Why Charles Bradley's Success Is 'Bittersweet'

Life hasn't been easy for Charles Bradley. Watching the 2012 documentary, The Soul Of America, you see a man desperately wanting to provide for his mother, to get out of his apartment in the dangerous Brooklyn projects and to get by as a performing artist.

For years he'd work odd jobs before going into bars at night to perform as James Brown impersonator Black Velvet. Eventually, he met Daptone Records' Gabriel Roth and, aged 62 in 2011, released his debut record, No Time For Dreaming. A critical hit it saw Bradley traverse the globe performing his impassioned brand of deep soul.

“I love what I'm doing, but it is bittersweet,” he admits when asked how he's enjoying success. “I've been wanting this dream and wanting this chance for a long time and at the age of 62, somebody finally found me and gave me a chance. If it happened a long time ago there would be more love in the world, because what I give out is nothing but love.”

Asked whether success lives up to his expectations, Bradley begins what will become a theme throughout our conversation: the need to be honest and true.

“I tell you, the music road is a hard road, it's not all about the glitz and glamours and how you look on stage. You got to learn to keep your health up, your integrity, you got to be honest with your spirit and you got to go out there and give it from the heart.”

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