10 Things You Should Know About Charles Perry

BET Music Matters future star to perform on BET Awards '12!

Soul Man - Charles Perry, the spine-tingling vocalist, may be a Brooklyn native, but he claims he was not born on Earth but rather on Mars in a small town called "Soultron."

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Soul Man - Charles Perry, the spine-tingling vocalist, may be a Brooklyn native, but he claims he was not born on Earth but rather on Mars in a small town called "Soultron."

Getting the Spirit - At the young age of just five, Perry began singing in church, but he says he would also sing anywehre that would allow. According to Examiner.com, Perry says, “The church was very, very vital. It started me singing at an early age. I started performing in churches, community centers and for anybody who would want to hear me. I sang in backyards, in front of barbershops, standing on top of my grandmother’s coffee table singing for her company until they got sick of me.” His commitment is paying off. (Photo: John Ricard/BET)

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Getting the Spirit - At the young age of just five, Perry began singing in church, but he says he would also sing anywehre that would allow. According to Examiner.com, Perry says, “The church was very, very vital. It started me singing at an early age. I started performing in churches, community centers and for anybody who would want to hear me. I sang in backyards, in front of barbershops, standing on top of my grandmother’s coffee table singing for her company until they got sick of me.” His commitment is paying off. (Photo: John Ricard/BET)

Charles Perry - Charles Perry performing at BET's Music Matters Showcase. May 2011. (Photo: J. Shotti)

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Making the Cut - Getting his big break came via musical theater, when Perry became the youngest actor to earn a role in the longest-running off-Broadway Black musical Mama, I Want to Sing. Here, Perry sang alongside Grammy-winning greats CeCe Winans and Shirley Caesar.(Photo: Sondra D/BET)

Photo By Photo: J. Shotti

Honorable Mention - A few years later, Perry appeared in the sequel to Mama, Born to Sing. Here, he sharpened his technique alongside vocal powerhouses Lisa Fischer and Tonya Blount. In 1996, the New York Times had this to say about Perry's performance: "The 15-member Reach Ensemble creates plenty of on-stage energy just standing on rows of fluorescent-lighted stairs singing and stomping their way through the songs. And the depth of talent in that chorus is made clear whenever one of the singers is given a solo turn, for example, Charles Perry, who does a dead-on imitation of Tina Turner." 

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Honorable Mention - A few years later, Perry appeared in the sequel to Mama, Born to Sing. Here, he sharpened his technique alongside vocal powerhouses Lisa Fischer and Tonya Blount. In 1996, the New York Times had this to say about Perry's performance: "The 15-member Reach Ensemble creates plenty of on-stage energy just standing on rows of fluorescent-lighted stairs singing and stomping their way through the songs. And the depth of talent in that chorus is made clear whenever one of the singers is given a solo turn, for example, Charles Perry, who does a dead-on imitation of Tina Turner." 

The Legends - Perry has had an opportunity to share the stage with some of the greatest voices in music, among them Michael Jackson, whom he sang back-up for at his 25th Anniversary Special, and Whitney Houston.(Photo: Sondra D/BET)

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The Legends - Perry has had an opportunity to share the stage with some of the greatest voices in music, among them Michael Jackson, whom he sang back-up for at his 25th Anniversary Special, and Whitney Houston.(Photo: Sondra D/BET)

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Soul to Soul - It's no surprise that Perry connected with one of hip hop's most soulful crews, De La Soul. Perry worked with the group on their 2004 album The Grind and appeared on the hit song "Reality." 

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Soul to Soul - It's no surprise that Perry connected with one of hip hop's most soulful crews, De La Soul. Perry worked with the group on their 2004 album The Grind and appeared on the hit song "Reality." 

Charles Perry - Charles Perry performing his heart out at BET's Music Matters Showcase. May 2011. (Photo: J. Shotti)

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Alter-Ego - Perry has a number of aliases, including: Soul Superhero (the name of one of his singles), Soul Boy, the world's greatest Intergalactic Spacetastic Soul Astronaut and of course, Charlie. (Photo: Sondra D/BET)

Photo By Photo: J. Shotti

Picking Up Steam - Perry recently completed a tour with former Blackstreet frontman Dave Hollister and British rapper-singer Estelle.(Photo: Sondra D/BET)

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Picking Up Steam - Perry recently completed a tour with former Blackstreet frontman Dave Hollister and British rapper-singer Estelle.(Photo: Sondra D/BET)

Charles Perry - Charles Perry performing at BET's Music Matters Showcase. May 2011. (Photo: J. Shotti)

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Ready for Takeoff - Perry's solo record, The Genesis of Soul, debuts July 2012. (Photo: Sondra D/BET)