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From age 5 in Knoxville, Tennessee, Chuck wanted to play the drums. "I never wanted to play other instruments.” “I always gravitated toward the drums. I just thought they were cooler than guitar, keys, and other instruments.” “I also always really enjoyed playing. From age 5 to ages 10 or 11, I spent hours every day playing along with records of the best blues and rock of the 60’s and 70’s.”
It paid off for him. By age 13 he was playing in local clubs frequently. “It was kinda’ strange being so young in the clubs” Chuck said. “All of the guys in the band were in their 20’s and 30’s and because of my age, my mom would have to come with me a lot but usually after I played a gig a couple of times, the owners and managers would be O.K. with it and she wouldn’t have to come.”
By age 16 he was playing with the area’s top show band almost every night while still going to school in the day. It was music night and day while in H.S. He had 3-4 hours of band each day divided between marching and concert band, jazz band, percussion ensembles and after school rehearsals. In H.S. he was a first chair player and was selected to All State Jazz Band. “The great thing about all of my H.S. band experiences was that I learned to read music really well. You meet a lot of drummers that think it’s OK not to be able to read” he said. If you want to succeed playing the drums, you must know how to read charts. You might be able to get by without reading (while) playing at the local club” he went on. “But if you show up on a recording session, TV show, or anything at that level and you can’t read (music), you won’t be back, and probably won’t even make it through that gig.”
After H.S. he moved to Nashville where he spent the 80’s in the recording studio and touring with national acts like Charlie Pride, Statler Brothers, Carlene Carter, Suzy Bogguss, and dozens others. “That time was great for me” Chuck said. “I was always busy and there is nothing better than studio work to fine tune your playing. When you record, you put yourself out there to be critiqued and criticized. It’s great for your growth.”
Also in 1982, Chuck founded Drumpulse, the first company ever founded to write and compose computerized tracks for drum machines. “I was using drum machines frequently in the smaller studios” he told us. “I started marketing them and next thing I knew I was nationwide with about a dozen sets of programs for about ten different drum computers.”
In the late 80’s and early to mid 90’s he frequently had articles published in magazines including Modern Drummer, International Musician, Keyboard and Electronic Musician. Topics covered electronic drums, computer and drum computer programming, mixing drums and electronic percussion, M.I.D.I. (Musical Instrument Digital Interfacing) and basic drumming among others.
For the last several years a majority of his playing has been Contemporary Christian. “It’s a very broad based genre musically, “he said. “CCM runs the spectrum from rock to country, from hip-hop to jazz. All types of music is included. “GOD doesn’t discriminate on the basis of music”
There he has been involved with Laura Story, Brent Webber and Aaron Shust, and many others. Shust was the 2006 Dove award winner (Christian Grammys) for Best New Artist and also had the song of the year “My Savior My God”. Story has been nominated several times for Female Vocalist of the Year and has written and recorded several chart topping songs including Mighty to Save and the current top hit Blessings.
Although Chuck teaches all ages, “I have a 10 year old son and just love working with kids” he said “I coach football, Little League, work with the kids at my church a lot. It’s so cliché but the kids truly are the future and I really enjoy helping them get there.”
- Screen name:
- chuck515124
- Member since:
- Feb 08 2013
- Active over 1 month ago
- Level of commitment:
- Touring
- Years playing music:
- 35
- Gigs played:
- Over 100
- Tend to practice:
- More than 3 times per week
- Available to gig:
- 6-7 nights a week
Influences
Kenny Arnoff, Bonham, Stewart Copeland, Purdie, 60's-70's R&B, Bozzio, Chic Webb, Krupa, Rich, Buddy Milkes, the list is endless. All good drummers & Musicians
EQUIPMENT
DW, Paiste, Vic Firth, Remo, Cympad, Shure
