ARTIST BIOGRAPHY—Chasing Something Better
CSB, the work of singer/songwriter/guitarist Charlie Scopoletti is a mix of rock, pop, and intense lyricism that is Scopoletti’s way of communicating with his audience. With the release of his first full-length album and a packed touring schedule, CSB is gaining attention and Scopoletti is taking his conversation to the world.
Charlie Scopoletti was only ten when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, a debilitating disease of the lymphatic system. As he looks back at 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. Scopoletti found a home for his music at school where 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, then at 18, his first acoustic. From then 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, finger picking, 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 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. Eventually he befriended the man and eventually played on stage with him.
Scopoletti began performing solo acoustic shows weekly and also went through several different bands over the years singing and playing guitar even playing drums. He is a believer in live performances and in practicing his art in front of an audience. With that belief Scopoletti has been gigging steadily through all stages of his career.
In 2002 Scopoletti decided to record an EP and went on a search to find some musicians to accompany him in the studio. It was a trying road of auditions and he had difficulty-finding artists who shared his musical vision. “I wanted people I could hang out with outside of just playing together,” Says Scopoletti “I think that’s an important part of the chemistry.”
Finally Scopoletti met bass player Jessie Levin a skilled veteran who was looking for a new project. Scopoletti gave Levin a copy of his demo and the two began working together. Scopoletti felt that he and Levin made a good match but they had difficulty finding a drummer who really fit with their sound. While Scopoletti was working in the studio collaborating on a song with a friend, the drummer he was working with was not able to make it and he needed a replacement in a hurry. A studio employee made a call and managed to get Jon Giamara to sit in for the session. Scopoletti felt that it went extremely well and approached Giamara about a more permanent position. With Giamara and Levin CSB was born.
With his band behind him, Scopoletti’s compositions come to life. Both in the studio and on the stage, CSB has been gaining more and more attention. Scopoletti’s intimate songwriting and his brilliant compositions reach out to the audience, touching on topics that everyone can relate to; love, loss, and new possibilities.
CSB released their first full-length album late in 2004, a 12-song album that Scopoletti titled “Circles.” With their first album out on Rock Ridge Records, CSB began a touring schedule that included some of the best names in the New York rock scene, hitting Session 73, Red Lion, and Bitter End. In addition to that they have performed all over the United States and Internationally often to sold-out crowds. With a another big tour coming for 2008 and more recording planned for the near future, Scopoletti feels he is just getting warmed up.
“I feel like it’s easy to relate to my music,” He says. From music therapy for the heart to touring the country Charlie Scopoletti makes music with deeply wrought passion. With CSB, he has found a vehicle to take his art to a higher level. If you want to remember what is great about music, then you’ve been waiting for CSB.
