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The Charles Brothers Trio: Ben, John and Fred Charles. Ben Charles, Sr. grew up in the Klallam Tribal villages along the Washington
State side of the Straight of Juan de Fuca. Ben’s mother is from across the water, the First Nations village at Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada. And his father is of the
Klallam Tribe in Washington State. Ben and his brothers sang together
and became known and loved throughout Washington and Oregon as The Charles Brothers Trio. They made record albums on their
own label "Big Chief Records", and were guest artists on some camp meeting records. Ben attended Bible College in Seattle. During that time, the Charles
Brothers Trio traveled, representing the Seattle Bible Training College across the US and into Mexico in the summer of 1960. In 1961 the Trio was traveling with Evangelist, Reverand Everett Olp. During their
services in Central Oregon, Ben met the girl he would marry two years later. Ben married his wife Sue in 1963, and graduated from Bible College in
1964. Ben was a mill worker and traveled as a special speaker for few years before accepting the pastorate of his first
church at Nisqually Tribe in Washington State. Through
the next 45 years of their marriage together, Ben and Sue pastored for over 25 years, including several Native American
and First Nations churches in Washington State and British Columbia, Canada. During much of that time, Ben worked for the Yelm School District and
for some of the Tribes. Returning from Canada in 1992, Ben retired from the pastoral kind of ministry work,
but continues to this time accepting speaking engagements, and officiates for weddings, funerals and Native American
Cultural events and conferences. Ben
worked for several Tribes in Washington State until his retirement in 2005. Because of a couple of heart attacks and heart surgery (in 2003 and 2005)
it has been necessary that he phase back on the physical and stressful demands of traditional types of employment. He
now helps in his son’s business (The Journey Enterprises) as an artist, illustrator
and designer. For many years Ben
and his brother John still sang together for events and gatherings until late 2006 when brother John, because of his health
and limited breathing capacity could no longer sing. In September of 2007 the family suffered the great loss of Brother John.
And so, Ben stands alone as representing the Charles Brothers Trio. Ben and his wife of 45 years have joined the crowds of others using the internet for business opportunities
and information disbursement. [See a partial list of websites below.] Ben still hosts the occasional television program. But not on a weekly basis as he did from 1992 to about
1998, when he hosted the couple’s TV series called NW Native Culture. Sue produced and directed the NW Native Culture
TV series, in addition to four other TV series on various topics from storytelling to self-defense. Sue also directed countless
programs for other producers from 1991 to the present (well over two thousand shows). Sue is also a media consultant and trainer
for various firms, tribes, agencies, churches and organizations, and does internet contract services, web design and training.
Ben and Sue own and operate their own
media production business, NW Native Media Productions since 1989.
Many of their TV programs and documentaries have been award winners. [Learn
more…] Ben and Sue host scores
of websites which Sue created through the past number of years. And Sue has been working with internet podcasting in her
friend’s company for several years. Ad-Venture Travel: Sue is also putting her
14 years of travel industry experience back in to practice with the online travel service business that the couple started
last year. For more information on this, or to book your travel and accommodations through their travel business, you can visit Ad-Venture Travel. No membership or fees
are required to use Ad-Venture Travel search
engine or to make your reservations. At the top of the list of Ben and Sue’s favorite things to do is enjoying their family;
all their grown children and their spouses, and of course the grandchildren. Learn More… You can visit some of the websites to see what kinds of things Ben and Sue
do, encourage and support. Stay tuned…
there’s always more to come. |
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Photo by Jens Stahmer. Ben,
Sue and Steph pose with decorative paddle that was gifted to friends, Jens and Gift. This was about in 2002, if I remember
correctly. The paddle that Ben uses when he participates in the Canoe Journeys is much
more huge in order to paddle the big waters of the Pacific Ocean, the Straights of Juan de Fuca, the Puget Sound and the other
big waterways that the Canoes travel. |
Ben
and Sue Charles. Schedule Ben Charles,
Sr. as a Guest Speaker, or to officiate for a Cultural Event, Wedding or Funeral Service with a deposit
of $200. Contact information: CLICK HERE to
reserve, and negotiate terms and fees. Travel and accommodations may be considered in addition to the speaker's
fee. |
