Charlie Wilson is enjoying the highest album debut of his 35-year career —- and yes, that includes his cowboy-hats-and-fringed-outfit era with his brothers in the Gap Band. His doctors have pronounced him free of prostate cancer. And not surprisingly, reached in Los Angeles, he sounds as buoyant as that hiccup-like laugh that was once his signature.
"I'm so excited," begins the R&B vocalist, whose first single from his recent No. 1 CD "Uncle Charlie," titled "There Goes My Baby," just ended its seven-week reign atop Billboard's Hot Adult R&B Airplay listing, and is now at No. 2. "A lot of hard work and dedication —- and the right record, of course —- has just made things wonderful right now for me. . . . And being cancer-free? Come on, I'm floating."
Right into Atlanta this weekend, in fact, where he will join fellow longtime soul man Bobby Womack and established contemporary R&B singer Joe at the Atlanta Civic Center.
Before the show, Wilson obliged us with his Top 5 Picks for a Mother's Day mixtape:
> "Outstanding," The Gap Band. "One of many great adjectives you could use to describe moms. And if I may humbly add," he said with that hiccup laugh, "not too bad of a song."
> "Yearning for Your Love," The Gap Band. "Isn't that what we're all always looking for —- a mother's love, affection and approval?"
> "Turn Off the Lights," Teddy Pendergrass. "Hey, if we're talking about a mom that still likes to get her groove on, that's a good one. [That laugh again.] Might make her a mom again."
> "Back at One," Brian McKnight. "I just love the melody of that one. [Starts singing] 'One, you're like a dream come true . . . .' "
> "Without You," Charlie Wilson. "A personal choice —- not just because it's my song, but because I lost my mother. Songs like that and [The Spinners'] 'Sadie' just remind you to appreciate your moms and grandmoms while they're here. Because, man, it hurts when they're gone."
In concert
Bobby Womack, Charlie Wilson and Joe.
Doors open at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Atlanta Civic Center, 395 Piedmont Ave. Tickets are $66, $76 at Ticketmaster, 404-249-6400 or www.ticketmaster.com.
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