These days, he’s recognized simply as Uncle Charlie.
Yet with a pedigree that backtracks to his days as a lead singer in The Gap Band, the brotherly outfit responsible for early ‘80s jams such as “Burn Rubber on Me” and “You Dropped a Bomb on Me,” Charlie Wilson could more appropriately be tagged a godfather of R&B.
For years, Wilson, 58, struggled with alcohol and drug addiction and, in 1994, entered rehab. He’s been sober since.
And in the past decade, Wilson has experienced a massive surge in popularity, thanks partially to chart-topping urban hits “Without You,” “You Are” and the ubiquitous “Charlie, Last Name Wilson.”
Equally important to his resurgence was the attention given to him by hip-hop hipsters such as Snoop Dogg (who bestowed Wilson with his “Uncle” nickname) and Kanye West, who helped introduce Wilson to a new generation.
The singer also has an important personal calling.
After being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008, Wilson became the national spokesperson for the Prostate Cancer Foundation and said it’s a mission to inform men about the disease everywhere he goes, even at his concerts.
Calling last week from his home in Los Angeles, a genial Wilson chatted candidly about his place in music today, what to expect at his live shows and his health.
Q: With everything that you’ve been through, how have you managed to stay fresh?
A: I think it's the passion I have for music. Even though I had to get up off the ground and dust myself off when people where counting me out and laughing at me and saying I was washed up, all I was thinking was how I could get more music to the people who respect and love me.
Q: You’re both old school and new. Do you try to give people a little of both in concert?
A: I'm truly blessed. I'm probably one of the only ones from back in the day with consecutive No. 1 records and then to have a catalog with The Gap Band and the songs from the '80s and '90s. ... I don't know anyone who has had my success from that era and now. The younger people just know "Uncle Charlie." They don't know I was a lead singer for The Gap Band [laughs].
Q: What can fans expect from your live show?
A: I put on a "show" and take old school R&B to another level. A lot of people just come to do a show and wear black or white, but we put a lot into it. It's a lot of fun, a lot of movement. Nobody on my stage is never not moving.
Q: What have you learned from working with younger artists, such as Snoop Dogg and Kanye West?
A: Some more passion and a respect for the kind of music that they like. I can speak for Snoop freely because he's an old school head. He's got more old school records than anyone except a disc jockey. I appreciate the music each of them loves. Kanye has held every kind of record there is -- there ain't no music he hasn't embraced. They're just incredible people.
Q: Do they ask you for advice?
A: A lot. A lot of times they ask me personal things. They're looking for knowledge of things. I have a lot to tell them [laughs].
Q: How are you feeling?
A: My health is fine. I'm happy to say I'm still cancer free.
Q: Are you looking forward to playing Atlanta?
A: Last year when I was there [at Chastain], it was raining so bad, people had plastic bags over their heads at their tables. But everyone was having a good time. You know the real fans will stick around. I love Atlanta. It's always been real kind to me. It's one of my favorite markets in the whole world.
Concert preview
Charlie Wilson with Chrisette Michele
8 p.m. Friday . $25-$69. Chastain Park Amphitheater, 4469 Stella Drive, Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.
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