FOR more than four decades, Charlie Saliba has been a staple of the Tamworth Country Music Festival, busking out the front of Mathers.
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During his 40 years, he’s played with hundreds of musicians, and befriend countless more.
“If I see a musician, I’ll invite them up to do a few songs,” he said.
“If there is a young person standing in front of me with a guitar, I invite them up to have go.
“I’ve become friends with many fans just from seeing them year after year.”
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His 40-year tenure outside of Mathers was relatively innocuous.
“I just came and asked if i could set up outside their shop, and I’ve been with them ever since,” he said.
“They use to have another store just down the road. They closed that one down, and they asked me to come up here with them.”
Barones Fae von Reichel first met Charlie more than 30 years ago, when she could sit next to him while he performed, so she could crafted hand-made goods.
“And I’m still here,” she laughed.
“We’ve been good friends ever since. He stays at my place during the festival and when I go to the Central Coast I stay at his.”