About Charlie

An accomplished and popular American composer and playwright, Charlie Barnett is the winner of numerous awards for his film scores, including the Rome International Film Festival’s Jerry Goldsmith Award. Barnett also writes music for television; his credits include Saturday Night Live, Weeds, Royal Pains, and Archer.

Barnett’s lively orchestral and chamber works are performed both nationally and internationally. Notable collaborations include a spoken-word piece written and performed with Dr. Maya Angelou. His theatrical scores include 19: The Musical and When We Get There.

A playwright of dramas, comedies, and musicals, Barnett has had works produced in New York City and along the East Coast. His plays include 12ness and The Spectre of Death, while his musicals include True North and The Last Days of Cleopatra. 

As a producer, Barnett has recorded scores of pop and jazz albums for labels including Def Jam and Elektra. And as a performer, for 20 years he played guitar and piano for Chaise Lounge, an eclectic jazz band that frequently appeared on the national college-radio charts with his original compositions. Barnett continues to perform as a jazz pianist.

Barnett has been heard as an occasional commentator on NPR. His essay “Hitching a Ride with Junior McGee” was included in the network’s Classic Driveway Moments compilation.