Charles D. Lewis

Charles D. Lewis (born 1955) is a Barbadian songwriter, recording artist, bassist, engineer, and producer.

Charles D. Lewis
Birth nameCharles Donavon Lewis
GenresCarib-Pop, Carib-Soul, Soca-Fusion, Pop-Reggae, Bajan Beat, Calypso
Occupation(s)Musician, singer, producer
InstrumentsVocals, bass, acoustic & electric guitar, piano
Years active1976–present
LabelsCarib Disc Records, Universal Music France, Universal Music Germany

Career

Charles is best known for his writing and performance of Soca Dance,[1] released in Europe in 1990. It was number one for seven weeks in France & Belgium, gaining Gold Records in both countries. The song entered the charts in 22 other countries including TOP 10 in Germany, Switzerland & the Netherlands and sold over 3 million copies worldwide, eventually becoming the 13th highest selling single on the European Top 100 Singles Chart in 1990.

His album Do You Feel It[2] also reached #1 in France and Belgium was awarded 'Gold', and emerged the 25th Highest Selling Album on the European TOP 100 Albums Chart in 1990. "Soca Dance" has subsequently been recorded around the world in many languages, by over one hundred (100) other artists including Latin icon "CHAYANNE" for Sony Music.

In November 1990, Charles was granted The European Music & Media 'Diamond Award' and in February 1991 he received the Ampex Golden Reel Award. Successes followed one after the other with his BMG Ariola releases "Another Friday Night" and the Christmas-release "Life Is Beautiful" which Charles wrote for his two sons Raphael & Jamal.

After completing a Diploma in Audio Engineering at a College in Germany, Charles returned to the Caribbean. In his Barbados-based RaGaCha Studios. He has produced several successful Caribbean groups & Artists including the Soca Ambassadors SQUARE ONE. As a Mastering Engineer, Charles's name appears on countless Albums, having given the final magic touch to many Hit Albums from some of the Caribbean's Top Artists including Square One, Krosfyah, Traffic, Boogsie Sharpe and Coalition to mention a few.

In January 2006, Charles became the first recipient of the Barbados Music Awards' "Lifetime Achievement Award".[3]

In 2007, Carib Disc Records released a compilation album All My Goodness which features a collection of Hits from his award-winning "Do You Feel It" CD, along with several new and previously unreleased titles.

After a short break, Charles returned to the live stage in summer 2014. Since then he has been performing for concerts and TV shows across Europe. Appearances on TV shows like 'Patrick Sabastien, and M6's Top 50, have afforded him the distinct pleasure of sharing the stage with some top international, and French artists, including Seal, Morey Kante, The Weather Girls, Zouk Machine & Yannick Noah.

In January 2015 Charles, along with fellow Barbados and St. Lucia stars Red Plastic Bag, Wayne "Poonka" Willock, Anderson "Blood" Armstrong, Lennon "Blaze" Prospere, Sherwin "Dupes" Brice, and Nicholas Brancker were invited to Berlin, Germany, to participate in a week long cultural exchange project (workshop & concert), receiving high accolades from both critics and the general public.

Carib Disc Records has released volume 2 in 'the collection of Charles' popular songs', entitled ' More of my Goodness'.

References
  1. Polygram Cat#: 875 665-2
  2. Polygram Cat#: 847 167-2
  3. "2006 Barbados Music Awards page". Archived from the original on 2017-03-13. Retrieved 2008-06-03.
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