Here's a little excerpt about Charlie from Hollywood Reporter
Askew, 18, tried out for American Idol last year even though he had only seen bits and pieces of the show. “Last season was the first I watched all the way through. After I watched a full season and had a feel for how the show was run, I decided to come back this year with a vengeance.”
Askew and his father thought being on Idol would be a good launchpad and would provide exposure. “Winning wasn’t the main goal,” Askew says of his first audition. When he tried out for season 11 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Askew sang a couple of Michael Jackson songs -- “Thriller” and “P.Y.T.” He recalls, “It didn’t go over too well I knew I wasn’t ready when I walked in there. I never get that nervous before an audition -- normally. My knees were knocking together and I cracked on a high note. I’m much more self-aware this year and have a much greater sense of who I am and what kind of artist I want to be.”
Although he sang a couple of Michael Jackson songs last year, Askew’s musical influences are more in the classic rock vein. “I grew up on the Grateful Dead, Bob Marley, the Band,John Prine, David Bowie, Pink Floyd and Queen. Led Zeppelin is my all-time favorite band. As far as contemporary, I love Bruno Mars. He’s an absolute star.” Given his musical favorites, it’s no surprise when Askew says, “My parents had a huge record collection. We had tons of cassettes, vinyl and CDs.”
The resident of Little Rock, Ark., tells THR he has been playing piano since he was five. “I had a few minor lessons at first. I learned basic theory, like the names and the notes, and which one goes with which key, that’s easy enough. I really don’t read music, it’s all by ear, all self-taught. I didn’t discover until later that I had perfect pitch.”
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