[citation needed] Charles began her career as a backing singer and session musician, and recorded her first solo single in 1969 with a then-unknown Elton John playing piano.
During the early 1970s, she supplied vocals for the Top of the Pops album series of cover versions of contemporary hits.
[2][4] In 1975, Charles and her friend Linda Lewis were backing vocalists on the Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel chart topping song, "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)".
The latter single spent three weeks at number one on the UK chart in March 1976, and was a major hit around the world.
[10] During this time, her touring band included Trevor Horn (for a while her boyfriend),[11] Geoff Downes, and Bruce Woolley.
[13] In 1978, Charles was a joint winner at the World Popular Song Festival held in Tokyo, performing the tune "Love Rocks".
Charles married and had a child, and devoted herself for some years to her family life, putting her singing career on hold.
In October 2007, Charles recorded "Hide and Seek" with producer Ian Levine for the album Disco 2008.
In 2010, Charles was signed by the British writer and producer Carl M Cox to his PMG Music production and record label.