*Charlie Wilson hits a personal milestone this week by becoming the first artist ever to top the Adult R&B Songs Airplay chart in each of the last three decades.
Uncle Charlie scored the accomplishment this week when his latest single, “Forever Valentine,” co-written, co-produced and with background vocals by Bruno Mars, became his seventh No. 1 on the aforementioned chart. Wilson, of course, earned initial fame as a member of The Gap Band with his brothers Ronnie and Robert. The trio cranked out instant classics like “You Dropped A Bomb on Me” and “Outstanding” during their heyday from 1979 – 1990. They scored a total of 15 top 10 hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, including four No. 1s.
Wilson went solo in 1992 with his first album “You Turn My Life Around.” He scored his first Billboard hit a year later with “Without You” from his second album “Bridging the Gap” peaking at #26 on the Billboard R&B chart. Wilson told Billboard.com: “After 20 years since my first hit as a solo artist, it’s amazing to consistently earn these No. 1 songs. I so appreciate radio and the streaming services for all of their support over the years.”
In this EUR Video Throwback, we celebrate all seven of Wilson’s solo chart toppers through the last three decades:
1) “Charlie Last Name: Wilson” (Six weeks at No. 1 beginning week of Sept. 17, 2005)
The track, produced by R. Kelly, is from Wilson’s third studio album of the same name, released on August 23, 2005, by Jive Records. The album also included production from several will.i.am, Justin Timberlake, KayGee & Terence “Tramp-Baby” Abney, The Underdogs and The Platinum Brothers.
2) “There Goes My Baby,” (Nine weeks at No. 1 beginning week of March 21, 2009)
This second single from his fourth studio album “Uncle Charlie” features production by Gregg Pagani. The old school throwback was written by Babyface, Daryl Simmons, Kenneth Copeland, Marvin Eugene Smith, Gregg Pagani, Clarence Allen and Calvin Richardson. The video features Snoop Dogg and his wife, Shante, who had renewed their vows a year earlier in April 2008 at Wilson’s 20 acre ranch outside of Los Angeles. The ceremony was the inspiration behind this music video.
3) “You Are,” (Thirteen weeks at No. 1, beginning week of Dec. 18, 2010)
This track, from Wilson’s fifth studio album, “Just Charlie,” also climbed to No. 16 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, No. 7 on the Heatseeker Songs chart, No. 19 on the Christian Songs chart, and No. 64 on Radio Songs chart.
4) “My Love Is All I Have” (Five weeks at No. 1, beginning week of Feb. 16, 2013)
This track is from Wilson’s sixth studio album, “Love, Charlie.” The album debuted at No. 4 on Billboard 200, and No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, selling 44,000 copies for the week.
5) “I’m Blessed” (Two weeks at No. 1, beginning week of April 22, 2017)
This track, featuring T.I., was from his eighth studio album “In It to Win It” and was inspired by his personal battle with prostate cancer in 2008. “When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer it was a reality check for me,” Wilson told PEOPLE. “It woke me up and made me realize how short life is and how it could be cut anytime.
6) “Chills” (Three weeks at No. 1, beginning week of March 31, 2018)
The second single from “In It to Win It” to top the Adult R&B Singles chart, “Chills” finds Wilson giving a refreshing reminder of what it’s like to be completely enamored with the one you love.
7) “Forever Valentine” (Currently No. 1, beginning week of May 9, 2020)
“I am so happy and proud of ‘Forever Valentine,'” Wilson told Billboard. “Bruno had the vision and we always wanted to work together musically. To have a No. 1 song in May with ‘Valentine’ in the title proves what we set out to accomplish in this record. It is actually an ‘Anti-Valentine’s Day’ love song because we want you to celebrate love not just on Valentine’s Day but every day.”
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