Chris LaRose

 I am mainly a solo musician, but I’d say I met myself as a musician when a Fender Strat stole my heart at 12 years old.

 2. Where are you from?

I was born in Lock Haven. Lock Haven is kind of my headquarters at the moment, soon planning a move to Las Vegas.

I’ve been playing professionally around 8 years now.

I just chose to use my real name, I figured it would be easier to build a fan base that way. The funny part though is most people think Chris LaRose is my stage. Sometimes I have a hard time convincing people that LaRose is my real last name. I still can’t figure that one out.

I would say I drift across the borders of Blues, Rockabilly, Outlaw Country, Ballads and Folk. They have all been woven genres since the beginning anyway, so it works out well for me.

I have one album of originals entitled “Switchblade Blues”. I am currently in the recording process for my second album, which I should have wrapped up and printed this summer.

So far it’s just me. My banjos name is Ola Bell, My guitar’s name is Fiona, and my harmonicas have yet to tell their names.

When I was a kid first learning to play music I was glued to cds by Muddy Waters, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Johnny Lang, Luther Allison, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, and Ola Belle Reed. Meanwhile other kids my age were hooked on The Spice Girls, Nsync, and The Backstreet Boys… those poor poor SOB’s.

By accident actually. I wanted to be a pilot. I just played music for fun but people started to hear my music and requested me to play gigs, once I played my first gig, it was a done deal. I knew no other job would cut it for me and I made the best decision of my life; to become a professional musician.

Currently I really admire the work of Imelda May, Dion DiMucci, Adam Blessing, Nate and the Aces, and Ann Kerstetter. I listen to them to get that extra boost of inspiration to keep pushing forward in the music business.

“Not Fade Away” by Buddy Holly

I’d say all my life really. I’ve always written originals, and I keep finding old tunes I’ve never heard before and adding them to my show. I like to keep all that old music around. There are tons of people doing covers of new music, but I gravitate toward the songs written by artists long since gone. Nothing gets me fired up like a good old blues tune from the 1920’s played on pawnshop guitar with 5 strings, a bottle neck, and the hands of a hard working old timer who wrung every ounce of genuine emotion out of life.

I pride myself in performing a show that zips the audience through genres like a time machine. I play music spanning Mid 1800’s-1950’s and early 1960’s, and I strive to look how I sound: Decked in my best vintage threads, hollering at an old-school microphone, and summoning notes back to life from antique instruments, sometimes over a hundred years old. I dump every last drop of my soul into every show and come out of a three hour gig that makes marathons feel like a cake walk.

Genuine, Driving, Vivid

I can’t say I’ve ever done anything crazy at a gig, I try to stay sharp and on my game when I’m performing. But over the years I’ve accumulated some wild road stories of unexpected things happening to me during and after shows, ranging from topless audience members singing harmony, private tours of ultra-rare motorcycle collections, invites to high-end parties, dinner and gigs with grammy winners, and rum sampling with an old fellow who I can only assume was a Cuban drug lord. All of this was very unexpected, which is the best way something could happen.

I think it would be to raise the respect, not only for musicians, but for all artists. A lot of people don’t take artists seriously, but those of us who do art for a living are every bit as committed and skilled in our fields as doctors, mechanics, lawyers, electricians, etc…

I love all the venues I play, among my favorites are car/motorcycle shows and music festivals.

I’ve been asked to sign clothing in some interesting areas, a guitar or two, even other peoples CD’s…I sure didn’t see that one coming.

My second album will be coming out this summer.

Yup, all can be found by searching Chris LaRose Music. Also linked on my website ChrisLaRoseMusic.com

I have quite a few live performance videos out now. Once my second album is wrapped up I will be shooting a traditional artistic video with one of the tracks, which will be made available on my website.

I play quite a few actually, ranging from homeless shelters, hospitals, retirement homes, and more. If it does good in the world I help how I can.

The next one I’m booked to play. I strive to be better every show.

I once had a three hour gig at a private club, where the cigarette smoke was so thick you could walk on it. It was really tough to sing, but it gave me a Tom Waits style voice for the night which I was kind of digging, I played a lot of old old blues tunes that night.

It is, in my opinion, among the most important support. As a musician you have to fight for every inch of progress to get your name out there, Having the support of stations is essential, it’s like the ferry ship that takes you across the river when you were resigning yourself to a long grueling swim.

I’ve had several months of gigs booked in Germany which had me really busy and loving it. Now I focus on two week tours, as frequently as I can put them together.

I’d have to say Heidelberg, Germany

Everyone ought to.

I really like the Ann Kerstetter Band, Sean Farley, and Philip Reeder.

Anyone with a driving passion for the music business and a love for the tunes of yesteryear.

An island in the St Lawrence Sea Way

Every day.

A boxcar in Poland.

I sell CD’s, and am currently designing tee-shirts, stickers and buttons.

OTR