"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men and women die like dogs. There is also a negative side."
---Hunter S. Thompson
I was born in Brooklyn, NY in the summer of 1969. Music was a huge part of my world from Day One. When I started teething, my father handed me his Fender Telecaster to chew on. I think the Rolling Stones were played in our home every single day of the year. The closest thing I had to a formal music education as a kid was when my father’s friends would come over and everybody would get stoned and jam until dawn. I would just sit on the floor and rock back and forth…soaking up the Stones, Beatles, Cream, and every other British band from the late 60’s/early 70’s.
I was about 8 years old when I asked my father to show me my first guitar chord. From there I taught myself how to play, much like he did himself. At school, I would play whatever was offered…violin, viola, piano…growing up playing “by ear”, I didn’t do so well with “studying”. I was always behind the other students when it came to sight-reading, but I could play intuitively and imaginatively. By age twelve, I picked up my first bass. My parents had split up when I was very young and life was pretty hard growing up. The bass was my escape. By the age of 14 I could pretty much play any song I attempted.
I somehow ended up spending my high school years in rural West Virginia. Being poor and isolated, I had virtually no opportunities to play and learn from other people. So, it was just me, my bass and the turntable and a well-worn collection of classic rock albums. I played every day, as loudly as the speakers would go. I pissed off my family, my neighbors and stray animals. But I didn’t have time to worry about that.
At 17 I flew to Hollywood, CA to attend Musicians Institute. For that one year, I played bass all day, every day. I played with musicians from all over the world. I played styles of music I had never heard of before. Of course, this was all in between dodging earthquakes and the gang violence that was so prevalent out there at the time. Part of me felt that Los Angeles was Hell on Earth. I eventually stopped going to classes. I opted to stay up all night at the school, where I could jam with all these other musicians until dawn.
When school was done, I moved to LaGrange, Georgia with the band I had formed in LA. At barely 19 years old, I was ready to be a rock star. I had a lot to learn. A year of playing covers in college bars made me realize I wanted to write and perform originals while I was still young enough to not care about being broke. I moved to Atlanta and spent the next ten years trying to “make it”. It was one blurry mess of three bands (Problem Chylde, Monster Leon & Six Ways To Sunday) that played heavily on the local club scene…each time we managed to be among the most popular local bands…drawing large crowds of screaming girls. And all the while, we got screwed every way possible by virtually every person who ever pretended to care about us. Welcome to the Music Biz! I eventually grew tired and didn’t even know why I was playing anymore.
Since then I have concentrated on a combination of playing for the love of music and also trying to make a living at it. I have had the pleasure of playing with many great people in all different styles of music. I’ve played with more bands in the Atlanta area than I can name. I played bass or guitar on numerous recordings with all kinds of cool folks. I joined a group called 7 Sharp 9 in the spring of 2002 (I think?) It’s a three-piece cover band (mostly) and I make a living performing. Yeehaw! We have 2 CDs out and are finishing up our 3rd. I try not to stress about where I am going anymore. I quit drinking about 4 years ago, soon after my daughter was born. As a result, my decision making, my music and my life are all vastly improved!
I love my wife Laurel and my daughter Lucie for putting up with all my crap. I also love ice cream and flying airplanes.
CB, you can say good morning whenever you feel like it on my page. It is *My Space* after all... as a matter of fact, you have permission to say whatever you want to on my page with no worries! I don't get offended easily and if anyone else does.. who cares? It's *MY* space!
We can't leave yet. We have to go into Seattle today and watch them "throw fish" at Pikes. I hope we don't get hit. Mark's buttday is tomorrow. He gets to ride on a big airplane to Atlanta and eat pnuts. ♥
I'm still trying to come up with the ransom money by collecting from your many fans. Hang in there- we'll get the money to pay the kidnappers. I'm up to 79 cents already...
Chris, I must say, you are probably one of the coolest guys I have ever met! And I mean that! You've chased your dreams from one end of this country to the other, and didn't let nothing stop you from pushing for your goals! You have a great God-given talent, and you've used it wisely in your life... the love of music, the love of freedom, and a passion for life! I'm proud of you for that! And it's nice to see that through it all, you still hold on to the roots of your past and present... by that I mean, the ones that walked away and made you stronger, and the ones who entered your life and have remained loyal no matter what. Your family is your strongest root. And that beautiful little girl has no idea how awesome her daddy really is, but I'm sure as she grows, she'll figure that out for herself. I can honestly say, I'm probably one of your greatest admirers for all you've accomplished, and continue to persue. HUGS!!!!!!!!! :)
Okay this just proves how dorky I am. It made me laugh so I thought I would share it. Maybe it will at least make you smile and shake your head wondering how someone could be such a goofball. Oh whatever.. Have a great week!
