Sad news in the Charlotte music world today as I just received word that Monday Night All-stars singer Charles Hairston has passed away after a long battle with cancer.
The singer was in his early 60s and performed with every ounce of energy he had, every night he got on stage. I had the pleasure of speaking with him last September and his attitude was fantastic and you could easily see how much he loved to perform as much as he could.
Hairston would jump into the crowd to serenade the ladies and constantly wipe sweat off of his brow as he sang and danced for hours on end. There aren’t many performers around that could draw a large crowd on a Monday night, at midnight, for more than a decade.
The Monday Night All-stars have been performing at the Double Door Inn for 13 years. A memorial service and celebration of his life will be held on March 8 at the Neighborhood Theatre. I’m sure it will be a sad night at the Double Door tonight.
Heaven just got a fantastic peformer to join the all-star jam up in the sky…
This article appears in Feb 17-24, 2009.
What sad news. I played with Charles for years during the 70’s and 80’s in a group called City Council. We had not kept in touch and this is tough news. RIP my friend. He was a kind soul and touched many people.
RIP Charles Hairson. You will be missed. I will never hear “A change gone come” and not think of you, as well as many other Double Door patrons.
Charles was one of those special souls who truly moved people. He fought courageously up until the end, and gathered the strength just days before his passing to sing for his mother who had come in to town one last time to see her son. He was beloved not just by the musicians who were blessed to have worked with him, but by the hundreds of fans over the years who would travel long distances to see and hear his gift. An amazing man.
charles was a very close and dear friend to me,i’ll miss very much;i can say it was a blessing to spend time with charles in his last days here.kerry i commend you what a great friend for taking care of charles (love u man)