King Charles, born Charles Johnston on 6 May, 1985 is an independent singer-songwriter from West London.
Charles plays the guitar, piano, and cello. He is also a classically trained singer and performed in his school’s choir.
Having been writing music from the age of seventeen, in 2009, he won the International Songwriting Competition by unanimous vote.
After studying sociology for two terms at Durham University, Charles returned to London in 2007, adopted the pseudonym King Charles, and formed a band, Adventure Playground, which toured with Laura Marling and Noah and the Whale before disbanding in 2008.
He has also gone on tour around the UK and The United States alongside Mumford and Sons. In 2010 he became the first ever Brit to win the International Songwriting Competition in Nashville – judged by Tom Waits, Jeff Beck, Loretta Lynn and Jerry Lee Lewis – and was signed by Universal Republic/Island as a result.
After signing a global contract with Universal Republic through his UK independent label Mi7 Records, King Charles recorded his debut album, Loveblood, in Hollywood, CA. It was released on 8 May 2012.
