
CB3 - Well, my mom always had Nashville 95 FM playing around the house and in the car. There was no escaping it. She was the boss and this was the music she liked, so that's all we heard. This was in the early 1980's, so we were hearing a lot of The Judds, Alabama, Lee Greenwood, and Randy Travis. I am a fan of these acts now, probably from a nostalgia standpoint, but back then it was just what was on the radio. My dad had two cassette tapes in his truck, Merle Haggard "Back To The Barrooms," and Merle Haggard "Sing Me Back Home." That was it. If we were riding with daddy, then that's what we were hearing. Of course when I got older I wanted to rebel against everything and I wanted my own music. That's where the heavy rock came into the story. It was loud and angry, and that's something I related to as a teenager. But as I got older, I revisited the country music that I grew up on, and really appreciated the story telling and the songwriting of these groups. I had a lot more perspective by that point in life, and could appreciate the music a lot more. Overall I'd say that I am influenced by grittier artists like Steve Earle, Merle Haggard, and David Allan Coe. These guys write a lot of their own stuff, and I just relate to it. I don't really care much for slick, overproduced music, and I pretty much despise any corporate music that is designed for mass consumption. If it's not real then I don't want it.
OW: If you could pick one artist/band to hook up with for a US tour, who would it be and why?
CB3 - My dream tour would be with somebody like Hank Williams Jr or Lynyrd Skynyrd. These acts are the forefathers of what I am doing now, and I think my fan base is the same type of crowd. It's my goal to help keep Southern Rock alive, and to keep that sound relevant with the younger generation. I've been playing music in some capacity for over twenty five years now, and I think I am at the place in my career where I can take the classic Southern Rock sound and move it forward with integrity. I have major respect for the pioneers of Southern Rock and country rock, so when it's time for these groups to pass the torch, I hope to be their guy.
Thank you Charlie and we look forward to hearing from you and your CD release!!
CB3 - Thank you very much for the interview! I hope everyone will check out the CD and share the music videos as they are released. Thanks for all the support! You all rock and I hope to see you at a show soon! CHARLIE
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Jennifer Evans
Chief Editor
