Charlie Colin was a musician and bass player who was one of the founding members of the band Train, known for their hit song “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me).”
- Died: May 2024
- Details of death: Died in Brussels, Belgium after a fall at the age of 58.
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Charlie Colin’s legacy
Charlie Colin was playing music at an early age and fully explored his interest in the arts while attending the University of Southern California and Berklee College of Music in Boston. The bassist co-founded the band Apostles with guitarists Jimmy Stafford and Rob Hotchkiss. They recorded an album in 1992, though that union wouldn’t last.
Hotchkiss linked up with singer Pat Monahan the following year and, after inviting Colin and Stafford, along with drummer Scott Underwood, Train was formed. They had a minor hit with “Meet Virginia,” but it was 2001’s “Drops of Jupiter” that broke them through to the mainstream. The title track was a smash hit, and the band earned touring spots with Hootie & the Blowfish, Sheryl Crow, and others.
Colin left Train in 2003 after struggles with substance abuse. His music career continued with bands like Food Pill, Painbirds, and The Side Deal. He also formed the Homeless Art Project, a foundation devoted to supporting and aiding unhoused artists. The endeavor became a major focus for Colin. At the time of his death, he lived in Brussels, Belgium, and taught music there.
On the hidden talent in the homeless community:
“Remember, Van Gogh was homeless. Gauguin was homeless. A lot of artists were, who wore out their favors with their friends and family and got the boot … there’s no doubt that this is a misunderstood community with a lot to offer.” — San Francisco Examiner interview, 1997
Tributes to Charlie Colin
Full obituary: San Francisco Chronicle
