Čarli

Blind singer and keyboard player, born in 1944. in the village near Daruvar, Croatia and died on April 3rd, 2014. in Fužine, Croatia. Since early childhood he had problems with eyesight, but because his parents believed in traditional medicines prepared by local people, he went to first operation at the age of seven, when he lost 30% of the sight. After second operation he lost 20% more and after third one he became totally blind. By the way, he survived other diseases like diphtheria, typhus, scarlatina, tuberculosis and chickenpox. He started to play instruments at the age of 12 and he was a self-taught player of tamburitza, flute, violin, xylophone, accordion, pipe, harmonica and favourite instrument, piano. Some time he worked as typist, but at the age of 20 he became a proffesional musician. He was a modest person, he played Croatiawide and refused one business offer from Australia which, by the music job, included an apartment, job for his wife and a brand new car. In 1998. he moved to Fužine, where he played in a local restaurant "Bitoraj" few times a week, making discreet and silent, but impressive music on his Roland keyboards. He accepted his artist name "Charlie" after his friend's suggestion (suggestion was "Charlie Alex"). He was a big fan of another blind pianist, Ray Charles.