Blues guitarist Michael Charles headlines CASA’s ‘Picnic for a Purpose’

Andrew S. Hughes, South Bend Tribune
·1 min read
Australian-born guitarist and Chicago Blues Hall of Fame inductee Michael Charles headlines Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children of Southwest Michigan's third annual “Picnic for a Purpose” on Sept. 10, 2023, at The Morris Estate in Niles.
Australian-born guitarist and Chicago Blues Hall of Fame inductee Michael Charles headlines Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children of Southwest Michigan's third annual “Picnic for a Purpose” on Sept. 10, 2023, at The Morris Estate in Niles.

NILES — Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children of Southwest Michigan holds its third annual “Picnic for a Purpose” from noon to 3 p.m. Sept. 10 at The Morris Estate, 1560 Morris Drive.

Australian-born guitarist and Chicago Blues Hall of Fame inductee Michael Charles headlines the fundraiser with his band.

Charles began his career in Australia more than 50 years ago and moved to Chicago in 1990 after performing several times at Buddy Guy’s Legends.

Nov. 23, 2017: Blues guitarist Michael Charles amazed by his own changes

He has released 35 albums, including a double CD 30-year anthology released in 2014 and the live CD “Concert at the Nest,” released in the winter of 2015.

A documentary film, “All I Really Know from A to Z,” was released in 2019.

More recently, Charles released “The Early Years," a compilation of the complete 45 r.p.m. singles released from 1984 to 1988 by Charles in Australia.

Also in 2020, Charles released “19,” a downloadable album of all the “Alone and Acoustic” songs recorded during the pandemic. In August 2021 and partially sponsored by the Illinois Arts Council Association, he released a two-CD and 1-DVD box set chronicling the entire pandemic experience from the recording studio.

Last year, he released the singles of “Key To The Highway” and Charles’ new original song, “Silenced.”

Australian-born guitarist and Chicago Blues Hall of Fame inductee Michael Charles headlines the Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children of Southwest Michigan's third annual “Picnic for a Purpose” on Sept. 10, 2023, at The Morris Estate in Niles.
Australian-born guitarist and Chicago Blues Hall of Fame inductee Michael Charles headlines the Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children of Southwest Michigan's third annual “Picnic for a Purpose” on Sept. 10, 2023, at The Morris Estate in Niles.

CASA of Southwest Michigan works with and advocates for abused children placed in foster care in Berrien and St. Joseph counties.

The event also includes a casual brunch.

Tickets are $50.

For more information, call 269-934-3707 or visit casaswmi.org.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: CASA of Southwest Michigan holds fundraiser with blues guitarist