WFUV at SXSW: Charles Bradley

Don't be afraid of a little sweaty soul music, it's good for you.

Among the Daptone Records artists who travelled to Austin for 2013’s SXSW music conference, Charles Bradley (@Charles_Bradley) stands out as an amazing story in a field of pretty amazing stories.

A 1962 James Brown concert at the Apollo is cited as the spark that brought out the fiery performer in a young Charles, who spent decades performing in relative obscurity — principally as Black Velvet, a James Brown tribute artist.

It wasn’t until he was in his 60s that he was discovered as an original performer, building a reputation as "The Screaming Eagle of Soul" and releasing his debut album, No Time For Dreaming, at the age of 63. (He is the subject of a documentary, Soul of America, that premiered at SXSW in 2012.)

His second album, Victim of Love, comes out in April. In the meantime, enjoy this performance from the Public Radio Rocks Day Stage show from SXSW 2013 — listen to audio of the full set, below, and watch a video for "Why Is It So Hard?," below.

WFUV's South by Southwest 2013 music coverage is graciously supported by TuneIn.
Funding for WFUV’s ongoing coverage of live concerts and festivals comes from The Agnes Varis Trust, supporting affordable access to the arts, education and healthcare.