Charlie Scopoletti

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Charlie Scopoletti is proof that musicians have influence that can lead to real impact. Through his music and partnered fundraising initiatives he has helped raise over $1,000,000 for charities and has been recognized for his selfless commitment to helping others, with a Certificate of Appreciation by Westchester NY County Executive, Awarded News 12 Hometown Hero, Honoree for The One Hundred and a Proclamation naming March 7th “Charlie Scopoletti Day” by the Mayor of Port Chester NY. A two-time cancer survivor, his music draws from the unique perspective of someone who's faced and overcome adversity. His music speaks stories of the human condition, creating a combination of inspiring songwriting and thought-provoking lyrics. Charlie strives each day to help inspire, spread hope and make positive change to enhance people’s lives.

Scopoletti was only ten when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, a debilitating disease of the lymphatic system. Looking back on the months spent in treatment, Scopoletti remembers how the painful process of recovery started his life in a new direction. As chance would have it, Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in NYC, where Scopoletti underwent treatment, provided its patients with instruments for recreational therapy. The instruments fascinated Scopoletti, who tried every instrument the hospital provided, even a drum set reportedly donated by Madonna. Scopoletti’s obsession with music continued through his recovery and remained with him through his adolescence into adulthood. Even today Scopoletti says: “If you put any instrument in front of me I’ll find some way to get a noise out of it.”

Scopoletti recovered from his fight with Hodgkin’s and eventually rejoined the other kids at school where he found a home for his music.  He joined the band, choir, musicals and any other activity that would give him license to try something new. With a dedicated passion for singing, Scopoletti was driven to excel as an artist. At age 16, Scopoletti was given his first electric guitar and at 18, his first acoustic. From that point on he tried to learn as much about the guitar and his voice as he could, imitating the performances of his favorites and teaching himself chords and most importantly, songwriting.

Even though Scopoletti had a childhood fascination with music, through high school, music took a back seat to sports. Scopoletti played baseball, football, soccer, but his number one joy was basketball. He practiced night and day with the hopes of winning a coveted scholarship to play for a college team. Scopoletti was offered many small scholarships but decided to go to Ohio University. While in the process of training for basketball tryouts Scopoletti suffered a horrible accident that left him with a badly broken leg. While his leg was healing, Scopoletti spent day after day playing his guitar, and singing, writing and creating songs. Gradually music became his main focus. Scopoletti never took any serious music lessons, but his innate talent for music allowed him to imitate anything he heard. 

Scopoletti’s biggest education came when he would sneak into a local bar on Thursday nights to watch one of his favorite local musicians. Scopoletti would go home and imitate everything he watched the man do, learning new techniques.  He began performing solo acoustic shows weekly and also went through several different bands over the years singing and playing guitar and even playing drums on occasion.  He’s a believer in live performances and practicing his art in front of an audience. With that belief, Scopoletti has been gigging steadily through all stages of his career.

In late 2004, Scopoletti decided to make his musical compositions come to life, and under the band name CSB, released his first full-length album entitled “Circles” on Rock Ridge Records.  Scopoletti’s intimate songwriting and brilliant compositions had the ability to reach audiences by touching on topics that everyone can relate to- love, loss, and new possibilities.  CSB’s songs received airplay across the country and the band toured to support the new release.  They performed regularly in the NYC Music Scene, at countless venues in the U.S, and in Italy, Portugal, Spain, the islands of St. Bart’s, St Martin and Aruba.

Unfortunately, in 2006 touring came to a halt when Charlie was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer. Charlie being no stranger to adversity did not let this take over his life. Instead, it motivated him to get well and get back to doing what he loves to do and that is playing music.

In 2009, CSB opened for alternative rockers Better Than Ezra as part of the Alive at Five outdoor summer series at Columbus Park in Stamford, CT. Although Scopoletti achieved some success with CSB for several years, in 2010 he decided to return to his roots as a singer/songwriter in order to cultivate his career and further explore his abilities as an artist. With a fresh outlook and perspective on life, Scopoletti began creating a compilation of songs that would serve as the catalyst for several promising opportunities.

One of those opportunities was working with Hal Winer, Grammy-nominated sound engineer and proprietor of Bicoastal Music (Rob Thomas, Allan Toussaint, Robert Randolph) about the possibility of recording in his studio. After several “auditions”, Winer agreed to take on the project and enlisted Clifford Carter (James Taylor, Art Garfunkel, Jewel, Black Crowes) as co-producer and music director of the project. Pre-production work was complete by late 2010 and the recording process began. With Scopoletti on vocals and acoustic guitar, Clifford Carter on keys, Joe Bonadio (Sting, Martin Sexton, Shawn Colvin) on percussion, Mike Visceglia (Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Avril Lavigne) on bass and the Grooveline Horns (Jason Mraz) were brought in who were featured on the high-energy track “Feel Some More”.

