To paraphrase a popular song Charlie Major never thought it could happen to him.
So he figured now was the time to celebrate 20 years in the music business with a greatest hits CD “Best 20 of the Last 20,” which he released in September.
“ The highlight for 
me is just being here making music in a business where a lot of careers only span two or three years,” said Charlie Major, just “hanging out at home” in Ottawa.
“That’s pretty amazing for me. I wasn’t expecting it. It just happened,” he continued.
He definitely has a lot of hits charting back to his debut CD in 1995 including “It Can’t Happen To Me,” “ For The Money,” “Young at Heart,” and “Backroads,” just to name a few.
He will be playing an acoustic show at Average Joes with Trevor Panczak, Feb. 25.
“I’ve played a lot of acoustic shows,” he said
“All of my songs start on guitar and all of my songs are played on guitar. It’s a different feeling then having a band behind me. It’s fresh. It’s a little bit more personal, which is something I enjoy,” Major said.
He has a whole tour of acoustic shows planned all over Western Canada in B.C, Alberta and Saskatchewan.
“You want to dance with the one who brought you, people bought the CD and want to hear the hits, so I’ll try to deliver them, though some people enjoy the album cuts,” he said adding it is too early to think about releasing a new CD.
“I’m always writing. But the greatest hits just came out in September and there’s some new music on it, so I’ll sell some of them first,” he continued.
He couldn’t choose his favourite song.
“They’re like my children. But I always liked “It Can’t Happen To Me.” It’s one of my favourites, it’s a social consciousness song so it was a surprise, but it is one that a lot of people have been affected by,” he said.
“ As an artist, its always the next one so I’m still working on it,” he said.
He noted his songwriting process varies.
“Songwriting is kind of a 24 hour a day job. I’m always taking notes and writing down ideas, then it is a matter if finding time to sit down and write. It begins with a guitar riff or drum beat. It’s very varied, he said.
His 20-year-old son, Tommy has followed in his footsteps and has started writing songs.
“ I’m actually a bit surprised he hasn’t started sooner. He’s probably a lot better than I ever was. He plays guitar, piano and saxophone. He’s been writing songs since he was 14,” he said.
“ There was probably some trepidation about falling in the shadow of his dad, but I think he’s been over that for a while,” he said.
He said there are no plans to record with his son.
“He’s doing far better without his dad hanging around and we’re completely different. He’s not country, he is more alternative folk,” he said.
Charlie Major and Trevor Panczac play Average Joes, Feb. 25 beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $15.
