Shorty Corleone
Every Sunday evening, Go-Go legend Shorty Corleone cranks up Fayetteville with one hour of pure DMV fire—blending D.C.’s pocket-heavy classics from Rare Essence and Chuck Brown with fresh Hip-Hop remixes, live scratches, and call-in shoutouts. It’s your weekly block party starter, bridging the Northeast bounce to Carolina vibes. Only on WCCG 104.5 FM.

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Crank with Shorty Corleone on WCCG 104.5 FM
Crank with Shorty Corleone is a high-octane mixshow that cranks up the energy on Fayetteville’s WCCG 104.5 FM, delivering the raw, unfiltered pulse of Go-Go, Hip-Hop, and R&B fusion every Sunday evening—serving as a vital bridge between D.C.’s legendary Go-Go scene and the Carolinas’ urban vibe. Hosted by the iconic Charles “Shorty Corleone” Garris, a Go-Go pioneer and Rare Essence alum, the show airs Sundays from 5PM–6PM ET, transforming your speakers into a live block party with relentless beats, crowd-hyping scratches, and that signature pocket-driven groove that defines Go-Go’s call-and-response magic. As part of WCCG’s dynamic weekend lineup—slotting into the pre-dusk sweet spot before the Sunday Gospel Caravan—this one-hour blast is exclusively on Fayetteville’s #1 station for Hip-Hop and R&B, streamed live via wccg1045fm.com, the WCCG app, or 104.5 FM, with on-demand replays on podcast platforms for those who can’t catch the live fire.
Born from Shorty Corleone’s decades-long crusade to globalize Go-Go (after co-hosting the national Sirius XM’s Crank Radio with Rico Anderson since 2021), this WCCG iteration brings the DMV’s street-certified sound to the 910 area code, blending infectious conga rhythms, horn blasts, and talker breakdowns with current Hip-Hop bangers from artists like J. Cole, GloRilla, and Future—reflecting WCCG’s mainstream urban format while nodding to local Carolina flavor. Corleone, who signed his first Warner Bros. deal at 14 and has produced for legends, curates sets that feel like a Rare Essence reunion: think seamless transitions from Chuck Brown’s classics to modern remixes, exclusive drops from emerging Go-Go bands, and live freestyles that get the chat lines buzzing (call 910-222-1045 to join the congo line). It’s not just music; it’s a cultural movement—spotlighting how Go-Go borrowed from Hip-Hop’s bounce and gave back with its unbreakable pocket, as Corleone often breaks down in on-air stories from his Southeast D.C. roots in Washington Highlands.
What makes Crank stand out in WCCG’s rotation (which kicks off weekdays with Yung Joc’s Streetz Morning Takeover and rolls through syndicated heavyweights like Bootleg Kev overnight) is its interactive, community-driven edge: Listeners vote on the night’s “Crank of the Week” via socials (@WCCG1045 on Instagram/X), share Go-Go memories during shoutout segments, and get roasted in the “Pocket Talk” call-ins where Corleone grills you on your favorite Rare Essence track or why Go-Go trumps trap. Expect surprise guest spots from DMV transplants in Fayetteville or virtual links from Rico Anderson, plus themed bursts—like “Throwback Crank” honoring E.U.’s “Da Butt” era or “New Wave Crank” featuring 2025’s rising Go-Go acts like Backyard Band. Since launching on WCCG in early 2024 amid the station’s push for more live mixshows under Carson Communications, Crank has spiked weekend ratings in the 18-34 demo, drawing 10,000+ weekly streams and tying into station events like the annual Summer Music Festival (every 4th Friday in July at Festival Park).
More than a radio slot, Crank with Shorty Corleone is a lifeline for urban Southerners craving that Northeast party pulse—evoking sold-out spots like the Chocolate City Club while hyping Fayetteville’s own scene. Whether you’re wrapping up the weekend cookout, pre-gaming dinner, or just needing that evening adrenaline before the Gospel shift, tune in Sundays 5PM–6PM for the crank that never stops. As Corleone says, “If it ain’t got that pocket, it ain’t got that crank”—lock in on WCCG 104.5 FM and feel the rotation.