Scopoletti’s highly anticipated debut solo album "Truth" was complete and he toured the country to support the album’s release. On March 7th, 2013, Charlie lived out a lifelong dream of his, performing at the legendary Capitol Theatre in Port Chester NY for his “Truth Concert & Charity Event”. Charlie put together a 12-piece band and was the first local artist to perform on the stage where Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Rolling Stones and many other legends have performed. The concert also benefited two worthy causes: Imerman Angels, and the Natalia Crespo Eirin Foundation.

The following year Charlie released his EP “Today Is The Day" that was recorded with Oscar-winning, Grammy and Emmy nominated Producer/Engineer/Mixer, Robert L. Smith of Defy Recordings. One of the songs called "This Wish" was written for Make-A-Wish® Connecticut, it is a tribute to the foundation and all the Wish Kids around the world. Charlie was asked to write a song and perform it at their annual Evening of Wishes Gala at Mohegan Sun. The gala celebrated 5-year-old Sierra who had a life-threatening condition.

On June 27th, 2014 for the second year, Charlie put together a charity concert at The Capitol Theatre and Co-headlined with Tony and Grammy Award Winner, Duncan Sheik. The concert benefited Make-A-Wish Connecticut and Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley.

In 2015, Charlie was asked to sing his very special song "Perfect Day" at the 13th Dream & Promise Gala in NYC, where he opened up for Richard Marx, who is one of Charlie's writing inspirations with 30 million albums sold and a total of 14 No. 1 singles.

In the months after, Charlie had the honor of being asked to write a song specifically for the Children's Brain Tumor Foundation, and perform it at their 14th Annual Dream & Promise Gala. The uplifting song is called "Light that Shines". He was also a featured speaker sharing his cancer story, the inspiration behind the song and the everlasting effect his best friend (Natalia Crespo Eirin) has on his life to over 800 people at the Gala at Cipriani Wall Street, NYC.  

The night raised nearly $700,000 to fund support programs for brain tumor survivors, family members and caregivers.

In 2017, Charlie had the amazing opportunity to open up for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees, Grammy Winners and one of the greatest musical artists of all time…Steely Dan who headlined the 7th consecutive Greenwich Town Party on Saturday, May 27, 2017 at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park 

Charlie Scopoletti & The Truth (with Jonny Giamara (Drums), Tony Tino (Bass), Achille Pete (Electric Guitar) Todd Caldwell (Keys), & Neal Spitzer (Sax) performed on the Town Stage to a Sold Out crowd just prior to Steely Dan on the Main Stage. Also on the bill was was the soulful and powerful Recording Academy / Grammy-Winning Alabama Shakes, New Orleans-famed Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Texas blues rocker Carolyn Wonderland. 

Charlie debuted his country songs opening for Charles “Chip” Esten, best known as lead guitarist Deacon Claybourne on the TV show “Nashville” on CMT at the Mountain Dew-Country and Bluegrass Series. 

Charlie and his band returned to the Greenwich Town Party 2018 Stage to open up for 18 time Grammy Winner, three-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and one of the best-known guitarists of all time Eric Clapton. A show that sold out in 3 minutes. Also on the bill was Tedeschi Trucks Band, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Trout Steak Revival. 

In 2019 Charlie was nominated as a Man of the Year candidate for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Man & Woman of the Year where he and the other candidates raised nearly $503,000 to help support LLS's fight against blood cancer. 

As of recent Charlie has taken all of his creative abilities and poured them into a special environmental documentary that he Filmed, Co-Directed, Produced, Edited and Wrote the theme song for called, "The Last Line".

The Last Line focuses on a series of economic, farming and transportation issues facing our country. A local community shines a light on a new regional transportation system that utilizes cutting edge Hybrid and EV technology on their waterways, to deliver products without environmental impact or emissions. 

Harbor Harvest & First Harvest Navigation are harnessing the connection between local farmers, businesses and the consumer, with the goal to help our planet achieve a sustainable future. 

This mission is one that we can all get behind and believe in. You can watch the trailer on the YouTube channel.

As Charlie continues to grow as an artist and as a person, one thing is for certain, he is touching people’s hearts and here to make a difference one song, one show and one film at a time.