“I love St. Louis – it was the funk city,” Charlie Wilson told The American back in 2013. “This city was there for me all the time, so as long as y’all will have me, I’m going to keep coming back.”
He kept his word. After experiencing one of the most storied comebacks in music history, Wilson has always kept St. Louis top of mind and included the city on his roster of stops for his tours – which have become an annual thing.
It’s the least he could do after St. Louis threw their support behind him and his brothers during his days in The Gap Band.
“I love St. Louis – it was the funk city,” Wilson said. “We used to play there all the time back in the day when Dr. Jockenstein was the jock of the whole city, and we had such a good time.
The venues sizes have grown since he burst back onto the music scene more than a decade ago to become a mainstay at the top of the R&B charts and a beloved touring artist. First it was The Ambassador – then he moved on to the Fox.
When he comes to town next Friday (Feb. 24) he’ll be at Chaifetz Arena with Fantasia and Johnny Gill for his “In It To Win It Tour.”
“As usual, folks should come prepared for a party,” Wilson said.
The tour is named after Wilson’s new album of the same name – which drops today.
The album features Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Robin Thicke, Lalah Hathaway, Pitbull and T.I. – who joined Charlie on the first single, “I’m Blessed.”
Wilson blessings are a recurring theme in his live performances as well. He always takes time to thank God not only for his comeback, but his health and his sobriety.
He’s a prostate cancer survivor and it’s been more than twenty years since a drug addiction sent his career – and life – into a downward spiral.
But his struggles have now become his testimony to fans that anything is possible to those who believe.
He gives God all of the glory for the career resurgence he’s enjoyed since the 2004 release of “Charlie Last Name Wilson.”
And he makes sure to give his fans a live show they will never forget.
“Every night I go on stage, I act like it’s going to be my last performance – so I try to give the show of my life every time I come out on that stage,” Wilson said.
When people come to a Charlie Wilson show, I want them to leave saying, ‘I’ve never seen anybody work so hard’ – and to see that I did it from the bottom of my heart.”
Charlie Wilson’s latest album “In It To Win It” is now available at music outlets. For more information on the album, visit www.charliewilsonmusic.com. His tour will stop at Chaifetz arena at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, February 24. For more information on the tour, visit www.ticketmaster.com
