Gregory Charles is undoubtedly an excellent musician and singer. His parents are his idols. He has never seen a man who loves his wife as much as his father. His father taught him that the most important thing in love was to love the other more than yourself. He did everything to make her happy, especially in the last 15 years as she suffered from Alzheimer's.
His father's tenderness and encouragement enabled him to pursue a career. His mother was brave, demanding and a source of inspiration for him. She was his best partner in life. She made it clear to him that life isn't just about music. Gregory cared for his father as much as he cared for his wife. His father was fatally struck by a snow removal vehicle in February 2018 as he left church in west Montreal. He still wonders today whether his father would still be alive. He hadn't driven to church that day like he did every morning.
You were selling pianos at the age of 13.
I went to malls to sell pianos. I have to admit that it was pleasant for two reasons. Firstly, it allowed me to improve my piano technique and secondly, I received a commission for every piano sold.
They would live in Saint-Germain-de-Grantham.
I sang until I started elementary school, and at the age of five I learned to play the organ and piano as well as several other instruments, including the violin and clarinet. I was already playing the organ in church at the age of 5. I then lived in Montreal, Ahuntsic and Côte-des-Neiges.
Were you forced to ignore racial slurs as a child?
Never in Quebec, only as an adult in the United States when they refused me entry to the hotel until they realized I was part of the artist group. In Saint-Germain-de-Grantham my nickname was “little black man,” like all the other young people who had black hair.
Your parents met at Copacabana in Montreal.
My father, Lennox Christopher Charles, was from Trinidad and studied in the United States, while my mother, Pierrette, was from Quebec. My father had decided to spend a day in Montreal, but after meeting my mother, he never returned to the United States.
A difference in size and opinion about the number of children.
My father was 1.80 meters tall and my mother was 1.65 meters tall. My father always walked next to her, at the same time as my mother. The discussion about the number of children was somewhat different. That is, my father came from a family of 17 children whose parents were slaves and wanted 12, but my mother told him that one child was enough.
Her father campaigned for civil rights alongside Pastor Martin Luther King.
Sixty years ago, during Martin Luther King's “I Have a Dream” speech in front of more than 250,000 protesters in Washington, my father was invited to sit on the podium, very close to Pastor King.
You started playing the piano at the age of five.
At the age of seven I won the Canadian competition and at the age of nine I represented Canada on tour in several countries. I played baseball, soccer and especially tennis, not to mention I did ballet.
Your mother wanted to improve your culture.
My mother simply decided to give me cultural lessons at home for a year. We then traveled to Europe for two months to explore museums.
You were ball chasers at the players' tournament in Montreal.
A great experience that allowed me to play with Jimmy Connors during his training sessions. I was one of the best in Quebec in the U16 rankings.
The Little Singers of Mont-Royal.
I was recruited by the Petits Chanteurs du Mont-Royal choir. One of the choir directors was Roger D. Landry, vp Expo Marketing. He invited us to sing the national anthem at an Expos game. What a fantastic school experience: half a day of lessons and the other day of music.
Family holiday.
My parents were not surrounded by money. One summer, my father decided to put my music camps and sports activities aside.
For what ?
Dad wanted me to explore the United States, particularly the South, where he fought for civil rights for African Americans. It was a shock because I had never dared to believe that people had to live in such conditions.
They speak French, English, Spanish and German fluently.
Mastering these languages enabled me to work as a tour guide in Montreal for many years. I also worked at the Jewish Hospital, where I registered new patient records, worked in the emergency room, and entered the names of newborns on hospital forms.
Your little daughter is curious.
Julia is curious and always looking for new knowledge. Since my wife travels a lot for work, I have the opportunity to take her to school and help her with her homework. I also wish all men have a daughter because they enrich our lives so much.
“My son, I present to you your future wife.”
It was the first evening of my month-long tour in Paris. This wonderful French-Manitan woman sits next to my mother and father. After the show, my mother came up to me with her and said to me: “My son, I present to you Nicole, your future wife.” My wife Nicole is a determined and extraordinary woman who never gives up. I consider myself blessed to be able to share my life with my wife Nicole and my daughter Julia.