The name Landsborough comes from the old French for ‘fort’, meaning ‘protection’ or ‘strong ‘and it’s a interesting association for a man so gentle in his nature, however, one can sense he has a great inner strength from his faith and that he also possesses a protective nature, evidenced by the satisfaction he gets from hearing how his music gives comfort and solace to his fans.
The day I call Charlie his lovely wife Thelma answers the phone, every bit sounding the loveable liverpudlian like Charlie, Thelma left County Roscommon, Ireland as a mere baby. The ‘better half’ of the power couple tells me Charlie has gone out, believing his interviews are over for the day, but she tells me to ring back in half an hour.
When I do ring back after the half hour has elapsed Charlie is not fussed at all by the unexpected interview and tells me he is delighted he’ll be returning to Tasmania, one of his favourite places, with its fantastic scenery, the lovely venues he will perform at, and most of all the great support of his friends as he is loath to call them just fans. He tells me that when he arrives at the airport he is warmly welcomed by these friends with their banners held high.
Charlie has got travelling and visiting new places in his blood, his brothers were all sailors in the merchant navy and it left an impression him, their photos and reminisces from far flung places including Australia would invoke his imagination.
As well as visiting new places and meeting people, animals have also played an important part in Charlie’s life, there was a menagerie when he was growing up including ducks, kittens, dogs and even a monkey.
Nowadays Charlie is known for his self-penned ballads and country songs but when starting out he would play in a rock band in pubs and that would include everything from blues to Irish folk songs to rock and roll.
It was a song ‘What colour is the wind’ explaining how a sightless child experiences the things that most people take for granted that became a hit when radio stations in Ireland started to play it. The song endeared Charlie to the Irish public and he would go on to perform successfully there as well as holiday there every year.
Charlie would form a friendship with one half of Irish duo Foster and Allen. It was from Tony Allen that Charlie gained his first conception of the Australian character. Charlie was interested in learning about Australian audiences. Tony told him they are like the Irish and are laid back not taking things too seriously. Charlie decided to adopt that calm Aussie saying ‘no worries mate’.
Charlie is continually delighted by the comfort, solace and lift his songs can give people, which he discovers at the meet and greet at the end of each show. A humble man Charlie loves communicating with people and finds music and his friend a blessing.
Asked who he would like to work with if given the chance he opts for Dolly Parton who he believes is a humble woman and of course he wouldn’t mind working with his twin Willie Nelson!
I ask Charlie if there is something quirky he can tell us about his personality and he cites a mild case of OCD that sometimes encourages him to adjust an askew table placemat.
In many of his fans estimations Charlie is perhaps considered to have the Obsessive compulsive demonstration of being one of the nicest, most caring gentleman you could possibly meet.
Charlie is a Mersey man from Liverpool and due to that close connection to one of the most famous bands in the world is aiming to bring out a tribute album of Beatles covers soon.
You can see Charlie at the following venues:
Burnie Theatre Tuesday 28th May
Country Club Launceston Wednesday 29th May
Wrest Point Hobart Thursday 30th May
Paula Xiberras
