The soulful sound of Anthony Hamilton was loud and clear in his first big hit, “Charlene,” in 2004.

He says, make no mistake about it, that style will always be with him.  

“It’s just important to be who you are,” Hamilton explained. “I think that’s who I am naturally, a soul cat, a church guy and the blues. All that stuff is from down South. It’s a lingo in the music and that all stems from the church.”

Hamilton has lots to be thankful for in his more than 25 years as a professional artist. The Charlotte, North Carolina native was working as a barber when the singer got the call in 1992 to come New York. He says had $68 in his pocket.   

“I got to go, this is it. I’m going to New York in a Suzuki Sidekick with seven other guys,” Hamilton recalled. 

He lived in parts of Northern New Jersey, and eventually landed in Harlem for eight years.  

At first, it wasn’t easy being a poor Southern boy in the big city. He and the group of guys he was with would sleep wherever they could, including in recording studios in Manhattan.

“We would break into the studio, to be honest with you, and they would kick us out. But, we had nowhere else. We knew that they were not violent, so we would break in there every night,” Hamilton said.

And the group of Black men even stayed with people in an Orthodox community, thankful to get some rest.   

“A few nights we slept in this Jewish neighborhood,”  said Hamilton. “I think it was Avenue K at 13th in Brooklyn. It was a Jewish neighborhood and it was the first time I had seen Jewish people. Sleeping in these different places amongst people we didn’t know was pretty scary. Because, you know, one knock of a cop could change your life. That was crazy.” 

It was also scary trying to make a few dollars for food while doing background vocals for rappers in the 90s. 

“I’ve been at the studio with cats with pistols just because they were so gangster. I was like, I am just going to lay low and do my backgrounds and get on out of here with my $200 or $300 and go feed the guys.” 

For about 10 years, there was a lot of disappointment for the soul man with the ups and downs of the music business. But he would eventually record a hit album called “Coming From Where I’m From.”  

He has a message for anyone going through hard times. 

“Each day is a chance to make it better. I think if you let yesterday be yesterday and start today for today, you have a better chance of not carrying that weight,” said Hamilton. 

Along with his singing, he has ventures in food, fashion and movies, all of which he wants to expand while staying connected to his music.

One of his latest hits is called “You Made a Fool of Me.”

Hamilton says, like many classic soul artists, he idolizes musicians like Bill Withers and Al Green, and he wants to make sure his songs continue to have a message about life and love.