Charlie Sayles
& the
Union Mission Band

"The Afro-American harmonica, or blues harp, gives us one of America's great traditional art forms. It can't be written down with music notation; you have to hear it to believe it. Charlie Sayles is one of our very best harp players." - Pete Seeger _________________ "You play good music, Charlie. People all over the world need your music." -Bill Monroe

SCHEDULE

BOOKING

Charlie Sayles' Union Mission Band performs a unique and diverse repertoire of American roots music and tailors its sets to the audience and venue. The band plays Jump, Chicago, Memphis, Delta, and Country Blues as well as New Orleans' R&B. Charlie's originals are startling unique stories of real trouble, real life. At the core of the music are his soulful and fiery blues harmonica and vocals and the solid dance groove of a veteran blues band. (Sample recordings and a song list are available.)

Charlie, an African American born in 1948, has been playing his blues for nearly 30 years. After returning from two years of service in the Vietnam War in 1971, he taught himself the harmonica, honed his music on the streets and in clubs, and worked his way across the country. By the mid-1970s, he recorded his first album and was playing for large music festivals followed by international tours. Charlie's recordings and performances have garnered very high critical claim. (Press reviews are available.) In 1997, he launched the Union Mission Band in Washington, DC. Following is a selected list of accomplishments.

Recordings

The Raw Harmonica Blues of Charlie Sayles Dusty Road Records, New York, 1976 Night Ain't Right JSP CD 241, London, 1990 (distributed by Rounder Records) I Got Something to Say JSP CD 261, London, 1996 (distributed by Rounder Records) Union Mission Blues Washington, release date: Summer 1999