Charlie Nottingham

I’ve been singing ever since I could talk, in fact as far back as I can remember. Both my Uncles were playing Country Music in bars and would stand me on a chair so I could reach the microphone. I also sang once on radio station WSOY in Decatur, Il. and received fan mail .

I grew up listening to Hank Williams, Lefty Frizzell, and Webb Pierce. Hank was my idol and I had the pleasure of being introduced to him at a concert in Decatur, Il. When Marty Roberts took me back stage and I talked with him.

When I was twelve I won an amatuer contest. First Prize was ten dollars and a chance to sing on WDZ Radio in Decatur, Il. With Marty Roberts on Marty’s Party, again I started getting a lot of fan mail and Marty started having me on the show every Saturday morning. He also made me part of his band and I sang with him until I was Fifteen. At that time Marty went to Cincinnati, Ohio and asked my Dad if he could take me to cut a record but Dad wouldn’t let me go, but Marty became the number 1 disc jockey at that time. I stayed in Decatur, Il. And started singing with a small local band in the bars.

As I entered my twenties, I sang with my Uncle Sam Mayberry who at one time had been Little Jimmy Dickens' lead guitar player when Jimmy was on the Louisiana Hayride. Later I moved to Phoenix, AZ. Where I also played in bars. I moved back to Decatur, Il. In the Sixties, joined a band called The Country Jesters. We played on radio station WHOW in Clinton, Il. Every Saturday morning for two years and the show was hosted by Uncle Johnny Barton. We also played two to three nights a week in different bars.

Later I went to Hendersonville, Tenn. To cut a Record with Bill Murray and did Three Songs.

Since then I stopped singing in bars and instead began singing in Country Opry Shows around the State. Recently my son started putting some of my music on the internet. He said he wanted other people to hear me and see if Traditional Country Music is still wanted.