No.7
The lights on stage are low. The five singers stand with their backs to the audience. As the music hits a certain key, the singer’s turn in unison to face the audience and the lights go up. The crowd goes wild. Women rush the stage. The whole audience stands up, cheers, and claps. The lead singer hits the first note, and the show begins…
I recently had the pleasure to speak with "Charming" Charles Hardy,
member of the legendary R&B [rhythm & blues] group, The Manhattans.
Hardy is used to the applause and reaction of the audience when they
appear on stage. Hardy says it is hard for him to believe that he is a
part of this famous group. He always makes time to sign autographs or
talk with fans, because he feels like a fan too.
As we settle in to talk, I can tell he is comfortable
with giving interviews. There is no stage persona, what you see is what
you get. His voice is soft, and his style is laid-back. He talks as if
he's known you all his life, and you find yourself relaxing too. His
smoky brown eyes and easy smile are just some of the things women
especially love about this singer. He tends to talk faster when the
subject excites him, and he blinks a lot because of his allergies. Hardy
says he is teased constantly by members of the group, "They call me the
bubble boy, because of all the medications I have to take." Hardy says
he doesn't let that bother him because that's a small price to pay.
"Entertainment," says Hardy, "has been a part of my life for as long as
I can remember."
Hardy was born and raised in Mt. Vernon, New York. He is the youngest of the children in his family. Hardy's parents re-married, and had other children. Hardy remains close with all of his brothers and sisters. He credits his upbringing to all the women in his life. He says his mother, godmother and sisters made sure he stayed in line. "They didn't take no stuff from me. They made sure I did what I was supposed to do." Hardy's godmother, Mary Ballard, was the sister in law of Florence Ballard who was a member of the legendary Supremes. Hardy spent a lot of time with his godmother during the first four years of his life, but because of his age doesn't remember meeting the singer. He was also named after Florence Ballard's brother, Charles.
Entertainment is a family legacy. Hardy's mother, Dorothy Sebastian, was
born in 1915 and was a dancer at age 17. She was one of the original
members of the chorus line at both the Cotton Club and the Apollo
Theater during the late 1930s and early 1940s. He also has strong ties
to his Indian ancestry. His mother would take them all "home" every
year. Home was actually a reservation in Connecticut now called Foxwood.
Hardy remembers attending reunions or "pow-wows" as a young child. These
pow-wows are also known as the celebration of Green Corn, or Schemitzun,
and include dancing, traditional foods, and the display of special
jewelry and artwork.
His family belongs to the Pequot Indian tribe located
along the eastern seaboard. There are over 200 Indian reservations in
the United States, further west. Only a few remain along the East Coast.
The Pequot settled a land claim in 1863 and opened a gambling casino in
Ledyard Connecticut in 1992. The revenues from the casino helped to fund
many improvements, including a museum, and research center. The museum
is located near Mystic, Connecticut. It features the history and culture
of the Pequot Indians.
Many Native Americans still retain tribal languages and ceremonies.
Hardy stays grounded by focusing on the strength and the courage from
all of his ancestors. He visits the reservation as much as possible. He
has a summer home on the Fox wood Reservation, and sometimes goes back
to relax and see family.
He has a daughter, LaToya; a grandson, Aquilla; and a granddaughter; Jonea,
all still currently residing in New York. Hardy says he does whatever
needs to be done to help out, and he doesn't mind cooking because he
loves to eat. Some of his favorite foods are potato salad, fried
chicken, homemade rolls, and butter cake. He also likes seafood,
especially Cajun catfish.
Hardy is also very loyal to his friends. He met his long
time friend Harsey Hemphill when he was 7 years-old and Hemphill was 5,
and over 30 years later-they are still friends (Hemphill is also a
member of The Manhattans). When he was 14 years old, Hardy met one of
the original members of The Manhattans, Edward "Sonny" Bivins. Hardy's
friend was a valet for the group, and Hardy would sometimes help out.
His earlier training prepared him to be able to take care of himself,
and that came in handy when one of the members needed something sewed or
pressed. He also learned a lot from being backstage and watching the
other groups. He learned the art of showmanship, discipline, and how to
follow the rules. Bivins learned of Hardy's singing ability when he
assisted his friend as a valet. Hardy would sing while working and was a
member of several groups during that time. When the Manhattans went
through some changes in personnel, Bivins called Hardy. At the time,
Hardy was singing with a group called Ember. They were mostly working on
original material and doing studio work. Hardy was frustrated with the
direction the group was going and was more than happy to go on the road
with the Manhattans. Hardy says he has never regretted his decision.
Hardy is also an avid reader and spends his time researching his family history and anything related to the music industry. One friend, Robert, says that Hardy is the person to go to if you need some background on almost any band or group. "Charles can name songs by groups that were in existence way before he was even born." His collection of memorabilia has earned him the title of "group historian." Hardy has a knack for collecting. His collection is legendary in the industry. He has photos, recordings, fliers, and even handbills from some of the plays The Manhattans have appeared in. Some of the other entertainers often come to Hardy to get facts, not only about The Manhattans, but also, about other R& B groups from the early 60s and 70s.
He has always been fascinated with the groups from the 1960s. Many of
the older groups he has actually traveled with have been in existence
for over 40 years, and being a part of that has been an awesome
experience for Hardy. He says being able to have conversations with some
of the people he has listened to for years is a humbling experience.
Hardy understands the dynamics of working with a group. There are things
about a singing group in performance that cannot be duplicated in a
studio. Even with the new technologies, there will always be a place for
live musicians and singers. It is something about seeing a recording
brought to life. When asked if he would ever consider going solo,
"Never," says Hardy. "I love being a part of a group, especially this
group."
Sharon Ricks
Managing Editor
View Previous !Manhattan Nites!