Yolanda Charles

Yolande Christina Charles is a British musician. She has played bass guitar with Paul Weller, David A. Stewart, Robbie Williams, Mick Jagger, The Waterboys, Hans Zimmer and from July 2017 through early 2020 she was a member of Squeeze.

Charles has been playing professionally since 1989. In 1993, she was part of the house band on the short-lived TV show Saturday Zoo. She was heard playing bass by Paul Weller and became part of his band promoting his album Wildwood, she also recorded bass for another of his albums Stanley Road. She released an EP in 2009 and an album in 2011 with her band The Deep MO, and has a new band called PROJECT PH. She has also been involved in teaching, including running classes at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester. She is currently a visiting tutor at Trinity Laban Music college.

Yolanda runs a new record label called MAMAYO Records, and now works as an independent artist releasing her own music through the label. As part of NLYC Productions she works as a writer/arranger and co-produces with guitarist/producer Nick Linnik from Project PH.

Charles was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to music.