Charles Trippy
{{short description|American internet personality}}
{{for|the American football player|Charley Trippi}}
{{EngvarB|date = January 2017}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Charles Trippy
| image = CharlesTrippy2025.jpg
| caption = Charles Trippy in 2025
| birth_name = Charles Paul Trippy III
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|09|02}}
| birth_place = Sarasota, Florida, U.S.
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- YouTuber
- musician
- comedian
}}
| spouses = {{plainlist|
- {{Marriage|Alli Speed|2011|2014}}
- {{Marriage|Allie Wesenberg|2017}}
}}
| children = 2
| module = {{Infobox YouTube personality|embed=yes
| channel_handle = charles
| channel_display_name = Charles and Allie
| years_active = 2008–present
| genre = Vlog
| subscribers = 1.37 million
| views = 815 million
}}
}}
Charles Paul Trippy III (born September 2, 1984) is an American musician, vlogger and internet personality based in St. Petersburg, Florida.{{cite web |last1=The Good Stuff |title=Why Does Charles Trippy Put His Life on the Internet? |url=https://www.pbs.org/video/good-stuff-persistence-youtube/ |website=PBS |accessdate=November 7, 2022}} He is a member of Bradenton-based rock band We the Kings.{{cite web |last1=Pettigrew |first1=Jason |title=Look how awesome We The Kings' Charles Trippy's rescue dogs are |url=https://www.altpress.com/news/we_the_kings_charles_trippy_rescue_dogs_peta2/ |website=ALT Press |accessdate=September 20, 2020 |date=May 2, 2018}} Trippy recorded his first album with We the Kings, titled Somewhere Somehow in 2013. The album peaked at no. 44 on Billboard 200.{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/431174/we%20the%20kings/chart?f=305|title=We the Kings – Chart history (Billboard 200)|work=billboard.com|accessdate=September 20, 2020|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822032133/http://www.billboard.com/artist/431174/we%20the%20kings/chart?f=305|archivedate=August 22, 2015}} He is also the creator of Internet Killed Television, a web series aired on YouTube.{{cite news |last1=Molloy |first1=Mark |title=How creator burnout became a ticking timebomb for YouTube stars |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2018/05/04/creator-burnout-became-ticking-timebomb-youtube-stars/ |website=The Telegraph |accessdate=September 20, 2020 |date=May 4, 2018}}
Early life and education
Trippy was born to Charles Paul 'Chaz' Trippy II and Marlene Trippy, in 1984, in Sarasota, Florida.{{Cite web |title=ABOUT CHARLES |url=https://charlestrippy.wixsite.com/trippy/about |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=Charles Trippy}} He is of Sicilian Italian, German, and Native American descent. His father was a member of the Gregg Allman Band where he played percussion. As a youngster, Trippy often toured with his father's band. His younger sister, Melissa Trippy, is also an internet personality.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CsooY_e1w8kC&pg=PA20|title=The Essential Rock Discography|last=Strong|first=Martin Charles|date=2006|publisher=Canongate|isbn=978-1-84195-860-6|language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Guzzo |first1=Paul |title=St. Pete YouTuber broadcast his brain surgery. Of course he's filming self-isolation. |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2020/04/13/st-pete-youtuber-broadcast-his-brain-surgery-of-course-hes-filming-self-isolation/ |website=Tampa Bay Times |accessdate=September 20, 2020 |date=April 13, 2020}}
Trippy attended Lakewood Ranch High School where he completed his early education. Later, he attended and graduated from the University of South Florida where he majored in communications.{{cite web |last1=USF Alumni Association |title=Charles Trippy, '08, Launches "Internet Killed Television" |url=https://www.usfalumni.org/s/861/02-alumni/index.aspx?sid=861&gid=1&pgid=252&cid=3957&ecid=3957&crid=0&calpgid=323&calcid=1200 |website=USF Alumni |accessdate=September 20, 2020}}
Career
{{Update|section|date=January 2025}}
= As a YouTuber =
Trippy started his YouTube channel CTFxC in 2008, although the daily vlogs only started on May 1, 2009.{{cite web |last1=Gutelle |first1=Sam |title=Charles Trippy Vlogs His Life, No Matter The Direction It Takes |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2015/08/28/charles-trippy-ctfxc-ear-biscuits-rhett-and-link/ |website=Tubefilter |accessdate=September 20, 2020 |date=August 28, 2015}} Initially, Trippy planned to do daily video blogs for one year, however, he continued to create videos daily after completing the first year. As of 2025, Trippy's daily vlogs is in its 16th year. Calling his daily vlogging series Internet Killed Television, it chronicles his daily life with his wife Allie Marie Trippy (born Wesenberg) and their pets, friends and family.{{cite web |last1=Solsman |first1=Joan E |title=When breaking up is a public affair |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/youtube-love-relationships-breakups-liza-koshy-david-dobrik-joey-graceffa-vid-con/ |website=CNET |accessdate=September 20, 2020 |date=June 6, 2018}} The series formerly featured Trippy's ex-wife, Alli Speed, who would vlog with him for almost six years before they separated in 2014.{{cite web |last1=Weigle |first1=Lauren |title=Charles and Alli Trippy Split: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know |url=https://www.chron.com/entertainment/heavy/article/Charles-and-Alli-Trippy-Split-5-Fast-Facts-You-5386400.php |website=Chron |accessdate=September 20, 2020 |date=April 8, 2014}}{{cite web |last1=Schumann |first1=Rebecka |title=Where Is Alli Trippy? CTFxC Fans Question Vlogger's YouTube Absence After Charles Trippy Split |url=https://www.ibtimes.com/where-alli-trippy-ctfxc-fans-question-vloggers-youtube-absence-after-charles-trippy-split-1570192 |website=International Business Times |accessdate=September 20, 2020 |date=April 10, 2014}}
Trippy was featured in the documentary film Vlogumentary which was developed by Shay Carl in 2016.{{cite web |last1=Gutelle |first1=Sam |title=Shay Carl Releases 'Vlogumentary,' A YouTube Red Doc About Web Video Stardom |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2016/10/26/vlogumentary-shay-carl-youtube-red/ |website=Tubefilter |accessdate=September 20, 2020 |date=October 26, 2016}} One of the channel's video was covered by Good Morning America in 2016.{{cite web |last1=Good Morning America |first1=ABC |title=YouTube Stars Charles Trippy and Allie Hike With Llamas |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/youtube-stars-charles-trippy-allie-hike-llamas-39059445 |website=ABC News |accessdate=September 20, 2020 |date=December 5, 2016}}
As of 2025, Trippy continues to create content for his YouTube channel, sharing aspects of his personal and professional life. He remains active with We the Kings, performing and touring with the band.
