Charlie Blackwell

 It all started in the summer of 1969 when my friend Sammy C. and I bought Paint It Black by the Rolling Stones on a 45 RPM record. From that moment, we decided we were going to start a band.

We played talent shows at our junior high school and performed at the local VFW, laying the foundation for what would become a lifelong passion for music. During my junior year of high school, I played trumpet with Jay Heitzman and the band US. For a time, we were the house band at Gus Stevens in Biloxi, opening for artists such as Oliver and Billy Joe Royal.

Although I enjoyed playing trumpet, the bass guitar was always my true passion. Throughout my high school years, I performed with several bands along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and had the privilege of playing with outstanding musicians, including Biloxi jazz guitarist Dick Fortner at venues such as Sie’s Place on Division Street.

After a rewarding 25-year career with a major retailer, I took a break from performing. When I returned to Macon, Georgia, my love for music led me back to the bass, and I began writing folk and Christian songs.

Following my retirement and return to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, I joined several local bands and continued serving on my church’s worship team. Today, I feel truly blessed to share the stage with an incredible group of musicians as a member of the Kiln Billy’s, continuing a musical journey that began more than five decades ago.