Reviews:

Praise for The Shady Grove Band:

"One of our state's musical treasures." -- News and Observer (Raleigh, NC)

"The band combined virtuoso musical execution with a down home persona that had the audience of 700 hooting and dancing in the aisles." -- M. Sapp, Dir., Odell Williamson Performing Arts Series (Supply, NC)

"Bone driving music with a unique southern Carolina flavor!" -- M. Knapp, Dir., Napa Valley Bluegrass Festival

"[Pettee has] multifaceted talents as singer, instrumentalist, arranger, and songwriter...an engaging and expressive baritone voice well suited to the songs he writes and sings" -- SingOut! Magazine

"Shady Grove's Charles Pettee plays bluegrass with a fire and intensity you find only in true believers" -- Spectator magazine (Durham, NC)

Praise for FolkPsalm:

"Rich, engaging new acoustic and bluegrass arrangements...the most sophisticated and moving music of [Pettee's] career." -- Independent Weekly, May, 2003 (Durham, NC)

"The music brings these old words new power, and pierces to our hearts as well." -- The Town Crier (Fairview, NC)

"Charles Pettee and the FolkPsalm band give a refreshing, delightful, and deeply moving concert. I play their CD, Steady Love, constantly. The singers are both soulful and electric, and instrumentalists superb, and, oh the lyrics, they are divine!" -- Kathy Russell, teacher, Fresh Water Ministries.

"...Surely these raw, touching vocal settings must be very close to the spirit of those wandering desert people who first thrust these God-songs heavenward. In Pettee's tunes God dances, dips and reels around our primal heart campfires again. Something very old, very true is at work here." -- Mitchell Simpson, pastor, University Baptist Church (Chapel Hill, NC)

Praise for "Hear the Sound" school programs:

"Charles Pettee had such an impact on several Chatham County fourth grade history classes he performed for in September, 2002, that when the children were asked at the end of last year's classes what they most remembered, students said Pettee's musical demonstration...Music caused them to remember history. That is what we're aiming for." -- Beverly Perdue, North Carolina Lt. Governor, in a speech to arts supporters on March 30, 2003.

"The children were really captivated. Your expertise and experience definitely enriched us." -- Barbara Poole, Center for Family Affairs (Kinston, NC)

"Mr. Pettee's performances not only provided entertainment that captured and maintained the attention of the children, youth and adults in attendance, but also presented a history of Southeastern music from the Pilgrim fathers to the present. The Teachers and Administrators who viewed Mr. Pettee's program expressed strong interest in establishing encore performances with larger audiences." -- Ava Hughes, Executive Director, Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg (SC)

"Wow! Thanks again for a great concert. I love having the opportunity to work with artists who are not only talented, but [are] also fantasic performers. You are the best!" -- Jane Musgrave, NC State University, Division of Student Affairs

Tanya Rees, Executive Director of the Surry County Arts Council, presented "Hear The Sound" in numerous centers this past spring, and she may be contacted for comments at 336-786-7998, Surry County Arts Center, Mt. Airy, NC.

Praise for Chuck and the Waggin'Ears:

"Presenting Artist of the Year 2007-2008" -- United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County

"Please express my appreciation to the members of Chuck and the Waggin' Ears for their usual outstanding performance last Saturday...The Waggin' Ears were a great group to start the day. You are definitely on the "A" list of performing groups we will be calling on next year for some of the events we are planning for Meadowmont Village." -- Dave Hill, Coordinator, Meadowmont Village Festival (Chapel Hill, NC)

Awards for Charles:

Training seminar, Spartanburg, SC "Developing Strategies for Working w/ Students w/ Disabilities", Sept. 2003

Recipient 1995 Emerging Artist Grant from the Durham Arts Council, NC

Recipient "Meet the Composers" grant from the New York State Council on the Arts, May 1991

Winner, 1990 North Carolina Composers Competition, sponsored by Duke University Cultural Services

Host, Mandolin Mania Workshop, 1995 MerleFest, Wilkesboro, NC

Host, mandolin seminar 1991 Owen Sound Folk Festival, Ontario

Panelist and judge at the National Guitar Flat-Picking Championship, KS, 1989

Host, mandolin workshop, Winnepeg Folk Festival, Manitoba, 1986

Winner, first place, Chapel Hill Guitar Flat-Picking Contest, 1984