From Nashville to the Riverbend: Teacher and Songwriter Charlie Brown Shares Music at Civic Memorial and Beyond
BETHALTO - Charlie Brown is not a normal teacher. Before he taught culinary arts at Civic Memorial High School, Brown lived in Nashville, where he wrote and recorded songs. You might recognize Brown’s name on Blake Shelton’s “Pure B.S.” album with the song “What I Wouldn’t Give,” also recorded by Lila McCann. When Shelton released the song, Brown knew he had hit it big. And then he did what most people wouldn’t: He came home. “I just wanted to be home,” he said. “I just knew I was a Riverbend guy, so I came back to my roots.” Brown grew up in Wood River, where he and his family listened to music constantly. In college, he saved up enough money to buy a guitar and taught himself how to play. He wanted to be a teacher, but he couldn’t ignore the calling he felt toward music. After a few years teaching at East Alton-Wood River High School, he pulled the trigger and moved to Tennessee. To Brown, Nashvill
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