Jeffrey Charles has charmed alt-country music lovers all over the Hill Country, from Johnson City to Spring Branch, from Texas Pride to the Wetmore Smokehouse. But none of those audiences embraced his music any more warmly than the troops and dignitaries he entertained at an air base in Kuwait, where his song, "Ali Ali Al Salem," became the base anthem for an Air Force installation.

The Air Force veteran's original song, which inspired dedicated Americans during Operation Iraqi Freedom, is the ballad of a soldier being told before he shipped out to the Kuwait base, 7,000 miles from home, that there was "a girl on every tree at Ali Ali Al Salem." The punch line - that there aren't any trees there, only "sand and rock" - has delighted soldiers, airmen and such VIPs as former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa and Gen. H. Steven Blum of the Air National Guard. Charles also played for wounded soldiers who passed through Ali Al Salem on their way home.

The song is also part of Charles' repertoire in the live shows he plays around Central Texas. His four-piece band performs an eclectic blend of original and cover music that combines elements of bluegrass, traditional country, rockabilly and rock. It's retro-country with a rocking edge, and his influences, from Elvis Presley to Johnny Cash, from Buck Owens to the Everly Brothers, are apparent in both his live shows and on his first CD, "Lasso" (produced by Grammy award winners Ron and Michael Morales) scheduled for release in early spring 2010. It's not difficult to detect the impact of another of his biggest musical heroes, Dwight Yoakam, when Charles boot-scoots across the stage while strumming away on his guitar.

But Charles is also heavily influenced by the 11 years he spent as a member of the Air Force, serving all over the world. A native of Minnesota, he sings with pride and patriotism about those years, joined in his band by lead guitarist Brad Hughes, bass player Bruce Witter, and drummer Deano Stevens. It's a part of who he is and part of what he wants to share with those who are curious about a fresh new talent rising out of service to his country to entertain and inspire audiences far and wide.