= As a musician =
Trippy began his music career in 2001 as a bassist for the Bradenton-based post-hardcore band, Funny Looking Kid. He took part in 2002 and 2003 Warped Tour with the band.{{cite web |last1=Springer |first1=Debi |title=Funny Looking Kid stops in Tampa on Vans Warped Tour |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1774&dat=20020808&id=8OIeAAAAIBAJ&pg=3958,2839303&hl=en |website=Google News |publisher=Sarasote Herald Times |accessdate=September 20, 2020 |date=August 8, 2002}} Funny Looking Kid broke up in 2005.
In 2011, Trippy joined We the Kings as the bass player replacing Drew Thomsen who left the group earlier that year. He recorded his first studio album with the band, Somewhere Somehow, in 2013.{{cite web |last1=Jenke |first1=Brittany |title=Can you remember lyrics from We The Kings? |url=https://dontboreus.thebrag.com/quiz-remember-lyrics-we-the-kings/ |website=The Brag |accessdate=September 20, 2020 |date=September 7, 2020 |archive-date=November 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102031650/https://dontboreus.thebrag.com/quiz-remember-lyrics-we-the-kings/ |url-status=dead }} The album debuted at no. 44 on the Billboard 200 and at no. 6 on the Top Rock Albums charts. In 2014 and 2015, Trippy recorded Stripped and Strange Love respectively, with We the Kings. Self Titled Nostalgia and Six were released in 2017 and 2018 respectively. Trippy has performed across the United States on the Vans Warped Tour as the bass player for We the Kings.{{cite web |last1=Knopper |first1=Steve |title=We the Kings make the Warped Tour their own |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-we-the-kings-ott-0722-20160719-story.html |website=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=September 20, 2020 |date=July 20, 2016}} As a member of the band, We the Kings, Trippy has received Platinum record by Australian Recording Industry Association. In 2016, he received Platinum certification from RIAA for "Check Yes Juliet". In 2017 and 2018, Trippy received Gold certifications for Strange Love and "Sad Song" from RIAA.{{cite web |title=Gold & Platinum – RIAA |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=We+the+kings&ti=&lab=&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section |website=RIAA |accessdate=September 20, 2020}}
Personal life
In March 2012, Trippy was diagnosed with a benign oligodendroglioma brain tumor after having a seizure at the end of February. After the successful resection of the tumor, it recurred in September 2013 and was diagnosed as anaplastic oligodendroglioma brain cancer. His wife at the time, Alli Speed, helped him through this surgery. In October 2013, Trippy started oral chemotherapy to combat the remaining 5% left after his second resection. In July 2020, he underwent a third brain surgery that removed 100% of the tumor. Trippy filmed and uploaded his brain surgeries on his YouTube channel.{{cite web |last1=Fox News |title=YouTube star video logs own brain surgery |url=https://www.foxnews.com/health/youtube-star-video-logs-own-brain-surgery |website=Fox News Channel 1 |accessdate=September 20, 2020 |date=September 20, 2013}} His videos received coverage from Salon.{{cite web |last1=Schroeder |first1=Audra |title=YouTube star Charles Trippy vlogs his own brain surgery |url=https://www.salon.com/2013/09/20/youtube_star_charles_trippy_vlogs_his_own_brain_surgery_partner/ |website=Salon |accessdate=September 20, 2020 |date=September 20, 2013}}
Trippy married Allie Marie Wesenberg in 2017. They have 2 daughters together. The couple was profiled by PETA on May 2, 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.peta.org/media/news-releases/charles-trippy-and-allie-wesenberg-trippy-treat-animals-how-you-would-want-to-be-treated/|title=Charles Trippy and Allie Wesenberg-Trippy: 'Treat Animals How You Would Want to Be Treated'|website=PETA|date=May 2, 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=July 10, 2019}}
Awards and recognitions
References
{{reflist}}
{{Ripley's Believe It or Not!}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Trippy, Charles}}
Category:American bass guitarists
Category:People from St. Petersburg, Florida