Chris Calhoun

Over the years, I have been often asked about my music. I grew up in a very musical family. We would always tell the joke, "In our family, you have to play music and baseball or they'll trade you off.!" Dad had a dance band and each of us kids joined the band as we got old enough. When it was my turn, Dad had just lost his bass player and needed to replace him fast. I hadn't ever played the bass although I played several instruments. So, we put in a crash course on how to play bass and I joined the band at the age of 15.

I have always played bass since that time. As a matter of fact, bass is the only instrument I played in public until 1997.

I met Jim in 1978 and we started performing together in 1979. He played guitar and sang. I played bass and sang harmonies and we had a drummer. I have always been most comfortable singing back up instead of lead and we developed our "style" together over the years. We seemed to reach a point, early on, that we could feel what each other was about to do and could blend in all the right sounds with each other. It just seems natural to us now.

I don't mean to sound like it has been a breeze. We have always worked at what we do and are always trying to improve. We are always looking for the right way to make everything better and develop our talent more. But, having each other to work with has made things allot of fun to work through.

Jim has always encouraged me to sing lead and I have learned many over the years but I still love singing harmony best.

In 1997 I started playing Saxophone on stage. I was a clarinet player in school and switching to sax was only a small change. I have never been a lead player and it has been quite a transition playing the lead on a song. I still only do a few songs but I'm learning and adding more all the time.

In 1999 we decided that our sound needed to become "fatter" so I switched to piano. Now I play piano mostly but still do some songs on bass.

People ask me, "who are the people that have influenced your music the most?" I guess I would have to say, My Husband, My Dad and My Brother. Sure I have learned allot from all of the famous people that I've play their music but my greatest influences have been from home.

Another question I get is, " Will you ever retire from the music business?" I'd guess that'll be the day I stop breathing. I love what I do and I wouldn't have it any other way. I am so lucky to have Jim by my side and we're loving it together.

God Bless You!

Chris Calhoun