Charles & Eddie were an American soul music duo composed of Charles Pettigrew and Eddie Chacon.[1] Their single "Would I Lie to You?", taken from their 1992 debut album, Duophonic, won Ivor Novello Awards in 1993 in the Best Contemporary Song, Best-Selling Song and International Hit of the Year categories. From 1992 to 1995 they hit the top 40 three more times in the UK.[2]
Their second and final album, Chocolate Milk, included "Wounded Bird", which was written and recorded for the film True Romance. It was released in 1995.[5] The duo split amicably in 1997.[4]
On May 29, 2020, The Fader announced Chacon's return to music after two decades of silence as a singer, referring to him as a "low-key R&B legend".[13] Chacon released the single "My Mind Is Out of Its Mind" from his then forthcoming album, Pleasure, Joy and Happiness on Day End Records.[14] The project was produced and co-written by Solange collaborator John Carroll Kirby and distributed by Light in the Attic Records.[15] On July 15 2020, KCRW premiered the album's second single, "Trouble". They wrote: "Eddie Chacon's R & B pop exploits are both influential and legendary."[14] On July 29 2020, The New York Times said: "The album avoids the trappings of a throwback or revival of a bygone era, instead exploring the rarely glimpsed side of that genre's themes of passion and heartbreak, sung by a bruised but wiser man."[4] Mojo magazine wrote: "Neo-Soul veteran returns with a mini modern masterpiece." In 2020 he released a single, "High", with Stones Throw Records' John Carroll Kirby and harpist Nailah Hunter.
His second solo album, Sundown, was released by Stones Throw on March 31, 2023.[16] The album was rated highly on publications including Pitchfork,[17] Record Collector [18] and The Guardian which wrote: "The question that haunts Sundown is whether the unexpected success of Pleasure Joy and Happiness can be replicated. The answer turns out to be a qualified yes."[19]
