As a writer, storyteller and virtuoso harmonica player Charly Chiarelli is well known for his one-person plays, most notably Cu'Fu,[4] Mangiacake,[5][6] Brutta Figura and Sunamabeach directed for theatre by Ronald Weihs.

[7] A filmed performance of Cu'Fu, Mangiacake and Brutta Figura directed by Gemini Award winner, Dennis Beauchamp,[8] were first aired on May 31, 2000 on Bravo!

He co-wrote and starred in the 2019 film Road to the Lemon Grove with Burt Young, Nick Mancuso, Rossella Brescia, Loreena McKennitt and Tomaso Sanelli.

[9] Chiarelli was inducted in 2003 into the McMaster University Alumni Gallery [10] that includes inductee notables like Martin Short, Dave Thomas and Eugene Levy.

As a Jazz and Blues harmonica player Chiarelli has contributed to recordings and live performances as well as creating his own musical works.