About Chris...

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From Iowa to California and now currently based in Nashville, Tennessee since early 2022, Chris is very active as a songwriter while still remaining active as a multi genre guitarist.  Most of his time is spent writing and playing contemporary Christian and worship music;  performing original songs in writers rounds around Nashville; releasing new music with  'Revival Ranch' as well as other artists and even doing some scoring for short films which included winning best film score for the Victor Atkins short film 'The Market'. 

Chris was born and raised in the heartland of America, in the mid-west city of Iowa City, Iowa.  The only one of his 3 other siblings to pursue music, he recalls first being influenced by his older brother’s favorite bands, such as The Beatles, Chicago, Simon & Garfunkel from which he was drawn to the guitar.  While his mother’s love of Big Band and artists like Nat King Cole, Doris Day, Bing Crosby brought the tradition of classic standards that still remain timeless.  

Although his first instrument at an early elementary school age was Clarinet, it was the influence of the rock band KISS at a young age that convinced him he had to play guitar.  Studying with local guitar prodigy Steve Johnston, Chris’ musical palate quickly grew and expanded to rock styles as diverse as The Police, Rush, Queen, Van Halen, Toto and Journey.  Finding that whatever he listened to quickly influenced his playing, it was in college as a music major that Jazz began to drive him into new directions. One of his biggest influences to this day, Pat Metheny opened his ears further to more jazz and fusion.  

During those college years, Chris was also playing guitar and leading worship for YoungLife and he began touring the mid-west in a R&B/Funk band, expanding the landscape of music by covering artists such as Earth Wind & Fire and Tower of Power.   While touring in two bands Chris won awards for improvisation one of which included the Kansas City Jazz Festival and it became clear that expanding beyond the mid-west was well worth doing.  

Attending Musician's Institute's G.I.T. (Guitar Institute of Technology) in Hollywood put Chris in a place of high influence studying under world class musician’s such as Dan Gilbert, Frank Gambale, Scott Henderson, Norman Brown, Paul Gilbert and many other’s to officially push him to reach deeper than ever.  After graduating he was honored to teach as a guitar counselor for a brief stint while playing in various bands around Los Angeles including a band he co-founded, ‘Common Ground’ which featured sax monster Jim Wheeler (Kenny Loggins, Slash's Snake Pit).  Around that time Chris got to work with and study under some top name studio musicians and personal hero’s of his including Dan Huff (White Heart, Amy Grant, Giant) and Jamie Glaser (Bryan Adams, Jean-Luc Ponty, Chick Corea, Manhattan Transfer) as well as study Composition and Arranging at Dick Grove School of Music.  

Chris has also studied songwriting and co-written with songwriters including Kevin Fisher (Rascal Flatts, Sara Evans, Uncle Kracker); Jeff Vincent (Al Jarreau, Paul Lekakis); Rafael Moreira (P!nk, Christina Aguilera, Paul Stanley, Steven Tyler).  In 2010, while a member of the rock band ‘Nu Savant’ they were fortunate to have their song ‘So Tired’ picked up for the Sony Television produced episodic show, ‘Damages.’  

Always working on developing his songwriting skills, In 2012 Chris released his first rock album as ‘Thief In the Night’ entitled 'Under The Influence' featuring power vocalist Johnny Rossa with world class extraordinary musician/guitarist, Rafael Moreira producing.   As Thief in the Night, Chris and Johnny also released an acoustic EP which features the Led Zeppelin classic ‘Kashmir’ as well as two singles each featuring duets with Johnny and international artist Dilana, ‘In Loving Memory’ and ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’.   

Besides performing in various bands, currently Chris has been a part of an worship teams in Nashville, Tennessee  and prior in California at Harvest Rock in Pasadena, Expression 58 in Glendale, both playing guitar as well as contributing to the incredible team of songwriters.  He has also been a part of Christian Assembly's worship team in Eagle Rock, California under the very humble but legendary Tommy Walker.  Chris has been very active in playing Gospel & Contemporary Christian music performing in venues in Nashville, New York, Pennsylvania, California and more as well as playing and leading worship music in both large and small churches.  “Giving back to the One who created me and put these gifts and talents in my heart and soul is my passion - I LOVE it!” says Chris.  

In 2011 Chris that met Cliff Young while both leading worship together.  Cliff asked Chris to join his own group, ‘Cliff Young & Living Sacrifice’, an R&B/Jazz/Gospel/Christian Soul band.  With ‘Living Sacrifice’ they released their premiere album ‘Beauty is to Worship’ summer of 2014 which features Chris’ own composition, ‘Here I Am.’

In 2020, Chris began Revival Ranch Music and along with a team of talented song-writers, worship-leaders and musicians, they recorded the first 'Revival Ranch' album in October of 2020.  

“I wouldn’t be anything without God and the amazing wife, family and friends He has surrounded me with”.