About Chris

     I have been playing music professionally for over 25 years.  Whether it be electric/upright bass, vocals, or guitar, contributing to the roots music scene is my goal as a performer, song writer and session player. I am blessed to be constantly working with several acts and touring worldwide.

     Growing up in a family full of artists and musicians, it was inevitable that I would be pushed into some type of artistic direction. I was intrigued by classic movies along with bands from the 30's through the 70's. We always had antique radios and Victrola records playing in the house, so I was heavily influenced by many different genres early on. Music was a major part of my everyday life.  I was given piano lessons for a short time and took vocal lessons at school as a young teen to sing in the church choir, but I wanted more.  I started out singing as a frontman in a couple of bands, performing local shows and doing short tours.  But that still wasn't enough, I taught myself how to play guitar and after a short time, I was working with a band that performed all over Southern California.

     Heavily influenced by the blues and rockabilly genres, I started playing the upright bass and ended up doing a lot of sub work with multiple bands, trying to find my place in the world as a working musician.   I started studying some of my favorite bass players; Willie Dixon, Milt Hinton, Bill Black, and Ray Brown.  But I found myself limited with only playing the upright bass.  So, it was time to get into playing electric bass; listening to Carol Kaye, Donald "Duck" Dunn, James Jamerson, and John Paul Jones.  I started finding my way around the fretboard and with a completely different feel and approach, I found that the possibilities were limitless.  I was now able to push myself into even more musical situations; learning more about structure, and mixing styles of slap and fingering attack for both electric and upright bass.

Current, recent bands and artists I have performed with:

Eric Sardinas and Big Motor
Mike Eldred Trio

Roddy Radiation & The Skabilly Rebels, Roddy Byers from The Specials

The Rocketz

Michael Ubaldini & the Lonesome Playboys

The Boilermakers
Ruzz Evans  

Little A and the Allnighters    

Casey Hensley

James Harman                        
Brophy Dale

Jimmy Vaughan
Junior Watson

Scot Little Bihlman
Tommy Harkenrider
The Broughams Blues Band 

Catfish and the Hollywood Hound Dogs
Aileen Quinn and the Leapin Lizards
Big George and the Blue Tones

Brian Coakley

Patrick Dean
Santos Y Sinners
Cadillac Tramps
2000 lbs of Blues

American Monster
The Mighty Mojo Prophets

Direct support for:

ZZ Top
Robert Cray
The Blasters
John Nemeth

Rival Sons
Willie K

I have always prided myself in being prepared to bring it to the stage and studio, rehearsing constantly and playing only the best equipment. 

My current instruments and equipment are:
1932 Alcoa aluminum upright bass: Shadow Rockabilly Pro pickup and preamp,  Innovation Silver Slap strings.

1968 Kay C1 upright bass: Shadow Rockabilly Pro pickup and preamp, Innovation silver slap strings.

1976 Engelhardt E1 upright bass: Shadow Rockabilly Pro pickup and preamp, Innovation silver slap strings.

2017 Blastcult 145, upright bass, custom built: Blastcult Channel Blaster 2 pickup and preamp, Innovation silver slap strings.

2000 Fender Deluxe Jazz bass: 

2018 Fender Modified Dirnt P bass: 

2014 Gretsch White Falcon 6136LSB bass: 

2020 Gretsch G5440LSB bass: 

2012 Gretsch B5442B short scale bass: 

2013 Gretsch G6128B Thunder jet short scale bass. TV  Jones pick ups

Alameda Guitars Rockaway Rocket prototype 

Alameda Off Kiltertron pickups

Quilter Bass Block 800 amp: Quilter Bassliner 2x10W Bassliner 1x12C. 2. Quilter BassDock 12s

Quilter V803

Ampeg SVT 810

Mogami Cables

MXR Cables

Shadow Electronics Pickups and Preamps

Alameda Guitars Off Kiltertron Pick Ups

SKB cases

Dunlop Strings

TV Jones Pick Ups

MXR Cables 

MXR Bass Compression

Go Go Tuners

Dunlop Bass Cry Baby

Dunlop Strings

Live wire Cables

Line 6 wireless

Shure wireless systems

Shure Microphones

Shure in ear monitors

Ultimate Ears in ear monitors

Clayton custom picks