Charlie Darker

As an 11 year-old boy hanging around the older kids, Charlie Darker’s curiosities of the world revolved around; how DJ’s worked a turntable, blended records and scratched with them. His fascination began with seeing DJ’s on television and then was solidified with his fist experience mixing on a turntable. From then on he knew that is what he wanted to do. Many days, years and 10-hour session later he was now 13 and DJing school dances in his neighborhood. It was a great time for Souls of Mischief, Wu Tang and Biggie, and little Charlie was still staying true to his classics playing his Eric B. & Rakim. Gangstarr and Main Source albums.



After high school his life began to take on new directions and a distance began between him and his music. He felt a disconnect and somewhat of a disappointment for his love for hip-hop: he wanted more. As he was about to hang up his DJ cords, he met D-Styles (Invisibl Skratch Piklz / World Famous Beat Junkies) and reintroduced DJing into his life with a sense of creativity he did not know was possible.



With a renewed sense of vision Charlie Darker traveled and performed internationally in London, Paris, The Netherlands, Spain, Australia, Japan, Bangkok and Hong Kong, Germany, South Africa and throughout the United States. Here in the United States he has played in night clubs throughout the Bay Area that include: DNA Lounge / Club 6 / Poleng Lounge / Azul / Le Duplex / Milk Bar / Luna Lounge (Icon) / Bruno's / Cafe Cocomo / Sublounge /12 Galaxies / The Uptown / Blush / Vinyl Room / Rock-It Room / Angels / Agenda / Temple Lounge. In Southern California he has played at: Onyx / Bar Dynamite / Honey Bee Hive / Martini Ranch. You can catch him at his current residency in San Francisco at Roe (651 Howard St. @ Hawthorne)



In 2004, Charlie and a few friends formed The Jimi Handtrix Experience, which consisted of DJs: Presto One (Rocksteady Crew), Havik (Beat Junkies/UZN), Deuce Ace (UZN), Verz (Mighty 4), Daeta (3Sixty5), Earwaxxx (Scratch Academy), Silent John, Phunk Master P.H.I.L.(UZN), Fuse One, DJ P (Rocksteady Crew) & Red Eye. Another group that Charlie is affiliated with is the up and coming Bay Area based band called. Sherlock Tones. The Sherlock Tones All-Star Players consist of: Steven E. Vasillis (Guitar/ Programming), Charlie Darker (Turntables/Programming), Forrestt Black (Bass) & Brian Young (Drums & Perc.).



Charlie has opened up for musical artists from The Alkaholiks to Common just to name a few. He also extends his DJ services to in-stores, private and corporate parties. He has DJ’ed events for Apple / Microsoft Xbox / Sony Playstation / MTV / Magic Fashion Convention / Shu Uemura / Puma / Diesel / Adidas / ESPN X-Games.



His style is described as “Eclectic, but still Pop friendly”. He plays a heavily diverse array of genres ranging from Classic and Current Hip-Hop / Breaks / R&B / Pop /Top 40 / Mash Ups / Dance Floor Electro / Freestyle /Classic Rock/ Rock / 80’s / Funk.



Given his love and education for music, he says “It was a natural progression for me as a DJ to start doing music production”. Charlie Darker began music production in 2001 and has reinvented himself and his style through this vessel. He produces original and sample based music through Hip-Hop, R & B Soul and Experimental Beats. His style is influenced by artists ranging from Diamond D., Kanye West, Just Blaze, J.Dilla to Nine Inch Nails & Portishead.



Charlie Darker Updates & Events: Live Your Life @ Roe



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Video Pick Of The Week: "The Rise Project (By: OhDang! Mag)"