Time To Remember

Singer, producer and cultural icon Charlie Wilson might not have gotten very far in his musical career were it not for his family.

"My mom made sure her children knew how to play musical instruments," he says. "My mother was the minister of music for the state of Oklahoma, and my father was a bishop. Gospel music was always played in our home."

The Tulsa native created The Gap Band with his brothers, Robert and Ronnie, in 1974. The band enjoyed nearly a half-decade of success before the members' retirement in 2010.

But although the brothers have hung up their instruments, the nine-time Grammy Award nominated frontman isn't ready to quit just yet.

Wilson performs tonight at this year's NAACP Image Awards Watch Party at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers to highlight what he says is a way for young people to see and learn about the accomplishments of African Americans as entertainers, athletes, scientists, politicians and more.

"We are a part of the fabric of American culture, and that needs to be highlighted more often," Wilson says. "I am hoping that the audience will include young people as well as adults. It's a time to celebrate, and I believe that it is important to generations to share experiences like this."

Wilson received the award for Outstanding Album at the Image Awards last year, which also highlights "the numerous achievements of African Americans from music to television to authors," he says. "It is a confirmation of the impact we have on not only our community but in the world."

Although Wilson's performance will undoubtedly inspire the young musicians in the audience, he hopes his presence will have a lasting impact on their health as well.

The performer is a prostate cancer survivor who say says early detection made it possible for him to live cancer free. But while he and his wife researched the disease shortly after his diagnosis, Wilson learned he was lucky.

"(We) found out that one in six men get this disease, but one in three African American men get the disease," he says. "We are three times as likely to die from this as other men." Working with the Prostate Cancer Foundation, the singer has spoken around the country about the need for African American men and their families to "take control of their health," he says.

"This disease affects not only men, but their families," he continues.

Next week, the healthy 62-year-old will embark on yet another tour which is already being critically acclaimed, he says, and he has been nominated for two more Grammy Awards. But before then, he's looking forward to coming to a place that looks a bit like coming home, he says.

"I am happy about coming to Northwest Arkansas and yes it is a familiar area to me," Wilson says. "What excited me even more is coming and performing with my band. We're coming to give everyone a great show and a good time."