In a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, Charles Wesley Godwin detailed how he came about discovering his musical talent.
The award-winning artist’s journey with music started at a fairly late age. Growing up in Morgantown, WV, he had no aspiration for pursuing music until his 20s. Instead, he spent most of his early years dreaming about playing football for West Virginia University.
At WVU, Godwin was unable to make the team. Though maybe fortunate for us, this moment was tragic for Godwin. He described that moment saying, “that was like my first dream that died.” With his hopes of pursuing football coming to an end, Godwin was forced to look in another direction.
“All that time I spent working out and trying to make that happen, became free time,” Godwin said. “So I just had to fill that time up with something.”
When watching the Grammys in 2011, Godwin realized a way to fill up that time. The lost college student sat in front of the television inspired by artists such as The Avett Brothers, Bob Dylan, and Mumford & Sons. Upon the award show’s conclusion, Godwin decided to pick up the guitar.
For a couple of months, Godwin practiced the guitar during his evening free time. By 2012, he was able to play some chord progressions and incorporate singing. However, even then, Godwin still only considered the guitar to be a “productive hobby”. It wasn’t until he left the country that he found his passion for music.
Godwin’s academic career took him abroad to Tartu, Estonia during his junior year at WVU. This time away was his first time overseas. Regardless, Godwin never gave up on his hobby of guitar, and with 6 flat-mates, it was a hobby he couldn’t keep hidden. So, it was only a matter of time before people started to notice his rapidly developing talent.
His first performance occurred without any preparation on a random night in Estonia. After watching a show at a local club, one of Godwin’s roommates ran up on stage with Godwin’s guitar and spoke into the microphone, “Charlie, come play a song.”
With the crowd chanting his name, he reluctantly walked up on stage to play one of the few songs he knew–John Denver’s “Country Roads”. Given the way Godwin’s career has turned out, this was probably the most fitting song for a first performance. Though embarrassing at the time as he sang against his will, the audience loved the performance–especially one audience member who reached out a couple of days later.
“On Monday, I got a Facebook message from a fashion designer. […] She asked if I could play for a fashion show on Friday. And I said, ‘Yeah, sure. Hell yeah.’”
Only a week after his performance at the club, Charles Wesley Godwin had his first gig. For €150, he played a 20-minute show at what he quickly found out was a lingerie fashion show. A memorable first gig, indeed.
In 2013, Godwin came back to West Virginia as a performer. He had a new passion to pursue and began doing shows at local venues in Morgantown immediately. In 2014, he even began writing his own music.
The rest of Godwin’s story is history. Writing, releasing, and performing quality, captivating songs have defined his rapidly growing career. He saw major success in 2023 with the release of his latest album, Family Ties. Godwin also recently announced his upcoming 2024 tour to begin in April.