Charlie Occhipinti is a PhD student and graduate teaching associate in musicology at The Ohio State University. His research interests include East and Southeast Asian music; Japanese, Chinese, Thai and Lao traditional and folk music; protest music; music transmission; and Hip Hop and Heavy Metal music globalization in East and Southeast Asia. His dissertation focuses on sumo jinku, sumo folk songs, and Tokyo's annual National Sumo Jinku Festival.

Charlie holds degrees from Appalachian State University (BM) and Kent State University (MA). He has studied with Dr. Andrew Shahriari, Dr. Priwan Nanongkham, and Dr. Terry Miller. He is an enthusiastic performer on baritone horn, trombone and khaen. In his free time, he enjoys watching college athletics, exploring the city on his bike, riding his motorcycle, and traveling.