Grammy win could cap comeback for Tulsa native

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The social worker soon became his wife — Mahin Wilson. The singer, who has been off drugs for about 15 years and still lives in California, said he wouldn’t have made it this far without her.

"She’s been with me every step of the way,” Wilson said. "God just sent me this angel. She would just hang with me. That’s a true backbone you need when you’re going through something.”

Once Wilson got back on track, he wanted to revive his career. But he said record labels wouldn’t give him a chance, and people he worked with before doubted his soaring vocals had survived.

He credits Snoop Dogg and R. Kelly for helping him. He put out a CD in 2001; Kelly wrote his 2005 comeback hit, "Charlie, Last Name Wilson” and produced the album of the same name, which went gold.

"As soon as everybody knew R. Kelly was working with me, everybody who told me ‘No’ stuck their head up and was calling my cell phone,” he said.

In 2008, Wilson was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He was treated with radiation implants.

Last year, he proved his 2005 success was no fluke with his latest album, "Uncle Charlie.” It debuted No. 2 on the Billboard Top 200. His single "There Goes My Baby” spent 10 weeks at the top spot on the Billboard R&B Adult Contemporary chart.

Wilson is healthy and working with the Prostate Cancer Foundation, spreading the message through his concert tour for black men to get tested.

Wilson believes he has finally proved to doubters that his music is timeless.

"They were laughing at me,” he said. "But I know I can out-sing you and out-step you. As long as I got the knees and the legs, God already gave me the voice, I’m going to get you. ... Charlie Wilson is going to be around here for a while.”