In a sobering wave of sorrow, revered musician Charlie Colin, who basked in fame as the bassist and one of the founding members of the widely acclaimed American pop-rock band, Train, has shuffled off this mortal coil at the age of 58.
Carolyn Stephens, Colin’s sister, imparted the tragic revelation of her brother’s passing. His life ebbed away in the aftermath of an unfortunate mishap – a slip and fall in the confines of a shower while rendering house-sitting duties to a friend in the bustling city of Brussels, Belgium, as conveyed by popular celebrity portal, TMZ.com.
Born and nurtured in the diverse landscapes of California and Virginia, Colin’s pilgrimage towards his undeniable destiny was guided by the enriching environs of Berklee College of Music sprawled in the vivacious city of Boston.
The echoes of Colin’s vibrant passion reverberated through a musical ensemble known as the Apostles, in which he honed his skills alongside guitarist Jimmy Stafford and vocalist Rob Hotchkiss, post his college years. Though the band later capitulated, the dissolution did not deter Colin who then sought isolation to pen jingles in Singapore for an entire year.
Colin, along with Hotchkiss and Stafford, eventually found solace in the rejuvenating vibes of San Francisco. It was here in the early ‘90s, that the trio wielded the firmament of fame under the name Train, accentuated by the soulful timbre of Pat Monahan. Completing the ensemble was Scott Underwood, a drummer brought into the fold by Colin, as shared by him and Hotchkiss in an intimate conversation published in Berklee’s alumni magazine.
His inevitable talent woven into the foundation of Train witnessed the enchanting resonance of Colin’s strings in the band’s first trio of records – the eponymous album of 1998, the beloved 2001 album “Drops of Jupiter,” and 2003’s “My Private Nation”. The latter two masterpieces niched themselves at a triumphant No. 6 spot on the coveted Billboard 200 chart.
Train’s spectacular journey began with the debut album’s hit, “Meet Virginia,” seeping into the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100. However, the band’s ascendancy was sealed with their sophomore album, “Drops of Jupiter.” The title track of this album, “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)”, a heart-wrenching tribute to Monahan’s late mother featuring musical geniuses Chuck Leavell and Paul Buckmaster, soared high to position five on the Billboard charts, also procuring two coveted Grammys for the band.
After soaring high, Colin bid adieu to Train in 2003, his departure linked to a tumultuous battle with substance abuse. “…the way he was dealing with it was very painful for everyone else around him,” Monahan warmly recounted on NBC San Diego.
Colin turned a new chapter in 2015 and joined forces with Hotchkiss to form a new group – the Painbirds, and in 2017, came another formation, the Side Deal, aligning with Stan Frazier of Sugar Ray fame and the PawnShop Kings’ dynamic duo – Joel and Scott Owen.
News of Colin’s death was acknowledged with a heartfelt tribute on Train’s official social media platforms. Celebrating his remarkable contribution and unique persona, the tribute read, “You’re a legend, Charlie. Go charm the pants off those angels.”
Colin’s final days were spent in his self-proclaimed “favorite city,” Brussels, as revealed through a recent Instagram post captioned, “Officially my favorite city.” His untimely demise has certainly left a void in the world of music and in the hearts of those who knew and admired him.
