Charlie Mars

Charlie Mars is a vocalist, guitarist and singer-songwriter from Mississippi.[1][2] Mars has performed at Austin City Limits[3] and South by Southwest.[4][5] Mars was featured in Esquire Magazine's Songwriting Challenge which he says was his brainchild.[6][7]

Charlie Mars
Charlie Mars performing at The Saint in Asbury Park, New Jersey on August 25, 2012.
Charlie Mars performing at The Saint in Asbury Park, New Jersey on August 25, 2012.
Background information
Born1974 (age 48–49)
Laurel, Mississippi
OriginOxford, Mississippi
GenresFolk rock, Indie, acoustic
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1990s–present
LabelsRockingham Records, Thirty Tigers, V2 North America, Dualtone Music
Websitecharliemars.com

Biography

Mars was born in Laurel, Mississippi and grew up in Oxford and Jackson, Mississippi.[2][8] Mars' parents are David and Sylvia. Mars has two brothers, Sam and Chad.[8] Mars was transformed to a musician at age 15 or 16, when he heard "Thriller" and "Slippery When Wet". The first Violent Femmes record also figured significantly into his development as a musician. He bought everything that had a similar sound.[9] Mars' family moved to Jackson, Mississippi when he was a senior in high school. He graduated from Jackson Preparatory School in 1992. He was lead singer and guitarist in a band called Adley Madidafus in high school. Mars attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Mars started playing for Jack Ingram in 1992 ("The Charlie Mars Band").[8]

Mars has a floating, mellow croon combined with sensual soul-rock arrangements.[2] Mars has been compared to Jason Mraz and Josh Rouse,[2] and described as a tougher edged version of Jeff Buckley.[10] Mars says that songs come to him spontaneously, and that he relies on the quality and memorability of the material to remember what he creates. Mars says "...the stuff that's any good I remember, and the crap I just forget. I'm a firm believer in the hypothesis that the good shit sticks."[9]

Personal

In 2010 Mars said he would like to live in Austin, Texas if not for his then-girlfriend Mary-Louise Parker, actress on West Wing, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Weeds.[11] As of 2012, he was living in Brooklyn, New York.[9] He currently owns a home in Yalobusha County, Mississippi.[12]

Discography
  • Broken Arrow by Charlie Mars Band (1995), Dualtone Music
  • Born & Razed by Charlie Mars (1997), Rockingham Records
  • End of Romance by Charlie Mars (1999), Rockingham Records
  • Charlie Mars by Charlie Mars (2004), V2 North America
  • EP by Charlie Mars (2009), Dualtone Music
  • Like a Bird Like a Plane (Dig) by Charlie Mars (2009), Thirty Tigers
  • Blackberry Light (2012), Rockingham Records
  • The Money (2014), Rockingham Records
  • Beach Town (2018), Rockingham Records

References
  1. David Swanson (June 10, 2004). "Big, emotional rock from Mississippi". Rolling Stone. Vol. 950. p. 84.
  2. Mikael Wood (July 4, 2009). "Like a Bird, Like a Plane". Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 26. p. 48.
  3. "Austin City Limits Website". Austin City Limits. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  4. "SXSW Schedule". South by Southwest. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  5. "SXSW Schedule". South by Southwest. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
  6. Charlie Mars (March 30, 2010). "Back of the Room" – Another Free Song from Esquire". Esquire Magazine. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  7. Danny Clinch (April 4, 2010). "The Esquire Songwriting Challenge: "Somewhere in Mississippi"". Esquire Magazine. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  8. Krystal Jenkins (1999). "Charlie Mars and Matt Ulmer: A Biography by Krystal Jenkins (SHS)". Mississippi Writers and Musicians. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  9. Staff (2012). "Griffin House, Charlie Mars". 88Nine Radio Milwaukee. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  10. Sarah Tomlinson (May 21, 2004). "Charlie Mars V2 records". Boston Globe [Boston, Mass]. Vol. 21. p. E12.
  11. Brian T. Atkinson (April 14, 2010). "Mars finds perfect groove with Esquire sessions". Austin 360. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  12. Hiltner, Justin (August 25, 2023). "Step Inside Charlie Mars' Stunning Yalobusha County, Mississippi Home". The Bluegrass Situation. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
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