Godspeeed Manny Charlton, Formerly of Nazareth

Manny Charlton, the former lead guitarist of Nazareth, died on July 5 2022 at the age of 80.

Manny Charlton was born on July 25 1941 in La Línea, Andalusia, Spain. He was only two when his family migrated to Dunfermline, Scotland. When he was young he played in such bands as The Mark 5 and The Red Hawks. In 1968 Manny Charlton joined the Dunfermline band The Shadettes. After the departure of various members reduced the band to a quartet, The Shadettes renamed themselves "Nazareth." The name was taken from the first line of "The Weight" by The Band, "I pulled into Nazareth, feelin’ ’bout half past dead."

Nazareth moved from Scotland to London in 1970. They signed to Pegasus Records and their eponymous debut album was released in 1971. Nazareth's first two albums failed to chart, but their third album, Razamanaz, peaked at no. 11 on the UK album chart and no. 157 on the Billboard album chart. Nazareth would have success with singles in the United Kingdom early in their career. Their single "Bad Bad Boy," from the album  album Razamanaz, went to no. 10 o the UK singles chart. Their cover of Joni Mitchell's "This Flight Tonight" peaked at no. 11

It was with their sixth album, Hair of the Dog, that Nazareth would have their biggest hit in the United States. The album went to no. 17 on the Billboard album chart. A single from the album, a cover of The Everly Brothers' "Love Hurts," went to no. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single performed even better elsewhere, going to no. 1 in Canada, South Africa, and the Netherlands.

Nazareth would never repeat the success of Hair of the Dog in the United States, but the band continued to be popular, releasing several more albums and continuing to tour. Manny Charlton remained with the band, both as its lead guitarist and as a producer on their albums starting with their fifth album Rampant.  He also served as a producer for several other artists, including fellow Nazareth member Dan McCafferty's solo work, Steelheart, Marseille, Vic Vergeat, and Guns 'n' Roses' debut album, Appetite for Destruction, among others.

Manny Charlton left Nazareth in 1990. In 1991 he moved to Texas where he formed The Manny Charlton Band. The band released two albums Stonkin and Klone This and disbanded in 2003. A new incarnation of The Manny Charlton Band released the album Hellacious in 2012. Manny Charlton released his first solo album, Drool, in 1999. He would release eight more solo albums. He also recorded albums  with From Behind (Game Over in 2006) and  The Fluffy Jackets (Fighting Demons in 2014 and Something for Nothing in 2019).

There can be no doubt that Manny Charlton was responsible for much of the success of Nazareth, both as a producer and as their lead guitarist. His lead guitar had the sound of the blues and certainly set Nazareth apart from other hard rock bands. Manny Charlton could make a guitar create any emotion he wanted. Indeed, despair is evident in Manny Charlton's guitar solo on "Love Hurts." Few guitarists had the skill that Manny Charlton displayed throughout his career.