Charles Bradley makes poetry out of tragedy in Changes

At 67, Charles Bradley seems to have lived multiple lives. From a difficult childhood, to being homeless, to almost dying all before he got his first record deal. 

He spent the 90s gigging as a James Brown impersonator. The bigwigs at Daptone Records took notice and gave him his own band . Now, Charles Bradley aka. The Screaming Eagle of Soul has three studio albums to his name.

Today, Bradley joins guest host Candy Palmater in studio to perform from his latest album, Changes, and lay his heart and soul bare. 

The journey from hate to love

He spent his childhood convinced of his mother's meanness. "She had a real bark to her that scared you," he says. 

So he ran away. 

After spending many years on the hard streets, she came to find him. They decided to let the past go and spent the last 12 years of her life getting to know each other again. They grew so close that in the end she told him "you my heart." 

 Her death informed the making of Changes. In it, he transforms the tragedy of his mother's death into poetry.  

WEB EXTRA | If you tuned in to Charles Bradley performing in the show, you haven't heard it all yet! He gifted us with another performance of the song "Ain't It A Sin".