After 36 years and more than 3,000 performances with the group’s original lineup, The Carpenter Ants’ lead singer Charlie Tee passed away in December, 2021 from COVID.His death was shockingly sudden. After surviving numerous health issues over the past dozen years, the virus took him down in a little more than a week, leaving his bandmates in disbelief and a legion of friends in WV’s music community grieving.
But thanks to Charlie’s selfless and generous nature, the Ants were able to pick up the pieces remarkably quickly and soldier on, thanks to Mark Bates. A longtime friend and frequent collaborator, Bates is a talented singer, songwriter and keyboardist and has performed often with the Ants. In 2016, he filled in for Charlie on the band’s third trip to Russia..
With a mission to celebrate Charlie’s spirit, WV’s premiere R&B/gospel-soul band carries on. (Full Article Here)Location: Charleston, WV