As the lead singer of brotherly trio The Gap Band, the pioneering group whose late 70’s early 80’s funk still serves as a guiding light for producers and singers, it has been a long road for Charlie Wilson. From the dusty roads of Tulsa, Oklahoma to the neon lights of Cali to being homeless in the city of angels, the brother has seen it all. “I went from riches to rags,” Charlie laughs. “But now it’s time for me to take it back to the stage with ‘Charlie, Last Name Wilson’.” Anyone familiar with the rhythmic repertoire of the Gap band, including classic tracks “You Dropped a Bomb on Me,” “Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me),” and “Yearning for Your Love,” can hear traces of Charlie in the contemporary voices of current R&B royalty. Their music continues to be sampled by hundreds of artists including Madonna, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Ashanti, Will Smith, and George Michael to name a few.