CHARLES AND COMPANY - Key Persons
Charle s mainly plays bass guitar, but he started out as a drummer. In addition to that he plays keys and a little rhythm guitar...when he puts his mind to it.
He said, "I've entertained at all sorts of events, from political, to clan rallies, and everything in between". If you know Charles, you know he has a great sense of humor. He also said, "I'm all about the business of entertainment".
Danny Ware was born on June 23, under the astrological sign of Cancer and was raised in Chicago, Rogers Park, Lane Tech. He grew up on the north side of Chicago. (Cubs fan!)
His first interest in music began when he sang in the Church Choir at the early age of 5. His interest in music was nurtured by his older brother who was a music major. That, along with his love for the Beatles. And like many other musicians, he got his first start in music with his neighborhood friends.
His mom had the biggest influence on him becoming a musician because she was a singer herself. Although his parents approved of his interest in music, they always said, "Just don't quit your day job!".
When asked what his favorite musicians and bands were, Danny said his favorites were, the Beatles, Hendrix, and Clapton. Which explains why preferred genré of music is Classic Rock, Funk, and Jazz. As for the tunes he likes most, he has so many that it is impossible for him to say.
Danny started out teaching himself how to play his music, but later took lessons from Frank Romoro before earning a BA in Music Ed at Governors State. Not only does he sing, but he plays numerous musical instruments...The guitar, bass, flute and harmonica.
He was asked what groups he has played with in the past and he said, "Mary Wells, the Drifters, and The Sting Rays to name a few. I have only been with CHARLES & Company since this past July (2012), but was in a band with Charles called Bop City Boys early in the '90's." He said, "Some of the most memorable performances of my career came when I played the Sea Cruise on Navy Pier."
He said that when he was a child, he wanted to be a Train Engineer, which still sounds like a cool gig, but Danny also pointed out, that the thing he likes best about being a musician is that he is getting paid for something he loves to do.
Ed Kammerer keyboards and vocals, was one of the founding members of the Dancing Noodles founded in the Spring of 1984. The Sun-Times was just one of many that named The Dancing Noodles the best R&B Cover Band in Chicago.
His background brings a mix of Motown, Soul, Rhythm & Blues and includes artists like Mavin Gaye, James Brown, The Jackson Five, The Beatles, Otis Redding, John Mellencamp, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Badfinger, Otis Clay, Otis Redding, the Four Tops and so many more.
When Ed joined CHARLES & Company he added a new dimension to the band. He is known as one of the best entertainers in Chicagoland. He brought his musical talents, his good nature, terrific sense of humor, and the philosophy to have fun and make sure the audience has fun with him. This worked for him in the Dancing Noodles and it works for him in CHARLES & Company as well.
Larry Morrison was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois on October 10th, which makes him a Libra. He and Charles W. Beadle both grew up in the Wentworth Gardens housing projects located two blocks south of Comiskey Park. (Go White Sox!)
When asked what got him interested in music he said, "Radio and records got me interested in music. Being the youngest of nine children, I was exposed to the music of my parents and older siblings. They listened to music which ranged from jazz to standards, blues, rock & roll, and R & B. I became intersted in music at the early age of 5 or 6. I started playing the drums at approximately age 8 or 9 after one of my sisters married a jazz drummer, who would sometimes take me to his rehearsals. I was in awe of those talented musicians."
Larry's parents approved of his musical interest and encouraged him as a musician. He first performed in talent shows at school and the neighborhood field house.
When asked what or who most influenced you in music? Larry said, "I was definitely greatly influenced by my drummer brother-in-law along with the works of the great jazz drummers I was exposed to: Art Blakey, Max Roach, Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, and many others as well as the great jazz bands and band leaders."
As he grew older he got into R & B music. Some of his favorite R & B singing groups were The Temptations, Smokey and The Miracles, The Spinners, The Impressions, The Chi-Lites and more. His favorite bands were Earth Wind & Fire, Tower of Power, Average White Band, Three Dog Night, Chicago and more. His favorite solo artists were James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Jerry Butler, Gene Chandler and many more. He said, "I've had the pleasure of seeing most of them perform. I was also in a band who opened for Natalie Cole and The Spinners. That was a great thrill."
He also said that he prefers jazz and R & B because that's mostly what he was exposed to, but he can play all genres. He says he needs to know how to play more than one or two styles of music to play with CHARLES & Company.
When asked if he had a favorite song, he said, "I can't say that I have a particular favorite song. I have many, many favorites. A lot of Smokey Robinson's songs come to mind, songs by Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, etc. You may be surprised that I love many standards recorded by Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, and the list goes on and on."
Larry was a self-taught musician after receiving a few tips and encouragement from his brother-in-law. He and Charles started a band called The Classics back in the 60's, when they were in their teens. They would enter talent shows and play for whoever would listen. He remembers entering a battle of the bands contest sponsored by WLS radio at Navy Pier. He said that they came in either 2nd or 3rd place, but not sure which.
He went into the army, and when he returned, the band had been renamed The Majestic Kind. Shortly after that, it was changed again to We The People.
In '72 he left the band and was married, but in '75 received an offer to go on the road with the singing group The Notations, who were under contract with Curtis Mayfield's Curtom record label. They had recordings being played on the radio...He took them up on the offer and got some of his best lessons in musicianship. He even made a few radio commercials at that time. That gave him the opportunity to meet some of the great names in show business. While making the commercials at Universal Recording Studios on the north side, he met John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd when they were recording the soundtrack to The Blues Brothers.
1983, he broke both legs in a car accident which brought his drumming days to a halt. Years later, Charle s contacted him and asked if he wanted to play again. He said yes, and went to work strengthening his legs. He and Charles joined a band named Quiet Storm. He played for a short time, about one and a half years.
Larry said, "Charles called again in 2007 and said he wanted to start his own band, and here we are five years later and I love it....CHARLES & Company! '
When asked what his most memorable performance was, he replied that he had three. "In 1975 when I was with The Notations, we opened for The Spinners at Southern Illinois University's auditorium, standing room only. I couldn't believe I was playing such a large venue. They had a big write up about us in the university newspaper. Then, there was the time we opened for Natalie Cole in Detroit at the Fox Theatre. Huge success! The place went wild for both The Notations and Miss Cole.
Larry told me this, "If I couldn't play music, I really don't know what I would be doing. What I like best about being a musician is that I'm doing what I dreamed of doing as a kid and it's with the same friend (Charles) that I started with. What a way to enjoy your 'twilight years'!"