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Charles Waring

Charles has battled with vinyl addiction since he was a teenager, when David Bowie’s The Jean Genie single got him hooked on wax. After glam, he got a taste for prog and punk before a deep appreciation for soul, jazz and funk kicked in. He began writing about music in the 90s for Blues & Soul magazine before becoming a contributor to Mojo and Record Collector in the early 2000s. He has written liner notes for almost 400 albums and, in 2020, he co-authored funk singer Marva Whitney’s memoir, God, The Devil & James Brown.

Articles by Charles Waring

Best Jazz Saxophonists: 20 Icons Who Blew Their Way Into History

List & Guides

Best Jazz Saxophonists: 20 Icons Who Blew Their Way Into History

Using their instruments to tell stories of love, loss and life, the best jazz saxophonists express what it is to be human…

Best Jazz Musicians: 20 Revolutionary Talents That Changed The World

List & Guides

Best Jazz Musicians: 20 Revolutionary Talents That Changed The World

From dazzling hornblowers to soulful singers and visionary composers, the best jazz musicians were innovators who expanded the genre.

Break Every Rule: How Tina Turner Made Her Comeback Stick

In Depth

Break Every Rule: How Tina Turner Made Her Comeback Stick

Tina Turner’s 1986 album, ‘Break Every Rule’, reaffirmed the Tennessee singer’s ‘Queen Of Rock’n’Roll’ credentials.

Private Dancer: Tina Turner’s Groundbreaking Return To The Public Eye

In Depth

Private Dancer: Tina Turner’s Groundbreaking Return To The Public Eye

Reinventing Tina Turner as a feisty rock goddess, the ‘Private Dancer’ album marked her triumphant return from the wilderness.

How Seal’s Debut Album Made A Splash In British R&B

In Depth

How Seal’s Debut Album Made A Splash In British R&B

Released in 1991, Seal’s debut album took the pop world by storm, yielding five hits and introducing a new voice in British soul music.

Move On Up: Why 60s And 70s Black Music Will “Resonate Through Time”

Interviews

Move On Up: Why 60s And 70s Black Music Will “Resonate Through Time”

‘Knowing what’s happening today,’ Lalah Hathaway tells Dig!, the socio-political soul music of the 70s ‘could have been written last week’.

Best Matt Monro Songs: 20 Greats From The UK’s King Of Easy Listening

List & Guides

Best Matt Monro Songs: 20 Greats From The UK’s King Of Easy Listening

The best Matt Monro songs reflect the timeless brilliance of a singer whose voice was tailor-made for articulating the ups and downs of love.