If you haven't had the distinct pleasure of listening to Charles Bradley, I recommend doing so now. The soul singer echoed songs from another time, which still felt modern. I had the pleasure of photographing him at FYF Fest in 2013. It was interesting to see these images pop up right before Joyce Manor. I moseyed over to Charles' set because I read good press about him, but wasn't really familiar with his work.

Charles Bradley: Photo by Melissa Fossum

I was absolutely blown away by Charles Bradley's stage presence. His voice was booming and commanding. I've only seen something similar twice- once with Alabama Shakes, who thankfully is getting the acclaim the deserve, and the other was Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. I also feel very honored to have been able to see the late Sharon Jones perform.

It's surreal having worked as a concert photographer for a decade now and learning news of these great musicians passing away. My main takeaway here is you never know how much time you have with a musician. If you're ever on the fence about seeing a musician for the first time, I strongly recommend rallying up the energy to go. You never know when you'll find your next favorite artist.