Charlie Starr

As the lead vocalist and lead guitarist, Charlie Starr co-founded the American country rock band Blackberry Smoke in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2001. Under Starr’s leadership, the band quickly established its signature sound, releasing their debut album, ‘Bad Luck Ain’t No Crime,’ in 2003, followed by ‘Little Piece of Dixie’ in 2009. Their 2012 album, ‘The Whippoorwill,’ marked a significant breakthrough, reaching the Top 40 on the prestigious Billboard 200 chart and signaling the band’s rising prominence in the music industry. Starr’s impact continued to drive Blackberry Smoke to new heights, achieving an industry first in 2015 when their album, ‘Holding All the Roses,’ became the first independent band release to hit No.

1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. This monumental success was quickly replicated in 2016, with ‘Like an Arrow’ also soaring to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Country Albums chart. Most recently, their 2021 album, ‘You Hear Georgia,’ debuted at No.

1 on the Billboard Top Americana/Folk Albums chart, demonstrating Starr’s consistent ability to deliver chart-topping success and cultivate a dedicated fanbase. Beyond his studio achievements, Starr has led Blackberry Smoke on extensive tours across the United States, Europe, Australia, and South America, sharing stages with iconic artists such as Tedeschi Trucks Band, Guns N’ Roses, Zac Brown Band, ZZ Top, Eric Church, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. His formidable guitar prowess has also garnered individual acclaim, as evidenced by his inclusion in Music Radar’s list of the top 23 guitarists in December 2017. Maintaining a prolific output, Starr co-wrote and released Blackberry Smoke’s latest album, ‘Be Right Here,’ in 2024, continuing to define and expand the band’s distinctive rock ‘n’ roll sound.