Charles Farrar is an American songwriter, composer, and producer, best known for his songwriting work with vocal groups SWV, 702, Today, and Shades.[1] In the late 1990s/early 2000s, Farrar, alongside Troy Taylor, was a member of "The Characters": a production duo that worked on Boyz II Men's Cooleyhighharmony, as well as with Kenny Lattimore and numerous other artists.
Charles Farrar | |
|---|---|
| Born | New Jersey, United States |
| Alma mater | Morehouse College |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Formerly of | The Characters |
In 2001, Farrar was nominated to serve on the board of directors for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).[2]
The Characters
editThe Characters | |
|---|---|
| Genres | |
| Years active |
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| Labels | Character Music Corporation / DreamWorks Records / Chrysalis Music[3] |
| Members |
|
The Characters were a Grammy Award-winning American songwriting and production duo best known for their work with 1990s R&B vocal groups such as Boyz II Men, Destiny's Child, and Riff.[4] The pairing was formed when Troy Taylor, signed in early 1990 to a solo record deal with Motown, decided to instead explore songwriting and production for other artists with fellow songwriter and producer Farrar.[5][6] After commencing work with Farrar, two of the songs originally created for Taylor's debut album were repurposed and placed onto Boyz II Men's acclaimed debut project Cooleyhighharmony.[7] They would reunite with the group to create "Jezzebel" for 1994's Grammy-winning II album.
Several years later, solo R&B artist Johntá Austin, working with the duo at the time to create his own debut project at the age of 13, was experiencing instability at RCA Records as a result of internal label politics. Austin was added to the writing team as an occasional member when he was subsequently dropped and his project was shelved, and their first writing collaborations as a trio resulted in "Realize" for Jason Weaver, "Here For You" for SWV's 1997 album Release Some Tension and hit single "Sweet Lady" for Tyrese Gibson.[8][9]
Taylor and Farrar also diversified into forming and signing girl groups throughout the 1990s, such as OSCAR (a multi-racial New jack swing/R&B quartet who released 1992 album Spotlight) under their production company Character Music Corporation.[10]
Songwriting and production credits
editCredits are courtesy of Discogs, Spotify, and AllMusic.
| Title | Year | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Happiness" | 1989 | Nyki Nicole | Non-album single |
| "Every Little Thing About You" | 1990 | Today | The New Formula |
| "Self Centered" | |||
| "Gonna Make You Mine" | |||
| "Little Things" | 1991 | Boyz II Men | Cooleyhighharmony |
| "Your Love" | |||
| "Just A Cover Up" | Cooleyhighharmony (2009 Expanded Edition) | ||
| "Can't Be Liked" | |||
| "Chivalry" (The Characters Remix) | Babyface | A Closer Look | |
| "I'll Be There For You" | Lateasha | Lateasha | |
| "Mature Love" | Keisha Jackson | Keisha | |
| "All Night Lovin'" | |||
| "All Night Lovin' Interlude" | |||
| "Step by Step (Gonna Make You Mine)" | 1992 | Wendy Moten | Wendy Moten |
| "Take Me Back to Love Again" | Kathy Sledge | Heart | |
| "I've Gotta Have It" | 3rd Avenue | Let's Talk About Love | |
| "The Minute You Fall In Love" | |||
| "I'm Calling You (Do-Po-Liddle-Lo-Le-Yeah)" | OSCAR | Spotlight | |
| "Just For You" | |||
| "Let Me Make It Better" | |||
| "I'll Be There For You" | |||
| "Spotlight" | |||
| "Keep Touching Me" | |||
| "How I Spend My Time" | |||
| "Give Me A Reason" | |||
| "Just Being With You" | Countess Vaughn | Countess | |
| "Once More" | |||
| "Skyy's The Limit" | Skyy | Nearer To You | |
