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Charles Bradley: Soul of America will screen June 28, 2012 as part of the annual summer long Open Roof Festival. The film begins on Bradley’s 62nd birthday and follows him in the months leading up to his debut album, No Time for Dreaming. Despite numerous hardships throughout his life, including abandonment as a child, poverty, homelessness and the loss of his brother, Charles held onto his 48-year dream of becoming a professional singer.

Prior to connecting with producer and Grammy-winner Gabriel Roth (Daptone Records) and musician Tommy Brenneck, Bradley had been doing mostly James Brown covers in order to earn money. With the help of Roth and Brenneck, Bradley found his own unique voice and earned himself a spot on tour with Daptone’s biggest artist, Sharon Jones. With the sell-out success of his new album, Bradley’s life transformed completely, and not a moment too soon as the economic downturn and mortgage on his elderly mother’s house threatened to send him further into the depths of poverty.

This open air screening of Charles Bradley: Soul of America will take place at 7:30 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012 at the Amsterdam Brewery (21 Bathurst Street). Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased online from the Open Roof Festival.

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Danielle La Valle

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