User talk:Lynn Klein

Charles M. Mann
Charles M. Mann was a graduating student of Charles L. Harper High School, Atlanta Public Schools in 1966 when I taught there.

I have shared his biography presented to me by Agnes Regina Watson, of the Liberty Baptist Church, 395 Chamberlain St. SE, Atlanta, GA 30312. She wrote the biography in his honor. Agnes (November 27,1918 - April 22, 2003,) was secretary in the Office of the President of Howard University, Dr. Mordecai Wyatt Johnson II, the first African-American president of that noble institution. She was then promoted to Dean of The Reverend Dr.Howard Washington Thurman, Dean of Rankin Chapel. She was chosen to serve in the Office of the President of Morehouse College where she served for thirty years in Atlanta, Georgia. One of her proudest achievements was the final typing and preparation of the doctoral dissertation of the young, soon-to-be, Dr. Marin Luther King Jr. Information about Agnes was provided from the obituary in her honor which was written by family and church members in April of 2003, and sent to me to share as Educational Consultant for presentations about Charles M. Mann for DeKalb County Schools Yearly Preplanning Workshop in 1991 and subsequent presentations, thereafter. I am most grateful for Dr. J. Sherman Pelt, Pastor of the Liberty Baptist Church, for offering information about Agnes Watson, also wife of the late Dr. Melvin Watson, Pastor Emeritus of Liberty Baptist Church.

Respectfully submitted by Lynn Klein, Educational Consultant.

Charles M. Mann (December 29, 1949- April 24, 1991) by Agnes Regina Watson, 1991

Charles M. Mann, composer, singer, actor and independent producer was an Atlanta native. He attended the public schools of Fulton County and Atlanta, and graduated from Morehouse College where he completed his major in music composition and studies in drama. His songs have been recorded by noted artists such as Roberta Flack, the late Donny Hathaway and B.B.King, as well as groups such as the Chi-Lites, Sweet Honey 'n the Rock, and The Mighty Clouds of Joy. Mann is a talent singular in his achievements and in the enormity of his spirit. Mann's career as a musician and composer began while he was very young. He was a leader of his church choir during his teen years and the composer of his high school class song. He first glimpsed the promise of his professional career in 1972 in Underground Atlanta, where the student was playing the piano; a representative of ABC's Dunhill heard him there and signed him. A short time thereafter, in 1973, his album "Say You Love Me Too" was released, and the title song reached No.1 on the R&B charts. By then, "Be Real Black for Me", written for the Black Image Theatre Company (Atlanta's first black theatre company) had been recorded by Flack and Hathaway. These early successes alone distinguished the artist as an extraordinarily gifted composer. After recording several of his own songs, Charles formed his own production company and released several recording projects. National recognition came from the recording industry in the way of appearances on television, including "Soul Train" and "The Mike Douglas Show" as the guest of Arthur Godfrey. Charles was an equally talented actor and theatre artist; he co-authored "Dr.B.S.Black", a play he wrote with artists Carlton and Barbara Molette for Spelman College. The play was later the first production of the Just Us Theatre Company, of which Mann was one of the co-founders in 1976. He also performed to critical acclaim on Atlanta stages with the Spelman-Morehouse Players, Black Image Theatre Company. Just Us Theatre, and Jomandi Productions. It was during the period of his work with Jomandi that he wrote the Jomandi music theme, "And the Family is Now", and the musical score for "Savannah", a world premiere musical which he also conceived. In 1986 Charles was given the prestigious honor of receiving a Mayor's Fellowship in the Arts Award. This period in his life afforded the artist the time to bring together the passions of his professional life--music performance, theatre, and music composition; he also won several grants to teach the performing arts to youth in several areas within the State of Georgia. As a befitting tribute to his talents and the fulfillment he found in his work with children, Charles' last recording was the album "High Qualities". The recording, funded in part through a grant from the City of Atlanta, Bureau of Cultural Affairs, was designed to uplift and motivate all age groups, and to discourage the use of drugs. The album included his rap song on reading, which is found in most Atlanta public school libraries. At the time of his passing, he was a music teacher with DeKalb County Board of Education. What is equally notable is that Charles never, ever abandoned his love for the arts--for theatre and music of all genres--from R&B to musical theatre, from secular to religious. He had a dream of creating a common language--and the arts, particularly music, became his medium. He once said of the experience of having his work produced, "It's a euphoric (feeling). It's unbelievable.  I guess it feels like seeing your kid in a play or running a touchdown.  It's that same glorious feeling". Charles Mann has given to the arts a considerable legacy--the example of a life fully lived--and a body of music that instills in each listener the exhilaration of a life fully lived. Charles Mann music compositions inimitably carry themes of pride in his heritage; they are imbued with the passion of one who knows the inconstancy of romantic love and the joys of self love; his later music began to speak to a new influence--the syncopated rhythms and reasons of a new generation coming on. Charles' legacy is a body of music creations which transcribe the glorious experiences of life into glorious and rich MUSIC...music that will be played on, insprire another generation to sing on, and inspire all of us to live on!

From the Liberty Messenger, June 1993 Liberty Baptist Church 395 Chamberlain St. SE Atlanta, GA 30312