Born at Windsor, NSW. Began playing the guitar at age 15.

As Charley’s guitar playing improved he started performing for church groups playing and singing traditional Country and Bluegrass Gospel music. Charley started performing with a good friend, Bruce O’Hara and soon after, this combo became known as Country Sound. They released a few albums and cassettes. Country Sound was one of the first gospel bands to perform and record at the Sydney Opera House.

Recorded some shows for Christian Television shows.

1975 – Approached by Slim Dusty to join his touring show. He toured and recorded with Slim for 20 years.

1990 - Invited to join the "Legends Of Guitar" with Barry Thornton and Lindsay Butler.

1993 –Inducted into the Hands of Fame, Tamworth NSW.

1994 -  Appeared on live concerts and was a guest on Jenny Seaton's Breakfast Show on Channel 7.

1996 - Tamworth Festival saw the release of the "Legends Of Guitar" album with Lindsay Butler and Barry Thornton on Selection Records.
Tour with Barry Thornton and Lindsay Butler and the Gunbarrell Highwaymen, Terry Gordon, Owen Blundell and Reg Poole. He also toured Hermannsburg, Northern Territory with Barry Thornton and Shorty Ranger.

1997 - He recorded a duet album of short verse recitals with good mate Kelly Dixon.

2006 - The release of Charley’s third album “Play Charley” recorded at Kross Kut Records. So far it has won Tasmanian / New Zealand Instrumental of the Year, Australian Country Recording Awards Instrumental of the Year, NSW Gold Medallion and Gidgee Coal Award Instrumental of the Year.

2011 - Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the performing arts as a country music entertainer.

Charley has played guitar for many years with Gordon Parsons and Glenn Jones and also backed Stan Coster, Tracy Coster, Trevor Day, Jimmy Little, Reg Lindsay, Nev Nichols, Buster Noble, Chad Morgan, Anne Kirkpatrick, Joy McKean, Heather McKean, Brian Letton, Reg Poole, Terry Gordon, Owen Blundell, James Blundell, Ian Betteridge, Harold Williams, Rex Dallas, Shaza Leigh, Ivy Sommerfield, and many others.

Charley has also appeared in New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea (with Slim Dusty), Solomon Islands (with Slim Dusty), Los Angeles, China Lake Marine Base California Nashville USA.