Mr. Charles was born in Atlanta Georgia and was placed in an Orphans home at the age of 6 when his mother could no longer care for him and his two sisters. He was in the Orphans home for 3 years, and then went to live with his grandparents on a rundown dirt farm in rural Georgia. He lived there for 7 years and when his grandfather died he went to live with his mother in Atlanta until at the age of 16 he joined the Army. He won a singing contest and traveled with the Army show around Army bases in the South East. He was picked up by an agent and began his singing career as a vocalist with many big bands of the big band era, most notable was Harry James. He retired in 1997and began writing his memoirs. He moved to a small town in rural Northern California where he currently resides.