AS HE reflects on his colourful life, 75-year-old Charlie Landsborough is showing no signs of slowing down and this month makes his annual pilgrimage to Ireland – the country he credits with giving him his "musical salvation" back in 1994.
Despite having performed since he was a teenager, his big break didn't happen until he was in his 50s, when after appearances on Pat Kenny on RTE and The Gerry Anderson Show on the BBC, What Colour Is the Wind reached number one in the Irish charts.
Far from having had a straightforward pathway into a musical career, Charlie has done his fair share of other jobs including working as a navvy on the railways, in a grocery store, in a flour mill, as a postman, a soldier and a primary school teacher. But all the time his dream of being a professional singer refused to go away.
Born as the youngest of 11 children and reared in the dockland area of Birkenhead, Liverpool, in a house full of animals – including chickens and a monkey – his dad was a singer, known locally as the Silver Voiced Tenor. But it was the guitars brought home by his sailor brothers from their voyages that captured his imagination and together with the early country music of artists such as Hank Williams and Jimmy Rodgers, Charlie was hooked.
"I first picked up a guitar when I was 12 and that was me lost forever," he admits, adding that he left school early to become an apprentice telephone engineer and gig in local bars and clubs.
Even in the army Charlie couldn’t be separated from his love of music and his guitar. In 1962 he was posted to Germany and it wasn’t long before he started to play in bands such as the Rockavons and the Onions, made up of fellow military personnel.
A newly married Charlie eventually decided it was time to settle down and he went on to qualify as a teacher in 1978, spending his spare time songwriting. He often wrote songs for the children to sing at assembly, including one of his biggest hits My Forever Friend.
"We were doing a school assembly on the theme of friendship, so I thought I'd write a song for it. My sister Joyce, who is one of those soppy individuals who tells you she loves you when it's not even your birthday, once sent me a card signed 'To Charlie, my forever friend'. I thought that was a great title and used the song to express my own faith.
"A young lad called Paddy sang it in front of the whole school. He had that strength in character which meant kids respected him, rather than sniggered at him. He did a great job, but then I buried the song for a long time.
"One Easter Sunday I was playing at a country music club and thought it was an appropriate day to play a gospel music song, and I got an amazing response. Sometimes you are too close to something to be able to appreciate the worth of it. People gave me the belief in those songs long before I had the belief in them myself."
Charlie started to gain recognition for his writing, with his songs picked up by the likes of George Hamilton IV, Daniel O'Donnell and Foster and Allen, who recorded his hit, I Will Love You All My Life.
One song in particular was to transform his life. What Colour is the Wind tells the story of a young blind child’s attempts to envision the world.
"Other artists had approached me for the song and I remember my wife saying to me 'if you give that song away I will strangle you'. So to avoid strangulation I recorded it myself and that song, together with My Forever Friend, turned the tide for me."
His chart-topping success heralded the end of his teaching career. "I taught about six days after that. They gave me early retirement and off I went on the road," reflects Charlie who went on to release some 27 albums and achieve success across the world with his own brand of ballads, blues, country and spiritual music.
Often described as the ultimate storyteller, the yarns and stories he tells between his songs brings a sense of intimacy to his concerts.
"For 22 years I just played in the pubs and clubs and never said a word. Just to lighten it up I started to tell little stories between the songs. I wasn't really aware of how important that was until a fellow from Derbyshire came to me afterwards and said, 'You were grand tonight lad, but I'm a bit disappointed because you hardly told any stories and that's all I came for'. So it's become an important part of the show. I think it gives people an insight into your character."
As to what else we can expect on the night, Charlie said he'd be "a fool" if he left out the hits.
"I've a great band and crew and I couldn't not go on stage without singing What Colour is the Wind and My Forever Friend, together with a few older songs we've resurrected and some covers thrown in. So hopefully people will enjoy it."
Just as distinct as his voice and songwriting is Charlie's style – his long locks, spangly shirts, flashy socks and range of hats.
"I don't buy anything at all now, because I've such a vast selection of barmy things. As for the hair, I've always liked long hair, though obviously in the army I had to have it short – it's one of the reasons I got out. Somebody said it's like money, it's not what colour it is, as long as you've plenty of it," he laughs.
With plans to release a new album later this year, Charlie is certainly not contemplating retirement and he's optimistic that the Landsborough name will carry on in musical circles for generations to come.
"My oldest grandson, Charlie, is 17. He was surfing in Cornwall all last week and has a surfing type hairstyle. I'm delighted he's taken up the guitar again as he's very talented so hopefully the musical thread will carry on."
:: Charlie Landsborough's Ireland tour is at Derry's Millennium Forum on January 15 (millenniumforum.co.uk); Belfast's Grand Opera House on January 17 and 18 (goh.co.uk) and Dublin's Helix (thehelix.ie) on January 19.
