At Escondido's Cruisin' Grand

Charles and Marsi Carr say they can hardly believe they're about to celebrate their 40th year in the valley. "We moved here in 1985," said Marsi. "We were just kids then, like so many families we now see looking for a piece of the backcountry lifestyle." "There were no traffic lights back then," said Charles. "And just one or two stop signs!"

Before moving to VC, the Carrs toured the country as musicians for several years. "Every place we went," Charles noted, "we would ask ourselves if it would be a good place to put down roots. One place was too hot, another was too cold, one was too buggy, another was too humid." Finally, it became clear to the couple that just about the best spot in the nation was the San Diego area, a location each had previously visited separately. "It has it all," added Marsi. "So, when it was time to settle down, we made a beeline in this direction. Our realtor was Martha Bozulich. She showed us a couple of dozen places before we fell in love with a charming two-story log home with horse property built by a local teacher named Jeri Hindrelet."

Marsi remembers the only schools here back then were the Elementary and Primary. Charles joked, "We took that as a cue that the local schools needed our help and got busy creating a couple of new students for them! Two fantastic kids, educated right here in our excellent public school system."

After the move, the Carrs continued to play music throughout the So Cal area -- about 200 jobs a year -- including steady gigs at Safari Park, Seaport Village, Lawrence Welk Resorts, Seaworld, Hornblower Cruises, local radio and TV shows, "and just about every county fair and country club within 200 miles," laughed Charles. "Over the years we've probably played a couple hundred jobs in VC alone," Marsi added. "Everything from Western Days to mayoral run-offs, VC Chamber of Commerce events, Bates Nut Farm, most of the casinos in the area, and countless private parties and events."

But with kids came the feeling it was probably time to pull back on the hectic and sometimes erratic life of pro music and the couple explored other interests. Marsi began teaching both privately and in the schools, while keeping her hand in the music world by penning the instruction book, "Marsi Carr's Guitar Method" and recording original music including the popular children's album "Just Like You I Was Little, Too."

Charles became a journalist, eventually becoming an award-winning columnist for the North County Times and Union-Tribune for over two decades. He continues to write for many So Cal publications, including a popular op-ed column for his hometown newspaper, The Roadrunner. Many of his articles and essays have been included in college textbooks published under the Macmillan Learning, St. Martin's Press, and Bedford imprints. Charles also became a successful playwright with several of his shows now in national publication and produced at venues across the country.

Thirteen years ago the Carrs formed a 501(c)(3) federal nonprofit arts group, North County Players, and began staging original theater productions at many local theaters and entertainment venues including Balboa Park, PowPAC, the San Marcos Civic Center, and Patio Playhouse. For the past eight years they've produced an annual Christmas show at the California Center for the Arts Escondido, generally to sold out audiences. In fact, you can catch Charles Carr's newest show, "Hope Springs, Eternal," premiering this December at the Center (more info at northcountyplayers.com).

With all that going on, the Carrs still continue their first love -- playing music together -- just not as often as they used to. "There's just not that kind of time anymore," said Charles, "but playing a few times a month feels about right."

"There's nothing like it," said Marsi. "No matter what else is going on in our lives or the world around us, music creates its own wonderful place. It's very peaceful -- even when we've got everything turned up to 11!"

The Carrs most often perform as a duo as the band Skylark. Marsi plays live keyboard and sings and Charles plays guitar and sings. They're backed by Charles's recorded performances on a full drum kit. "It's a very big sound, if we need it -- although we can also play at a conversational level when people just want to visit for a while before hitting the dance floor," said Marsi. "Our playlist is made up of songs primarily from the 70s to the 90s," Charles noted. "Over the years we've tailored our play list to include songs with uplifting, positive messages that almost everyone knows and enjoys." You can check out few of their songs at www.artanimateslife/skylark.

"The valley has been good to us in so many ways," said Marsi, "so for the past few years we've been trying to give back by performing completely free for local nonprofits and charities, including use of our PA system for announcements and speeches." "We realize many of these groups don't have budget to pay us our normal rate for private functions," said Charles. "And, besides, they can put that money to much better use furthering their important causes." The couple has played for most clubs and organizations in the valley, always as a donation. "One of our favorites was the recent opening of Butterfield Park Trails," Charles said. "We played outdoors for a few hundred people. Just a gorgeous day."

"Playing music is one of the things we do best and enjoy most," Marsi said. "And we're honored whenever we're asked to come help out."

If you're a local nonprofit or charity, take Marsi and Charles Carr up on their offer to have their band Skylark play for free at your upcoming event.
Contact them at marsicarr@gmail.com, call 760-933-9174, or on Instagram at @skylarksandiego.