Good Time Charlie

Blues band from the West Coast in Norway, started in 1982 by Arle Hjelmeland (vocals, harmonica) in Førde. The group name was taken from a record with blues artist James Cotton. A "Good Time Charlie" is a person who enjoys life, is generous and a ladies man. The first crew of Good Time Charlie consisted of Øyvind Halvorsen (guitar), Lars Olav Grytli (bass) and Bård Ose (drums). A number of members came and went during the next few years, but within the band´s first release in 1988 – the single "Davy Crockett"/"Come On" – Hjelmeland had been joined by a solid team of Johnny "Guitar" Augland (guitar, piano), Eyvind Lunde (bass) and Jarle Olsen (drums). The group quickly became a favorite at clubs across the country with their cheerful swing blues and boogie woogie, often led by Augland piano songs." A reorganization of the crew took place before the group made ??its first CD in early 1995. A new rhythm section was Leif "Dixon" Korsnes (bass) and Per Fredriksen (drums). The album Comin´ Down With The Blues included equal parts of original material and cover songs from black American blues. This pattern was repeated on the second album, Oochie-Coochie!, released in 1999. A year before the album was made, Augland had left the band after ten years to join Vidar Busk. New guitarist in Good Time Charlie became the young southerner Kjetil Grande, who remained until 2003. Steinar Karlsen (guitar) from Hot Little Mama took his place in the same year. Øystein Lydvo (bass) replaced Korsnes in 2004. Good Time Charlie has been the backing band for several U.S. blues legends, including Lowell Fulson and Hubert Sumlin. Today, Good Time Charlie consists of Arle Hjelmeland (vocals, harmonica), Steinar Karlsen (guitar, vocals), Einar Olsson (drums, vocals) and Morten Skage (bass, vocals). Jan 2012