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Charles Bradley
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Charles Bradley

Charles Bradley was in his early 40s when he sang Otis Redding's "Try a Little Tenderness" at a Brooklyn karaoke competition. That performance caught the...

album31 lyric pages photo_library1 photo groups21 listeners here now Editor's note live
person Curated by Ethan Walker LyroVerse team
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Editor's note

Charles Bradley, the late-blooming soul singer with a worn voice

A Brooklyn karaoke performance in his 40s led to three raw, urgent soul albums before his death in 2017.

If you want to hear what all the fuss was about, put on "Changes." That's the one that tells you everything you need to know.

Bradley's voice carried the weight of a life lived before anyone heard it on record. Songs like "The World (Is Going Up In Flames)" and "Changes" didn't sound like studio creations, they sounded like truths finally getting out. That's why his music sticks; it feels earned, not performed.

He was singing Otis Redding at a Brooklyn karaoke competition when producer Gabe Roth found him. That led to his first album, "No Time for Dreaming," in 2011, followed by "Victim of Love" and "Changes: Volume 2" before his cancer diagnosis in 2016.

edit_note Ethan Walker · LyroVerse team · Apr 20
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LyroVerse editor's notes are short interpretation guides, not final verdicts. If something needs a correction, visit About or Contact.

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31 lyric pages live 1 photo available Editor's note live Video on page
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Charles Bradley
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Charles Bradley was in his early 40s when he sang Otis Redding's "Try a Little Tenderness" at a Brooklyn karaoke competition. That performance caught the attention of producer Gabe Roth, who helped Bradley record his first album, "No Time for Dreaming," in 2011. The single "Changes" from that album became a signature song for him, a raw soul track that felt lived-in rather than polished.

His voice had a worn, urgent quality that made songs like "The World (Is Going Up In Flames)" and "Why Is It So Hard" sound like they came from someone who had waited a long time to be heard. He released two more albums, "Victim of Love" and "Changes: Volume 2," before being diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2016. He died the following year.

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Where should I start with Charles Bradley on LyroVerse?

The Start here section opens with Ain't Gonna Give It Up, Victim Of Love, and Ain't It a Sin so you can move through the artist's stronger lyric pages first.

How many lyric pages are live for Charles Bradley?

LyroVerse currently has 31 visible lyric pages for Charles Bradley.

Does Charles Bradley have photos on LyroVerse?

Yes. There are 1 photo available, and the preview gallery on this page links to the full photos section.

Does LyroVerse have an editor's note for Charles Bradley?

Yes. The editor's note on this page is a short LyroVerse team guide, not a final verdict on the artist.

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