Charles Newton is a regular contributor to KBACH. He’s been the voice of our special programs, “Requiem: A Musical History,” “Black Voices,” “A Classical Kwanzaa," and "Holy Days: Choral Music for Holy Week and Passover."

An "army brat," Charles was born in Nuremburg, Germany, but has lived in the Valley since before he was two years old. He started piano lessons at 10, played the clarinet through high school, and discovered his singing voice in college.

His performing experience includes marching band, concert band, jazz band, choirs, madrigal groups, a cappella groups, operas, and musical theater. As a vocalist, he has performed with the choirs at Mesa Community College and Arizona State University, as well as the ASU Symphony and Phoenix Symphony. More recently, Charles performed in the Mesa Encore Theater production of "Ragtime," in the role of Booker T. Washington.

As a member of the professional madrigal group, "Canterbury Transfer," Charles recorded and co-produced the album, "A Canterbury Christmas."

Currently, Charles teaches private piano lessons and is a member of the Desert Valley Music Teachers Association. He continues to study voice with world renowned choral composer/arranger and voice coach Linda Spevacek. He performs annually at the Arizona Renaissance Festival, and is also completing a book about performing live on stage.