Ballardite William Charney is a Grammy-nominated musician and composer whose discography is extensive and talent priceless yet undervalued.

Retired after a successful 30-year-career as a social activist, scientist, and organizer in the field of occupational health, Charney lives on social security and while continuing to work as a musician and composer, Charney said he loses money every time he produces an album or performs.

"I always call my bands the IOU's because I always end up owing money," Charney said.

Charney grew up listening to jazz and as a 13-year-old living in New York City, he would sneak out at night and run off to Apollo Theater or Slugs to stand outside the clubs and listen to some of the great jazz musicians perform.

He was always inspired by music but was never trained and can hardly read notes.

"A lot of my music, I have no idea where it comes from," he said. "It's natural ability I guess."

Charney was a full-time musician in the 1980s when he lived and toured with a band, the original IOU's, in Canada.

Charney said Canada was, and still is, a good place to be a musician because the industry is unionized.

"Bands get a minimum of $1,700 for a performance with 20 percent more for the leader," Charney explained. "Here, we're lucky to get $300 a night which equals to about $50 a musician."

Charney played his last live show as a full-time musician in 1989 in Montreal, a show that was recorded for a live album. He left after receiving a job offer he couldn't refuse.

"I needed the money. I had a family to support," he explained.

Charney didn't touch his guitar for the following ten years.

"I had to sacrifice my music," he said. "And my artistic side kept asking to come out."

Now retired and back in Seattle, Charney has been creating music prolifically, spending most of his days inside his Ballard studio.

"It has just been flowing out of me. I moved back to Seattle [from Vermont] and that urban edge came back. There's a tension here and lots of energy. You don't get that anywhere else," he said. "It's Superman's metropolis. There's lots of noise, dirt, and weird people trying to live a normal life and normal people living a weird life."

His prolific work has resulted in solo records as well as many collaborations. His most recognized work in the past year has been a collaboration with young Seattle vocalist Rachel Gavaletz. Blending genres and bridging the generation gap between them, Charney and Gavaletz recorded "Chárrvá: Back to the drawing board", an album that was nominated for a Grammy award for best Jazz album as well as best gospel song.

"It's a big deal but apparently not a big deal for the radio stations or venues," Charney said, explaining that he is having a hard time getting radio play and gigs in Seattle.

"Any way the wind blows in Seattle you're going to find a musician, especially in Ballard. I think the venues exploit that," he said. "It's hard to get a good gig. You have to play in like 10 different bands to make a living."

"I don't think Seattle supports its musicians well. It can do a whole lot more," Charney continued. "Unions got to step up so we can play and actually make money."

Charney said that Seattle schools and music teachers have been doing a really good job in teaching jazz, which is resulting in a lot of great, young talent like Rachel Gavaletz.

"It's kind of a catch 22. There are 6000 musicians and 600 venues," he said.

The IOU's Jazz Band is performing at Egan's Ballard Jam House on Saturday, Dec 10, with Charney on guitar, vocalist Susanna Fuller, Jay Kenney on piano, Dylan Hughes on bass, and Chris Leighton on drums.

"It will be a really good two-hour show of original jazz and some blues," Charney said. "We're just going to rip it with very good musicians. There will be something for everyone and it will be a good party."

For more information about William Charney, visit http://www.williamcharney.com/.