Charles Jenkins

Charles Jenkins (born 1966) is an Australianmusician based in Melbourne, Victoria. He is a member of Icecream Hands, has released eight solo albums and is a member of Charles Jenkins and the Zhivagos.

Early life

Following his birth in Mildura, Victoria, Jenkins moved to Adelaide, South Australia.

Career Jenkins started as a solo performer and later joined the band The Mad Turks From Istanbul. In 1989, Jenkins relocated to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with the band, but the Mad Turks disbanded soon after the move and Jenkins formed a new band called 'Icecream Hands'. The band formed in 1992 and was originally named 'Chuck Skatt and His Icecream Hands'. Jenkins revealed in 2007 that the first of the five albums that Icecream Hands recorded, Travelling... Made Easy , sold poorly and he attributed this to "too many chords and too many words".

Icecream Hands functioned as a band for 16 years and Jenkins has stated that becoming a father significantly affected the manner in which he wrote songs for the quartet, as he was forced to exercise a greater degree of self-restraint: "I'm very fond of that album (Memory Lane Traffic Jam) because of the heartache that went into it. It was a real struggle."

During periods of inactivity by the members of Icecream Hands, Jenkins recorded three solo albums,

Charles Jenkins and the Zhivagos have released three studio albums as of January 2014: Walk This Ocean (2010), Love Your Crooked Neighbour with Your Crooked Heart (2012) and Blue Atlas (2010). Released on Silver Stamp Records, Love Your Crooked Neighbour with Your Crooked Heart received a 4-star rating from music journalist Iain Shedden, who, writing for The Age newspaper, stated:

There's a smattering of gospel-tinged singalong, exquisitely crafted balladry and melodic invention in the mix as well, all matched by a sharp tongue and an ear for a killer hook.

Jenkins received a grant from the Australia Council in 2013 to record an album centred upon the theme of water. Along with band members Dave Mine, Davey Lane, Art Starr and Matty Vehl, Jenkins created Too Much Water in the Boat that consists of songs such as "Sweet Mildura", "Seven Creeks (the cross dresser Steve Hart)" and "The Barrel Song". On 3 January 2014, Jenkins's band previewed the album on "The Inner Sleeve", Paul Gough's program on the ABC's Radio National network. Gough described Jenkins's work as "wry, insightful pop songs that have more to say than most". Too Much Water in the Boat was produced and engineered by Justin Rudge, and features backing harmonies from ex-Icecream Hands member Douglas Lee Robertson, described by Jenkins as "extraordinary".

Discography Albums + List of albums, with selected details Title Details

Released: 2004 Format: CD Label: Parole Records (PAR-001)

Released: 2005 Format: CD Label: Parole Records (PAR-002)

Released: 2008 "Pray My Dear Daughter" Best Song Charles Jenkins Best Male 2014 Too Much Water in the Boat Best Folk Roots Album