Charles Pettee - Hear the Sound

Charles Pettee, guitar and mandolin-wielding songwriter from Asheville, NC, loves sharing not only the catchy rhythms of NC Bluegrass and Folk music, but also the segregation-defying stories behind this culturally diverse tapestry of sounds. Transitioning from fronting Chapel Hill, NC’s world-traveling Bluegrass band The Shady Grove Band for over 25 years, Mr. Pettee has become an accomplished teaching artist and music educator whose programs and residencies are in high demand throughout North and South Carolina. In addition to in-person programs, he is excited about using digital platforms to carry his musical message to an even wider audience. Pettee offers several age-adjusted presentations that align with NC Essential Standards for both Music and Social Studies for grades preK-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12, as well as adults. He performs at festivals and special events with some of NC’s finest acoustic musicians, including his son, guitar player Jackson Pettee, under the name Slippery Hill. Pettee’s group FolkPsalm performs beautifully arranged settings of Pettee’s original Psalm settings. That group now boasts four full length albums. Pettee has logged over 6,000 performances over the course of his career, and has recently begun work on his 14th CD/album.