Charlie Scopoletti defines his music as “Perspective Music”. A two-time cancer survivor, his debut album “Truth” draws from the unique perspective of someone who's faced and overcome adversity. With his artistic blend of passionate lyricism, melodic hooks, and intense approach to acoustic guitar playing, his music will take you places only you can go.
Scopoletti was only ten when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, a debilitating disease of the lymphatic system. Looking back on the months spent in treatment, Scopoletti remembers how the painful process of recovery started his life in a new direction. As chance would have it, Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in NYC, where Scopoletti underwent treatment, provided its patients with instruments for recreational therapy. The instruments fascinated Scopoletti, who tried every instrument the hospital provided, even a drum set reportedly donated by Madonna. Scopoletti’s obsession with music continued through his recovery and remained with him through his adolescence into adulthood. Even today Scopoletti says: “If you put any instrument in front of me I’ll find some way to get a noise out of it.”
Scopoletti recovered from his fight with Hodgkin’s and eventually rejoined the other kids at school where he found a home for his music. He joined band, choir, musicals and any other activity that would give him license to try something new. With a dedicated passion for singing, Scopoletti was driven to excel as an artist. At age 16, Scopoletti was given his first electric guitar and at 18, his first acoustic. From that point on he tried to learn as much about the guitar and his voice as he could, imitating the performances of his favorites and teaching himself chords and most importantly, songwriting.
Even though Scopoletti had a childhood fascination with music, through high school, music took a back seat to sports. Scopoletti played baseball, football, soccer, but his number one joy was basketball. He practiced night and day with the hopes of winning a coveted scholarship to play for a college team. Scopoletti was offered many small scholarships but decided to go to Ohio University. While in the process of training for basketball tryouts Scopoletti suffered a horrible accident that left him with a badly broken leg. While his leg was healing, Scopoletti spent day after day playing his guitar, and singing, writing and creating songs. Gradually music became his main focus.
Scopoletti never took any serious music lessons, but his innate talent for music allowed him to imitate anything he heard. Scopoletti’s biggest education came when he would sneak into a local bar on Thursday nights to watch one of his favorite local musicians. Scopoletti would go home and imitate everything he watched the man do, learning new techniques. He began performing solo acoustic shows weekly and also went through several different bands over the years singing and playing guitar and even playing drums on occasion. He’s a believer in live performances and practicing his art in front of an audience. With that belief, Scopoletti has been gigging steadily through all stages of his career.
In late 2004, Scopoletti decided to make his musical compositions come to life, and under the band name CSB, released his first full-length album entitled “Circles” on Rock Ridge Records. Scopoletti’s intimate songwriting and brilliant compositions had the ability to reach audiences by touching on topics that everyone can relate to- love, loss, and new possibilities. CSB’s songs received airplay across the country and the band toured to support the new release. They performed regularly in the NYC Music Scene, at countless venues in the U.S, and in Italy, Portugal, Spain, the islands of St. Bart’s, St Martin and Aruba. In 2009, CSB opened for alternative rockers Better Than Ezra as part of the Alive at Five outdoor summer series at Columbus Park in Stamford, CT.
Although Scopoletti achieved some success with CSB for several years, in 2010 he decided to return to his roots as a singer/songwriter in order to cultivate his career and further explore his abilities as an artist. With a fresh outlook and perspective on life, Scopoletti began creating a compilation of songs that would serve as the catalyst for several promising opportunities. Through a mutual friend, Scopoletti met Vanessa Ferrer of InFocus Artist Management. The two began discussions on how to achieve Scopoletti’s goals and a management agreement was signed soon after. As part of their strategy, they decided to approach Hal Winer, Grammy nominated sound engineer and proprietor of Bicoastal Music (Rob Thomas, Allan Toussaint, Robert Randolph) about the possibility of recording in his studio. After several “auditions”, Winer agreed to take on the project and enlisted Clifford Carter (James Taylor, Art Garfunkel, Jewel, Black Crowes) as co–producer and music director of the project. Pre-production work was complete by late 2010 and the recording process began. With Scopoletti on vocals and acoustic guitar and Clifford Carter on keys, Joe Bonadio (Sting, Martin Sexton, Shawn Colvin) on drums and percussion. Mike Visceglia (Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Avril Lavigne) on bass and Grooveline Horns (Jason Mraz) were brought in to round out the sound.
Scopoletti’s highly anticipated debut solo album "Truth" is now complete and was released on Tuesday January 31st 2012.
Album Credits:
ALL SONGS WRITTEN BY CHARLIE SCOPOLETTI
Executive Producer-Vanessa Ferrer
Produced By Hal Winer & Clifford Carter
Co-Produced By Charlie Scopoletti
Co-Vocal Producer-Wendy Parr (Forecast, Heaven Can Wait, Marry Me)
Vocals & Acoustic Guitar - Charlie Scopoletti
Piano, Keys, B3, Strings & Backing Vocals for Heaven Can Wait- Clifford Carter
Bass - Mike Visceglia
Drums & Percussion - Joe Bonadio
Electric Guitar - Marc Shulman (Handprints, Forecast, Beg or Borrow, Truth)
Background Vocals - Tanya Michelle Smith (Forecast, Beg or Borrow, Heaven Can Wait, Feel Some More,)
Horns-Grooveline Horns (Featured on Feel Some More)
Music Direction, Song & String Arrangements - Clifford Carter
Strings recorded by Clifford Carter at Secret Road Studios, Briarcliff Manor, NY
Recorded and Mixed by Hal Winer at BiCoastal Music, Ossining, NY
Mastered by Tom Durack-www.tomdurack.net
Photography- Front Cover-Barry Morgenstein
Back Cover-The Shaltzes
Album Concept/Art Direction-Charlie Scopoletti
Graphic Design-Clint English (East Coast EFX)
Management –Vanessa Ferrer (InFocus Artist Management)
©2011 Charlie Scopoletti Music LLC DemandIt! Records White Plains NY
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