Charles Emanuel Sherrell (born March 8 1943 in Nashville, Tennessee) aka Sweet Charles Sherrell was an American bass player and vocalist whose career spanned soul, funk, and R&B. He began as a drummer with local peers Jimi Hendrix and Billy Cox before learning guitar through a trade with Curtis Mayfield, and later acquiring a bass for $69 that launched his professional path. Sherrell joined Johnny Jones & The King Kasuals Band, the backing group for Aretha Franklin, and in August 1968 became the first bassist for James Brown, replacing Tim Drummond; he contributed to landmark recordings such as "Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud" and "Mother Popcorn" during the late 1960s. In the 1970s Sherrell returned to James Brown’s ensemble, the J.B.’s, and recorded with Al Green, Maceo & All the King’s Men, and others. He issued his debut solo album For Sweet People in 1974 on People Records and later released Universal Love in 2017. Sherrell’s work with the J.B.’s earned chart success on the R&B singles list, and his bass style influenced subsequent funk players such as Bootsy Collins. He passed away on March 29 2023 from lung emphysema in the Netherlands.
