Lead Guitar, Background Vocals

Brian Stewart

B. Charlie Stewart was born in Hollywood, California, a child of the sixties. He grew up being influenced by the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix. He started playing acoustic guitar at age of nine, and moved to electric at the age of fourteen. At fifteen he began to be instructed by Randy Rhodes, guitarist for “Quiet Riot.” At the age of nineteen he landed his first record deal with the band “Vision” with management by George St. John, who managed Buddy Miles during the Jimi Hendrix “Band of Gypsies” era, and continued with him throughout the 1970’s.

He then joined the band “Felix and the Katz” on MCA, and toured with bands like, “Gang of 4”, Lords of the New Church”, Santana and Rod Stewart, and are known throughout Latin America for the first Latin American Budweiser Commercials. During this time Charlie was constantly honing his song writing craft, and penned a song for national Fox Television and ex-dodger Rick Monday that ran for three years. Then Charlie began work on his first solo record under the alias “Harley Krishna.” That record features sizzling melodic classic rock styles that he grew up listening to and enlisted the talents of Bill Champlin of the “Sons of Champlin”, and the band “Chicago” on Hammond, and background vocals, and also Jason Scheff of the band “Chicago.” Five songs from this record were played 100+ times on national television. Charlie then focused his efforts on his second “Harley Krishna” record titled “Believe for Real” where he enlisted producer Ted Greenburg who won two Grammys for producing and engineering the motion picture soundtrack for the highly acclaimed film “Standing in the Shadows of Motown.” This record was recorded entirely at “Cello Recording Studios where the Beach Boys did “Pet Sounds”, and where artists as diverse as Tom Petty to the Rolling Stones have recorded. Producer engineer Joe Chicorell engineered, as well as Eric Sarafin, and Ted Greenburg. Among his fans, Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers said “this is one of my favorite records”, and Bill Champion was quoted “Charlie is one of my favorite guitar players.” Charlie then secured a distribution and promotion deal on Universal which can be heard at www.harleykrishna.com.

Charlie being a good friend and fan of Michael Benfield, had wanted to collaborate for many years, but the timing was never right until Michael came up with the idea for the “Gypsy Saddletramps.” Charlie and Michael had been going down to see Charlie’s good friend Mitch Perry when he was in town between gigs at the Cat Club in Hollywood. That’s when Michael got the idea for a hopped up hickabilly “Johnny Cash” meets “Rader Love” band and decided to enlist Charlie and Mitch for a flaming chicken pickin’ dual guitar gunslinger western rockabilly band, and called them in for a session. Charlie and Mitch decided they liked it so much the agreed with Michael Benfield to form the “Gypsy Saddletramps.” Things fell into place like magic with Stewart at the helm producing the first single “Walk on Down the Road” and “Lost Highway Again.” At that time some very talented musicians came out of the woodwork to offer their services like, bass player and gold record producer Dusty Wakeman, he also enlisted Tony Braunigal the highly sought after studio and touring drummer, and Grammy winning producer, and engineer Les Cooper for tracking. Acclaimed producer John Porter offered his services to mix these first two cuts after taking a liking to what he heard.

SO KICK UP YOUR HEELS. DUST OFF YOUR HAT. GET READY TO RIDE ON THE ROAD RIPPIN, TIRE BURNING, AND HOT ROD HICKABILLY THROWDOWN.

Find out more about B.Charlie Stewart at www.harleykrishna.com