I am Robert, son of Charlie, doing what I can to share his legacy, which included a profound curiosity about a lot of things, and a real interest in music.

If you listen to CHARLIE’S PLACE, streaming on KXCR.net, or if you are a fan of THE BEST OF SWING, also from KXCR-FM Florence Oregon, then you have already met Dad ‘the DJ’, and his incredible collection of records covering the middle years of the last century, generally the 1930s through the 1950s at the core.

What you may or may not know is his work as a Writer, and as I get this site put together you will eventually be able to read a few of the books he wrote over the years, and listen to his music as well.

Stay Tuned!

A bit about my Dad

             Born in 1928, Dad’s life story could read like a novel, steeped in rich adventures and experiences, a journey through diverse landscapes, geographically and professionally.

            Following an Army hitch in Post-War Japan he transitioned from roles in construction to being a safety consultant, a counselor to the developmentally disabled, and finally an ordained chaplain, while also earning both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, weaving these varied experiences into his writings.

            He produced many essays and short articles throughout his adult life, but it was not until age 82 that his first book was published, a collection of poetry where the beauty of nature meets the brevity of human experience in the form of Haiku.

            He has since added several more, including more volumes of Haiku poetry, several collections of essays and short stories, and novels based on real incidents from his eventful life, a blend of fact and fiction offering readers a unique window into the past century’s most pivotal moments and the everyday stories of those who lived them.

            In addition to his literary endeavors, Dad’s passion for the music of Swing and Jazz led him to hosting both The Best Of Swing and Charlie’s Place, his own radio programs centered around his vast music collection, in a way following in my own footsteps, as I have been in radio for many years.

In a strange case of the parent following the child following the parent, after his shows went live the station offered me a chance to add my own works, leading to Dad and I both having a pair of shows on the same radio station at the same time, covering several different styles of music!

Although he passed a few years ago, in part due to complications from cancer, his contributions to the world around him live on, through his shows which are still broadcast, his books as I bring them to publication, and of course the memories of those he touched in his nine-plus decades on this plane.

I hope you will join this journey with me.

Welcome, to Charlie’s Place.