King Charles (born Charles Costa) is an English singer and songwriter.
He plays the guitar, piano and cello. He is also a classically trained singer. He began writing songs at the age of 17.
In 2009, he became the first British person to win the International Songwriting Competition in Nashville, Tennessee, for his song "Love Lust". The competition was judged by Tom Waits, Jeff Beck, Loretta Lynn and Jerry Lee Lewis, and following this King Charles was signed by Universal Republic/Island.
In 2012, he teamed up with the record producer Matthew Wilder and released his first album Loveblood. He released his second album, Gamble for a Rose, in 2016.
In 2020, Costa again worked with Matthew Wilder on Out of my Mind. In April 2020, Clash magazine said "They say the freaks shall inherit the earth, and it will be King Charles who was ordained by god to rule over them".
Discography Studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak chart positions UK FRA SCOPeak positions for singles in Scotland: For "LoveBlood": LoveBloodReleased: 7 May 2012 Label: Island Format: CD, Digital download 36 168 78Gamble for a RoseReleased: 22 January 2016 Label: Buffalo Gang Format: CD, Digital download, LP — — —Out of My Mind Released: 17 April 2020 Label: Buffalo Gang Format: LP, CD, Cassette, Digital download — — —
Singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Album UK BEL "Bam Bam" 2011 — — LoveBlood "Love Lust" — — "Ivory Road" — — "Mississippi Isabel" 2012 — 84 "Lov Madiba (feat. Katie Amelia & Shingai Shoniwa)" 2013 — — "Loose Change for the Boatman" 2016 — — Gamble for a Rose "Gamble for a Rose" — — "Freak" — — "Out of My Mind" 2019 — — Out of My Mind "Deeper Love" — — "Feel These Heavy Times" 2020 — — "Animal" 2021 — — rowspan="5" "12345" — — "Oh Mama" — — "A Letter to Her Majesty" 2022 — — "We Didn't Start the Fire" — —
References
External links
New band of the day – No 653: King Charles BBC – Glastonbury 2009 – King Charles