The Pinoy in Charlie Green

MANILA, Philippines - Pinoys will be seeing and hearing more of Charlie Green as Viva Records recently signed him to a two-year recording contract. The half-British, half-Filipino crooner is about to display more of his classy and smooth voice not just in a number of singing engagements but through his latest CD.

By this time, the 13-year-old singer must have been busy recording for the 13 tracks included in the album with international composer Christian de Walden and the Viva team working closely behind him.

“I’m really excited to be working for the new CD,” Charlie says. “I am really happy because this is a great opportunity to work with Christian de Walden, Boss Vic del Rosario and the whole Viva team. I hope it’s gonna be a long association with Viva.”

It’s been a long process, Christian shares, coming up with a line-up of songs that will fit Charlie’s age and voice. Del Rosario selected 98 percent of the songs with two original compositions.

“I’ve been shuttling between L.A. and England for the last two months. Boss Vic gave us a list of 52 songs that we broke down to 13 — from Donny Osmond to Elvis Presley. It (album) could be classy but also commercial,” Christian says of how the songs were selected.

The distinct sound of horns and drums will add to the album’s pop and lively tunes. The OPM Pers Lab written by Hotdog and A Friend Like You composed by Jimmy Borja make it more distinctly Pinoy.

“There are also hits of yesteryear that I could bring to the modern era,” Charlie assures about singing covers like Elvis’ Wooden Heart which will appeal to the young generation.

“I’ve seen many hits and flops but the voice and personality of Charlie give big chances for success,” describes Charlie’s qualities.

Charlie started singing in his native England when he was three. His dad Roger says Charlie first sang New York, New York during a family gathering.

“As soon as he heard, ‘pap-pap-pa rarap,’ he went up to a chair and sang New York, New York and that began his love for music,” Roger recalls.

Charlie’s rise to fame came after he joined Britain’s Got Talent where he impressed judge Simon Cowell. Since then, he began performing in different shows in England, UK and other parts of Europe.

Michael Bublé is one of Charlie’s musical influences. In the local music front, he has already met Sarah Geronimo, Billy Crawford and Mark Bautista in Sarah’s concerts The Next One and Record Breaker.

Does he know anything about Pinoy culture, his mom being a Cebuana?

“Yes. Our house in England is always filled with Filipinos and British. I love chicken adobo and I’m excited to work with local artists,” he replies.