Charles Clifton Newton

Please see scheduled service date and times below. 

REFLECTIONS OF LIFE 

Charles Clifton Newton passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at the age of 67, after a long and
courageous battle with cancer.

Charles was born on May 13, 1959, in Nuremburg, Germany, while his father served in the U.S. Army. In 1960, his
family came to Phoenix, Arizona, where Charles would live the remainder of his life. He attended school in the
Roosevelt School District and the Mesa Public School District, graduating from Westwood High School. He attended
Mesa Community College and eventually Arizona State University.

Charles was the epitome of a show person, giving no less than five decades to his greatest passion: music. It was not
unheard of for him to perform in a symphony concert, play one or more pop/rock clubs or casino gigs, and sing a solo
operatic aria in a recital – all in the same weekend. Since beginning with piano lessons, clarinet in the school band, and
then later as a vocalist, Charles performed virtually every style of music imaginable from rock to pop to R&B to Latin to
inspirational to country to hip-hop, and even jazz, classical, musical theater and opera. He played in clubs, lounges,
showrooms, resorts, casinos, auditoriums, amphitheaters, festivals, and one racetrack in six di>erent states. He
performed in front of crowds numbering in the tens of thousands and sang “The Star Spangled Banner” on national
television.

For three decades, Charles worked as Public Relations Manager for The Music Store and played keyboards for the
Rhythm Edition Band. The Rhythm Edition Band became a second family to Charles.
For years he taught private piano lessons, where he inspired so many young talents. For years he was a counselor at the
Northern Arizona University Music Camp. He served on the board of directors for the Desert Valley Music Teacher’s
Association, studied voice privately, and occasionally recorded special programs for KBAQ classical radio station.
A lifelong dream came true with the publication of his book, “From the Garage to the Stage – A Guidebook for Making
Music Live”. His dedication page in the book states “this book is dedicated to all ... who helped make music my life and
occasionally my livelihood.”

In addition to his music endeavors, Charles performed annually at the Arizona Renaissance Festival, beginning in 1991.
According to the Arizona Renaissance Festival, Charles, aka Lord Chancellor Charles Newton, was “a cornerstone of the
fair community” and was a frontman, spokesperson and storyteller. He was part of the foundation of the festival itself.
Charles was also a ring announcer for various martial arts organizations as well as a boxing judge for several boxing
associations.

His most recent employment was with the Gilbert Unified School District as a Paraprofessional, a job that provided him
with extreme satisfaction.

Charles was known for his exceptional kindness, his laughter, his unwavering loyalty and the belief that all people
deserve to be seen, protected and respected.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents Doris Thomas Newton and Arnette Newton and his brother Michael
Goerge Williams.

Charles is survived by his sister Kathleen Newton Walters; his sister-in-law Kristine Williams; his cousin Reginald
Thomas; his nieces Corrine Williams, Anastasia Newton, Victoria Walters, Vanessa Walters; his nephew Thomas
Williams; niece-in-law Hilary Williams; great nephews Michael, Jack, Matthew and Charles Williams.
The services will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at the Dayspring United Methodist Church in
Tempe, Arizona. The family wishes to express their gratitude for the many acts of kindness, love, prayers, comforting
words, calls, visits and other expressions of sympathy shown to us during our time of bereavement.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Desert Valley Music Teacher’s Association.

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