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.
 

Hardy is also married and currently living in North Carolina. He first met his wife when she was 14, and he was 18. She was a dancer and singer with the Ebony Essence Dancers. Family members knew the two of them were destined to be together well before they did. Even though they were young, they both realized they had something special. They dated briefly and their lives moved in different directions, they remained friends and kept in touch through family members and other friends. They were married in 1999-a little over 20 years after that first meeting. When asked how living in North Carolina compared to living in New York, Hardy says, "I visit New York often because my family is still there. I found myself in the middle of the Avenues of Americas in New York City when the light changed. People were saying I must not have been from there because I didn't know what I was doing. I had lived in New York all my life before moving to North Carolina, and already I forgot how to cross the street."
 

A typical day for Hardy might include cooking dinner and helping his daughter, Siarah, with her homework. He also 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. His wife now has the job of trying to help him eat healthier.
 

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