| "Work It Out" | 1993 | Perfect Gentlemen | The Perfect Gentlemen |
| "Don't Go Nowhere" [11] | Riff | To Whom It May Concern | |
| "(Seek And You'll Find) The Kinda Right Baby" | 1994 | Groove U | Tender Love |
| "Old Becomes New" | |||
| "Call And I'll Answer" | |||
| "Pass It Over" | Fourmula | Non-album single | |
| "Floating | Debelah Morgan | Debelah | |
| "Win You Over" (With Troy Taylor) | |||
| "Jezzebel" | Boyz II Men | II | |
| "I Can't Tell You Why" | 1995 | Brownstone[12][13] | From the Bottom Up |
| "Best Friend" (Character R&B Mix featuring Channel Live) [14] | Brandy | Brandy | |
| "I'm Sorry" | Solo | Solo | |
| "My Cherie Amour" | Tony Thompson | Sexsational | |
| "Come Over" | |||
| "Goodbye Eyes" | |||
| "Love Today" | Vertical Hold | Head First | |
| "Love In An Elevator" | 1996 | Johnny Gill | Let's Get the Mood Right |
| "Simply Say I Love U" (Featuring Stevie Wonder) | |||
| "So Gentle" (Featuring Ronnie DeVoe) | |||
| "Get Down Like Dat" | 702 | No Doubt | |
| "No Doubt" | |||
| "Show You My Love" | |||
| "All I Want" | |||
| "Just Let Me Know" | Horace Brown | Horace Brown | |
| "Realize" | Jason Weaver | Stay With Me (Shelved) | |
| "Your Body's Callin'" | Norman Brown | Better Days Ahead | |
| "Facts of Love" | |||
| "Love Like This" (Featuring Lil' Cease) | 1997 | SWV | Release Some Tension |
| "Lose Myself" | |||
| "Here For You" | |||
| "Who Are You" | Shades | Shades | |
| "Tell Me (I'll Be Around)" | |||
| "I Believe" | |||
| "How Deep Is Your Love" | |||
| "Time Will Reveal" | |||
| "All He's Supposed to Be" | Johnny Gill | The 6th Man (soundtrack) | |
| "Jam Knock" | Brian McKnight | Anytime | |
| "Dance Wit Me" (Featuring Doug E. Fresh) | 1998 | Miss Jones | The Other Woman |
| "Smooth" | |||
| "In And Out Of My Life" [15] | Ali | Crucial / Bitter Honey | |
| "Once A Fool" | Destiny's Child & William Floyd | eMusic Presents NFL Jams | |
| "Work It Out" | Boyz II Men & Garrison Hearst | ||
| "Let's Get It Started" | Johnny Gill & Corey Harris | ||
| "Sweet Lady" | 1999 | Tyrese | Tyrese |
| "What'cha Gonna Do" | Eternal | Eternal | |
| "Treat Me Like a Lady" | |||
| "Absent From You" | |||
| "He Is" | |||
| "Never Let You Go Away" | Rome | Thank You (Shelved) | |
| "I Really Do Love You" | Beverly | Heart and Soul (Shelved) | |
| "Do It Like Us" | Rudy | Non-album single | |
| "Come Correct" | 2000 | Before Dark | Daydreamin' |
| "Can We Make Love" | Profyle | Nothin' but Drama | |
| "Candles" | Pru | Pru | |
| "Got Me High" | |||
| "Can't Compare Your Love" | |||
| "Sketches of Pain" | |||
| "Hold On" | L.V. | How Long | |
| "Just Because" | F.A.T.E [16] | For All That's Endured | |
| "Weekend" | 2001 | Kenny Lattimore | Weekend |
| "Baby You're the One" | |||
| "Can You Feel Me" (Featuring Shanice) | |||
| "If Love Is What You Want" | |||
| "Right Down to It" | |||
| "Better Than" | Damage | Since You've Been Gone | |
| "Money" | Smash Task [17][18] | Selections From "The Dirty D.I.S.T.R.I.C.T." | |
| "I Want You For Myself" | V.A. | One By One | |
| "Nobody Else" | |||
| "Don't Ya Hate It" | |||
| "I'm The Man" | |||
| "Next To Me" | |||
| "Breathe" | |||
| "It Don't Make No Sense" | |||
| "Swole" | |||
| "You Could've Called" | |||
| "It's Cool" | |||
| "We Make Love" | |||
| "Pretty Girl" | |||
| "I'm Done" | |||
| "I Want You For Myself (Acoustic)" | |||
| "Crave" [19] | 4Shades | 4Shades | |
| "Why I Love You" | 2002 | B2K | Pandemonium! |
| "Understanding" | B2K | ||
| "Baby Girl" | |||
| "Baby Girl (Terri's Theme)" | Barbershop (soundtrack) | ||
| "I'm Wit It" | 702 | Star | |
| "You" [20] | Ruff Endz | Someone to Love You | |
| "Him" | 2004 | Frankee | The Good, the Bad, the Ugly |
| "Love Is Free" (featuring Maluca) | 2015 | Robyn & La Bagatelle Magique | Love Is Free (EP) |
