Charles officially enrolled in Florida State University in 1954. Charlie was an outstanding performer in the FSU College of Music, taking lead roles in the Symphonic Band, Marching Chiefs, Symphonic Orchestra, Circus Band and a variety of other FSU music ensembles such as the Commodores. He attended FSU from 1954-1959. It was toward the end of his years at FSU that Charlie began to pick up jobs playing with outside orchestras, and it wasn't long before the call of the muse had Charlie leaving FSU and playing with the show bands of Las Vegas.