About Vince Charming
Vince Charming is one of the Bay Area’s premier singer-songwriters who has been delighting California audiences for decades. He has reformed Vince Charming Band featuring holdover Rick King on drums, bassist Ricky Fishman, and Steve Lussie on mandolin and lead guitar. Together they play a unique brand of Americana that blends elements of classic country, rock, bluegrass, and folk. He can play in a variety of settings as a headliner or opening act and as a duo, trio, or full band. He features tracks from his new album, brand new originals, songs from the depths of his career and/or choice covers ranging from Johnny Cash to the Band, and Bob Dylan focusing on the best of singer songwriters. The band is already making its mark with gigs in a variety of venues including Rigger’s Loft in Richmond, Winter’s Tavern in Pacifica, Hotel Utah in SF, the Loma Mar Store, and the Bistro in Hayward with more gigs to come all over Northern California!
History
As a leader, bassist, and songwriter for the ‘Lektrik Submarine, Vince helped pioneer the neo-psychedelic wave that hit Berkeley in 1983. In 1985 he formed and led the Coffee Achievers whose original and high-energy blend of Rock, R&B, Reggae, and Be-bop thrilled Bay Area audiences. In that same year he debuted his original rock opera, The Artist written under the supervision of renowned poet and author, Ismail Reed. In the nineties Vince reinvented himself as an acoustic guitar playing singer-songwriter and for a brief time relocated to Southern California.
In the Bay Area Charming has appeared in such varied venues as the Hotel Utah, Jupiter, Last Day Saloon, Ireland’s 32, the Starry Plough, Ashkenaz, the Bistro in Hayward, Johnny Foleys, the San Gregorio General Store, the Plough & Stars, Peri’s Silver Dollar, Kensington Circus Pub, and the Marin Brewing Company. In early 2005 he released a solo EP, Five Reel Film. Described as “aural cinema”, this work presents five vintage Charming originals. He formed the New Americans in 2005 which played a tasty blend of music that redefined Americana. So Many Me’s was his first full-length solo CD and was released in 2008. Vince released his third solo CD, Everything I Know About Love in, 2013. It contained14 original songs representing 21st Century Americana.
Vince Charming Band was formed to promote the album and performed all over Northern California before breaking up five years later. They then went into the studio to record his latest, Horseshoes and Hand Grenades released in late 2022. Featuring the singles “Oaklandish” and “Not Your Girlfriend Anymore” with Elliott Peck, the album is a triumph of songwriting and production. With 2023 Vince launched a revamped Vince Charming Band to perform live all over Northern California and promote the new album. Crowd response from recent performances has been filled with praise as the band gains new fans with every show!
The All New Vince Charming Band
Rick King is an amazing drummer from Berkeley, California. His drumming is the centerpiece of Vince’s latest album, “Horseshoes and Hand Grenades.”
Ricky Fishman is a fantastic bassist from New York City. He has performed in a variety of bands all over the country for several decades.
Steve Lussie is a multi-instrumentalist who has performed in a variety of bands all over the country. If it has strings, Steve can play it!