Chemistry professor/geek rockstar to perform at Brew Spot

On the first day of class, a UF chemistry professor plays a song: Its an original dedicated to the trials and tribulations of freshman chemistry.

The song? Bonds of Life. The professor? Charles Martin.

This Friday, his students will get the chance to see their professor perform his music live.

Martin, also known by his musical persona Chuck, will perform Friday from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Brew Spot Cafe, at 1000 NE 16th Ave.

Owned by former UF chemistry professor Jeff Keaffaber, the Brew Spot acts as a restaurant and tutoring center by day and moonlights as a musical venue and bar. Students often go there for tutoring in basic all the way up to organic chemistry.

Martin is no stranger to performing and recording music. With five albums under his belt, the professor/singer-songwriter began his music career at 10 years old. However, a pressure to be the first in his family to attend college pushed him away from music.

(My) hiatus from music lasted through my assistant professor years when I was at Texas A&M University, he said. I worked all the time and had no time for anything else.

After getting tenure at Texas A&M, he moved to Colorado and realized something was missing from his life.

I decided it was time to return to music, he said. Ive been pursuing music seriously ever since.

Inspired by The Beatles, Marvin Gaye, Frank Zappa and songwriters such as Cole Porter, Martin picked up the guitar after watching The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show.

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Chemistry professor/geek rockstar to perform at Brew Spot