Shorty Corleone (Charles Garris)
Charles “Shorty Corleone” Garris, born in the early 1980s in Washington, D.C.’s Southeast neighborhood of Washington Highlands, is a trailblazing Go-Go musician, singer, songwriter, producer, radio host, and filmmaker whose lifelong dedication to preserving and globalizing D.C.’s iconic Go-Go sound has made him a cultural ambassador for the “Chocolate City.” Growing up immersed in the rhythmic heartbeat of his community—where Go-Go bands practiced on every corner and buckets served as makeshift drums—Garris discovered his musical gifts early, influenced by funk legends like Earth, Wind & Fire and local pioneers such as Chuck Brown, the “Godfather of Go-Go.” At just 14, his songwriting talent caught the eye of Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire, landing him a publishing and recording deal with Warner Bros. Records—a meteoric start that included a shelved teen project but ignited a fire for the industry that never dimmed.
Initially drawn to R&B and soul, Garris resisted Go-Go’s pull, but the genre’s infectious pocket and communal energy proved irresistible. By 1993, he joined the legendary Go-Go band Rare Essence as lead vocalist and frontman, a role he’s held for over three decades, transforming the group into a cornerstone of D.C.’s music scene. Under his tenure, Rare Essence scored Billboard Hot 100 and Top 50 placements with hits like “Body Snatchers” and the Corleone-penned “Overnight Scenario”—timeless party anthems blending Go-Go’s conga-driven bounce with hip-hop and R&B flair that continue to pack clubs and influence artists like Wale. As frontman, he’s helmed 20 live albums, released three solo projects, and contributed to over 300 singles, 15 music videos, and countless collaborations, earning acclaim for his distinctive raspy tenor, charismatic stage presence, and innovative production that fuses traditional Go-Go with modern trap and global beats.
Corleone’s reach extends far beyond the stage. A mentor at heart, he founded The Capital Kidds, a teen vocal group of protégés from D.C.’s underserved communities, for whom he produced the reality series Cooking With Capital Kidds—a flavorful showcase of the city’s culinary and musical heritage that aired on local networks. His filmmaking ventures amplify Go-Go’s legacy: He created and executive-produced Crank, a 15-episode docuseries tracing the genre’s evolution and its profound impact on American urban culture, which premiered in 2019. As music director, he helmed soundtracks for BET’s Angrily Ever After and ‘Twas the Chaos Before Christmas (both 2019), infusing them with Go-Go’s unyielding groove. In theater, he co-created D.C.’s first Go-Go musical, Wind Me Up, Maria! (2016) with Georgetown professor Natsu Onoda Power, blending original scores with classics to tackle gentrification and cultural preservation—starring his Capital Kidds and earning raves for its authentic energy.
A pioneer in broadcasting, Corleone co-hosts the nationally syndicated Crank Radio on Sirius XM’s H.U.R. Voices (Channel 141) since 2021 alongside DJ Rico Anderson—a decade-in-the-making platform that’s given Go-Go its first major satellite spotlight, featuring live mixes, artist spotlights, and deep dives into the genre’s history. This radio prowess extends to local airwaves, including Crank with Shorty Corleone on WCCG 104.5 FM in Fayetteville, NC (Saturdays 8-10PM ET), where he exports D.C.’s pocket to the Carolinas with high-energy sets, listener shoutouts, and “Pocket Talk” debates. His efforts have spiked ratings and fostered cross-regional unity, drawing from his philosophy of “consistent persistence” to overcome resistance.
Through it all, Corleone remains a community advocate, using his platform to empower youth via mentorship programs and events that bridge Go-Go’s street roots with mainstream appeal. Married with a family, he balances global tours (sharing stages with acts from Rare Essence reunions to international festivals) with D.C. pride, often crediting his uncles for sneaking him into early Rare Essence shows that sparked his dream. At around 40, Shorty Corleone—whose alias nods to a “Mafioso” edge softened by his warm, hood-rooted charm—continues to crank the culture forward, proving Go-Go’s bounce is borderless. As he puts it, “If it ain’t got that pocket, it ain’t got that crank”—a mantra that’s kept D.C.’s spirit alive from the DMV to the world.



