Solo Artist

CHARLIE GRIFFIN

  • Vocals, acoustic guitar, banjolele & backtracks

FORMAL QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Licentiate of Trinity College London (Guitar Teachers)
  • Bachelor of Music Degree (Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa)

SCHOOL / POST-SCHOOL / UNIVERSITY YEARS

  • Anglican Church choir 7 years as soprano, contralto, tenor
  • Age 13: Won 4 X ‘A” Diplomas Eisteddfod
  • 1st Prize in EP Herald ”ON THE GO” Music Talent Competition, Port Elizabeth, aged 21
  • University dance bands
  • Vocal/guitar folk-rock harmony trio: ONE-THREE-FIVE-toured South Africa with THE DEALIANS, then a highly successful pop band in South Africa. Besides performing, was also stage manager and lighting operator; Toured Rhodesia with The Dealians as solo act and again as folk duo BANDERSNATCH
  • Rhodes University Chamber Choir
  • Lead vocals & guitar with local dance band: THE MILESTONES, for functions around Eastern Cape
  • Regular member and performer at Rhodes University Folk Music Club & served on the Folk Club committee

POST-UNIVERSITY:

  • Self-employed since university as full-time professional musician
  • Private guitar tutor
  • Performed solo a number of 3-6 month, 6 night-a-week “resident” music contracts at top hotels and restaurants in S Africa, Norway, Greece, London
  • Lead vocalist with Cape Town’s then premier functions band: “THE HYLTON ROSS BAND”
  • Session singer for advertising jingles, and S African Broadcasting Corp. transcription albums
  • Recorded with and appeared on National TV with ”THE BILL FAIRLIE SINGERS” on the EVE BOSWELL  SHOW; SATV talent show, ‘’FOLLOW THAT STAR”; National Radio “CHUCKLE & CHAT SHOW”, singing phone-in requests from all over South Africa. Recorded with THE CLAUDE LARSEN SINGERS
  • Performed and recorded for 2 years with jazz vocal harmony group, “TANGERINE”, including the prestigious international Grahamstown Arts Festival
  • Performed for about 2 years with the Cape Town Philharmonia Choir and Cape Town Symphony Orchestra
  • Performed at functions as a solo entertainer
  • Fronted and managed very successful CHARLIE GRIFFIN BAND: Specialised in the functions market, i.e. weddings, corporate gala dinners, promotions,festivals, launches in S Africa and abroad
  • Member male chorus, THE MELBOURNAIRES, and Barbershop quartet THE CHORDSMEN. Won medals at October 2005 National Convention Gold Coast, Australia
  • ACTIVITIES AS PERFORMER and BANDLEADER: The CHARLIE GRIFFIN BAND - from solo to 9 piece functions band: Songs in English, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, Japanese, German
    (Oompah and international singalongs), Hebrew, Yiddish, Portuguese, Afrikaans, French, Country & Western, Barndance, Dixieland, Ragtime, Israeli dance, Mainstream Jazz; Theme evenings, eg ‘60’s, Island Music, and other.

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