Life & Music 

Well if you haven't figured it out by now, I'm Chris. Thanks for stopping by! For as long as I can remember, music has always played a massive role in my life. It's something I've always wanted to make a career out of and is a big chunk of my soul and who I am. Originally from  St. Pete, Florida I grew up in a small beach town. We didn't get a ton of touring acts down there or many shows at all but wherever I was, music was played. From the house to the car my mom always had her collection of albums constantly spinning. She would always tell me stories of when she saw Led zeppelin in Germany or her love for John Mellencamp when her and my dad met. It created a magical world in my mind. I grew up on all the legendary classics any person would know but kept relevant on everything in the music world throughout. A nice melting pot of Motown, Rock, pop and everything in between. My parents were divorced so it was just my mom and I. My dad was a drug addict and alcoholic so whatever I lost in a father figure my mom always filled in the missing pieces. We didn't have a lot of money growing up. I remember getting maybe a handful of channels if the rabbit ears were just right on the TV so maybe having outside time rollerblading with my walkman gave me a closer connection with music. I got my first drumset for christmas when I was about 9. Pretty sure it was a hand-me-down kit. We really didn't have the room for it. It sat as a room decoration more than anything for a while. I could play a few grooves but we didn't really have money for lessons. Time would go on and we moved into a roomier place with more forgiving neighbors and I started playing along to all my favorite songs piece by piece gathering parts from all the greats. I was big into Ringo Star and all the drummer's that complimented the music and kept things tight but also admired Travis Barker's flow across the kit. I was in a few school rock bands that could've been something if all the puzzle pieces lined up. I really started taking it serious when I was about 15 and realized sports definitely weren't my thing and the bullies in school weren't my crowd. I played a bit of every genre. I loved how music didn't have to be a specific stereotype or have any sides. It was just what it was and I resonated with that more than anything. I lost my dad to a drug overdose around that time. Music helped me cope. It helped me heal and I'm sure hitting the drums didn't hurt.  I eventually graduated high school with just good enough grades, passed on college, moved in with some friends and we started an indie rock band. That wild road lasted 5 years opening up for acts like Rival Sons and Less Than Jake. We made some great music but it's hard getting out of Florida when you're small and have no money. The band broke up, I met the love of my life and I continued to write music trying to keep the flame burning. I worked a soul sucking corporate job that had a promising future but I was slowly losing a part of me. I took a good break from music. I eventually quit my job, moved to North Carolina with my wife and started a small RV repair business. After a while, time started freeing up some and I got back into playing. I found that piece of me again. I played at churches with the small music scene we had in Winston Salem. I got back into posting drum covers online and playing whenever and wherever I could. My wife and I took a trip to Nashville in 2021. We knew instantly it was where we wanted to be so we packed up, sold our house and moved right away. I didn't know anyone or have any connections but I was determined to do whatever I needed to get into the scene. I started going to open jams and sat in. I'd network through socials. I got rejected alot. People say this is a welcoming town but it can be very closed off too. I didn't have any real friends for atleast a year. I didn't stop though. I kept going til I found my place. Eventually one person said yes, I'd play that gig, then someone from that gig recommended me for another gig. I finally found my domino effect. In this town it's not who you know, It's who knows you. I got some wild opportunities by chance. Anything I wasn't ready for I learned. Fast forward to now. I currently play drums for Lanie Gardner and Clayton Mullen. I love having the opportunity to play with other artists whenever my schedule frees but I'm very fortunate I've been able to stay busy with these two. I also track drums in my studio in my spare time. You can hear a few examples in the playlist on the home page. I've gotten to open for acts like Tim Mcgraw and Martina Mcbride in the last few years. I've toured overseas. I've played some venues I never thought I would. I'm not here to show off or tell you all of my accomplishments. All I'm saying is you can always go after something even if you stop. The road doesn't have to end. You don't need anything but the belief in yourself. I for sure haven't reached the top and I've still got a long way from where I wanna be but where I am right now is a place I'd never thought I'd be. Fortunately the greatest thing I've had this whole time is the support from my wife, mom and sister who never stopped believing in me. You don't need money or the fancy things to make a dream a reality. All you need is consistency and a passion for what you do. I always love to grow and do more so if you'd like to collaborate, hit me up! I love meeting new friends and grabbing coffee in town. I'm constantly wanting to build my portfolio and be apart of as many projects and songs I can be apart of so lets create!