“Classical vocal technique, as well as Jazz improvisation are only a few of the facets of All-around talent Charles Simmons.” – Stuttgarter Zeitung

“With his hard as steel, dynamic and multi-facetted Gospel voice, Charles easily won the audience over.”

- Die Rheinpfalz

Soulful. Dynamic. Multi-faceted. These are only a few words that have been used to describe me as a performer. My passion for music shines through every time I go on stage or in the studio, which is probably why I’m highly regarded among my colleagues here in Germany. I was raised with Gospel, Soul and Rock music, and I’m trained in Classical Voice, Jazz Improvisation, and Musical Theater. This experience serves as the foundation for my approach to music; energetic, dynamic and passionate.

In addition to singing, I’m also a multi-instumentalist, having taught myself to play the piano, drums, guitar, bass, and various percussion instruments at an early age. My musical background and experience has been put to good use over the years, allowing me to score a number of successful commercial CD releases. As a member of the pop project The Free (Dance Pool / Sony Music Germany), together with Felix Gauder (producer of such acts as Blue Lagoon, Novaspace, Tom Novy, Das Modul, Sonique, and many more), I’ve had 5 singles in the German Singles Charts. I’m also active as a studio singer, and has been featured on a number of other top CD releases, as well as in numerous TV commercial jingles, most notably for Langnese’s “Magic Of Home” campaign for their Cremissimo and Vienetta ice cream brands.

I have performed with many U.S. and European top artists and producers, including Mary J. Blige, Shaggy, Stefan Raab, Xavier Naidoo, Steve Lukather and Simon Philips (Toto), Sasha (aka Dick Brave), Brian McKnight,The Weather Girls, Crystal Waters, Sonique, the Backstreet Boys and Roachford. I’ve also worked closely with 3p recording artists Sabrina Setlur, Glashaus, and Moses Pelham. In 2006, Charles founded the alternative rock band “iO”, together with ex- Guano Apes members Dennis Poschwatta, Henning Rümenapp and Stefan Ude. Our debut CD, “For The Masses”, was released worldwide on August 1st, 2008.

Recently my love for music has taken a new and unexpected turn: I’ve entered the world of music education. At the end of 2008 I became an instructor at two music schools: the Performing Arts Academy of Baden-Würrtemberg (aka Popakademie) in Mannheim, and the Modern Music Center in Stuttgart.