One of Souza’s earliest encounters with the record business was when his group "The Tropics" won The International Battle of the Bands held at the famous McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois in 1966. First place over more than 1000 bands, which included such names as Chicago and Tommy James & The Shondells. Out of that came a recording contract with Columbia Records and the single "Time" with Charlie doing the lead vocal duties and produced by Teo Macero, which made it to the top of the charts and got a "92" on American Bandstand! In 1973, While playing with band mates Eric Turner and Bill Peterson in their 70's three piece power rock group Bacchus, Souza was asked by Gregg Allman to come to Macon, and then to New York City to play in Gregg’s new band on his debut solo album "Laid Back." During that time, Charlie was also fortunate enough to collaborate with Gregg in the studio. Meanwhile, not far away in Long Island, Bobby Caldwell, the former Johnny Winter And drummer, leader of Capricorn recording artist Captain Beyond, tapped Charlie to play bass and sing in the Atco Records group Cactus, formerly Vanilla Fudge, as "The New Cactus Band" with members Duane Hitchings and Mike Pinera of "Blues Image" fame. While touring in Cactus with Bob Seger, Souza was approached by the Silver Bullet Band, but continued to tour with Cactus until he again was reunited with his old Tropics pal, Buddy Pendergrass, who then headed up a group on Capricorn Records, White Witch. Charlie then went to Miami to work with Eric Clapton's "Layla" producers Ron and Howie Albert on the project "White Witch: A Spiritual Greeting." After more touring and recording, Charlie soon went out to Hollywood California with a kid from Gainesvillle who used to come to watch The Tropics play whenever they played in Gainesville, Florida. In 1975, Tom Petty called on Charlie to join after Danny Roberts had left the band Mudcrutch on Shelter Records. Charlie put all of his belongings in the back of the Mudcrutch equipment truck and left his home in Tampa, Florida and they began to travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma to record some tracks at Leon Russell’s home for Tom’s new album. On the way, the band played in Gainesville, then traveled through New Orleans, across Texas and on into Tulsa where the future Heartbreakers recorded the early catalog of Tom's music, produced by Denny Cordell who was also Joe Cocker’s producer. The band then traveled to Shelter Records headquarters (a converted house on Sunset Blvd.) in Hollywood and on to Leon Russell’s Encino, Calfornia, home studio where Charlie collaborated with Tom on a few songs including "Don’t Do Me Like That". The group continued recording and Charlie also played alto sax on "Hometown Blues", a song on the first Heartbreakers record album. Once in California,"the waiting was the hardest part" so Souza moved on to record another project, a rock album, this time in Berkley, California on Fantasy Records for the Jazz Crusaders producer Wayne Henderson.The band was Gale Force, a rock group featuring brothers Lennie and Ken Gale. These recording sessions for two albums included work with Bill Champlin of Chicago, Rocke Grace, pianist for the Joe Walsh Band and Jim Horn. Charlie and Lennie Gale also teamed up with guitarist Mickey Rooney, Jr. and the artist Torill for an album on A.V.I. Records and again with artist Chi Coltrane on the same A.V.I. label. see http://www.chicoltrane.com. Charlie then recorded with the famous American native actor and song writer Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman who origionally recorded an album of protest songs in 1970 and finally completed his work in 1978 with Charlie on bass guitar on those sessions while Souza was in "The James Quill Smith Band" with the former John Mayall gutarist and Christiaan Mostert on keys, sax and flutes. (Floyd Westerman plays Jim Morrisons spiritual guide in the movie "The Doors" and also appears in "Dances with Wolves") The James Quill Smith Band also toured as a backup band for actor and comedian Fred Willard who appeared with his band on the T.V show "The Midnight Special" on ABC. Signed to a record deal by Atlantic Records without a demo tape and simply from a live performance was 80's metal pop rock phenom Fortress, featuring on guitar Eric Turner who had also been in Charlie’s first group The Tropics, and Donnie Vosburgh, an amazing double bass drummer with Jim West on vocals, one of Ambrosia's background singers. Charlie played bass and wrote some of the music on their debut album for Atlantic Records "Hands in the Till," produced by Freddie Piro of Ambrosia fame. One of the songs on the album written by Charlie was "Comin’ After You With My Love," a tune picked and played in Los Angeles on KMET. Charlie was soon asked to play bass on a Myrrh Records gospel album by Leon Patillo, formerly of Santana. Add another rock ‘n’ roll gospel album on Polydor with the Darrell Mansfield Christian Band, and Charlie became even more thankful for his God-given talent! Charlie Souza then teamed up with drummer Bill Lordan, one of the world’s finest, who had done several Robin Trower albums and spent some funky time with Sly & The Family Stone. Charlie and Bill then had the opportunity to become a viable rhythm section, recording together in Phoenix, Arizona, on a record produced by French producer Michele Columbier for the vocalist Wendy Evans. You can now hear the team of Charlie Souza and Bill Lordan as a first class rhythm section, joined by guitar virtuoso Eric Turner on the 2000 CD release "Live Your Dream". and 2001 release "9 Ball in the Corner Pocket" In 1999, Charlie spearheaded the 30-year reunion of his first rock and roll band. On May 7, 1999, The Fabulous Tropics played at the St. Petersburg, Florida, Coliseum. It was a benefit for All Children’s Hospital. The reunion was a tremendous success and many good friends were reunited in a free-spirited, fun-filled nostalgic evening, reliving the innocence of those wonderful times. This was the beginning of the resurgence of creativity for Charlie and his many talented friends. "LIVE YOUR DREAM!" And in 2002, Charlie Souza continued to live his dream by marrying a beautiful St. Petersburg native, Laura Jean Pipper, and moving back home to Florida after fighting the traffic on the 405 and the 101 in Los Angeles for 28 years, and several earthquakes later. He and his new wife are living on the white sandy beach in The Redingtons, on the Florida Gulf Coast. The following year, in November of 2003,Charlie formed his own band "The New Tropics" which debuted on the main stage in Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg at Classic Rock's Ribfest 2003, opening for Leslie West's MOUNTAIN and since then has led his band to new heights and is continuing to remain active in his art of writing and performing his own brand of music for listeners world wide!!! Please visit http://www.charliesouza.com/bio/index.html for a complete Bio of Charlie Souza. Please click the link at the top of the page for Charlie’s photo gallery.