Singer Charlie Landsborough talks to Wirral News about his latest album, why he shuns fancy hotels and the son who is following in his footsteps

Mar 21 2012 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

WHEREVER Charlie Landsborough goes in the world, there’s one thing he wants people to know.

“I’m a Birkenhead lad,” the country and folk singer smiles.

“There’s no chance of me moving. I love where I come from and I always make it known.

“I get introduced as Charlie Landsborough from Liverpool. I do love Liverpool but I say “I’m not – I’m from Birkenhead!”.

The former teacher has sold over a million albums since he shot to fame after an appearance on Irish television in 1995.

Last November he was inducted into the British Country Music Hall Of Fame on his 70th birthday.

He tours twice a year and he’s back on the road until April to mark the release of his latest album, Destination.

Mostly self-penned, it marks a return to Charlie’s songwriting roots after his last album featured covers of great love songs.

The album, a mix of up-tempo country tunes and his trademark ballads, includes backing vocals from Yazz – best known for her number one hit The Only Way Is Up.

Charlie said: “It’s great to be back to doing my own stuff and taking it on the road.

“I loved doing the last album because there’s far greater writers than me, but as a songwriter you always want to put your own songs out there. This time the record label gave me free rein.

“I wrote and picked the songs then presented them with the finished album.

“It’s great that they have that faith in me.”

When Day and Night spoke to Charlie he was about to leave for Glasgow for the fourth of 16 dates on his current tour.

Life on the road is a family affair – the down-to-earth musician travels with his wife and son, staying in a motorhome instead of glitzy hotels.

“It means we can stop for a fry-up at two in the morning if we want to,” he laughs.

“Sometimes we were arriving at hotels at 3.30 in the morning and they were throwing us out at 10.30 the next day.

“It means we can stay in caravan parks and see places we’d otherwise never visit.

“I’ve got a smashing crowd around me and my band are friends as well as being part of the tour.”

Son Jamie, 34, is following in his father’s footsteps and is carving out his own musical career.

Modest Charlie, known for his flowing white locks and beard, said: “He’s a far better guitarist than me and he’s got his own distinctive style.

“He looks a bit different than me though – he hasn’t got a hair on his head!”

After his tour finishes proud grandfather Charlie is taking an extended summer break to spend time with his five grandchildren and record new songs in Spain.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to it.

‘‘I’ll be doing a bit of writing and seeing the grandchildren. I miss them when I’m on tour. Two are here, there’s two in Scotland and one in the south.

“So it’s going to be a real mix of accents when they’re older.”

Charlie’s closest tour dates to Wirral are Llandudno on March 28 and Southport on April 1.