Complex sentence: Charters began his writing career in 1959 with "The Country Blues", have been influential, bringing to light aspects of African American musics and culture that had previously been largely unknown to the general public.
Split into simpler sentences: Charters began his writing career in 1959 with "The Country Blues". Since that time, his writings have been influential, bringing to light aspects of African American musics and culture that had previously been largely unknown to the general public.