Janet & Charles, like any self-respecting country duo, met in a bar. It was a stormy summer night in 1980. Charles’ band, Ambush, was the featured act and Janet had come into the bar with her best friend, Sandra. I know it’s a cliche but, still, it was love at first sight. Charles, who made it a firm rule not mingle with the audience during breaks, went out after the first set to meet the gorgeous blonde that Sandra was sitting with. Sandra accommodated by asking him to join them and introducing him to Janet, who was visibly unimpressed. She got up and went to the ladies room. Charles conspired with Sandra to get Janet to go out to get breakfast after the show because he was immediately intrigued by her total indifference. Groucho Marx is reputed to have said that he would never belong to a club who would actually have him as a member. Charles lives by these words. He took them both to breakfast. Sandra ordered half the menu. Janet ordered nothing. He went back to their apartment and played his best most heart wrenching songs for them. Sandra was thrilled. Janet looked like she was sleepy. After MANY romantic gestures including letters, flowers, adding premium gas to her car and writing a song for her (“Noel”), Charles finally won her over. The couple is celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary this year!

Since the 80s, the duo has fronted or opened for acts such as The Flying Burrito Brothers, John Anderson, Ricky Scaggs, Gary Morris, Lee Greenwood and numerous others. It’s been a long career. So much, in fact, that other careers formed in the meantime. Janet ran a chain of dance studios, and Charles had a career selling television advertising for various NBC, CBS, ABC and cable concerns. During this time, the duo simultaneously played in various bands on the weekends, built and recorded in their own studio ‘Red Barn Recording,’ and produced an album released independently called Ten Penny Opera. They then wrote and shopped a concept album called “Vietsong” about Charles’ brother’s service as an infantryman in Vietnam, and wrote and scored Pig Pickin - The Musical. Oh… and raised a beautiful, talented, whip-smart daughter named McKenna.

Eight years ago they retired from their “jobs” and came to Nashville to live and work with the local singer/songwriter community. They’ve been playing out at all the local clubs here since. They found a creative home at Bobby’s Idle Hour and were hosting Lizard’s Thursday Night Writer’s Night until it closed due to the gentrification ongoing in Music City. Bobby’s has since reopened and they host a Wednesday afternoon “guitar pull” at the new location. Janet and Charles also hosted their own singer/songwriter showcase in downtown Nashville called Hidden Nashville! They now have a two-man show, “Too Old to Tour,” that they play on a monthly basis. Please check their Events page for upcoming shows.

Additionally, the couple recorded and independently released a new album called Too Old to Tour. 

You can find their music on Reverb Nation, Spotify, CD Baby, Amazon, YouTube, and right here on the homepage of this site! Check the Events page for more information on how to see Janet and Charles live!