| "Give It 2 U" | 2020 | J. Brown | Forever Yours |
| "Sunrise Sunset" |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Awarding Body | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 37th Annual Grammy Awards | Grammy Award for Best R&B Album (II) | Won | [21] |
| 2000 | ASCAP Pop Awards | Award-Winning Song ("Sweet Lady") | Won | [22] |
| 2000 | ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards | Award-Winning Song ("Sweet Lady") | Won | [23] |
References
edit- ^ "R&B/Pop Singer/Songwriter Asha Maclean Covers The Classic Aaliyah Track With New Single "I Don't Wanna"". Top40-Charts.com. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ "Charles Farrar Nominated to ASCAP Board". The Indianapolis Recorder. March 9, 2001. Archived from the original on November 3, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
- ^ "Chrysalis Music Group: Spotlight" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "The Characters Audio Portrait - ASCAP". Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "Grammy Award-Winning Troy Taylor Transcends into the New Era of R&B". December 18, 2019. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "In Character". Billboard. May 20, 1995. Archived from the original on May 13, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "Chrysalis ups Sturges to prexy". December 4, 1992. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "Johnta Austin Interview - Hit R&B & Pop Songwriter and Artist". August 20, 2006. Archived from the original on December 24, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "Billboard Hot R&B Singles & Tracks". Billboard. June 5, 1999. Archived from the original on May 3, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "Spotlight". Spotify. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ Rensalier, Dale "Skip" Van (June 25, 2019). Six Part Harmony - Riff (The Untold Story). Page Publishing. ISBN 9781645444978. Archived from the original on May 3, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "ROCK SOLID DEBUT FOR BROWNSTONE". Washington Post Archives. Archived from the original on March 2, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ "BROWNSTONE IN THE HOUSE". Daily Press. February 24, 1995. Archived from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ "Singles Review: Brandy - Best Friend". Billboard. June 10, 1995. Archived from the original on November 3, 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ "Soulful U.K. Crooner Ali Bows on Island". Billboard. November 29, 1997. Archived from the original on May 3, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "F.A.T.E. Realizes Musical Destiny With GhettoWorks Debut". Billboard. March 11, 2000. Archived from the original on May 13, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "Platinum Performances". Billboard. August 7, 1999. Archived from the original on November 3, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
- ^ "Platinum Exec Caldwell Professes Faith In Indie Labels & New Blood". Billboard. November 13, 1999. Archived from the original on May 3, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- ^ "Ruff Endz – Hip Online – music biographies, reviews & interviews". February 24, 2008. Archived from the original on January 28, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Congratulations to the ASCAP Pop Award Winners". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. June 3, 2000. Archived from the original on January 6, 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
- ^ "You Are The Rhythm of Today And The Soul of Tomorrow". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. June 17, 2000. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023 – via Google Books.
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