I’m excited to have my colleague Chuck Webb on to discuss performance preparation, transitioning into the professional world, developing skills to diversify your offerings, and much more.
Chuck’s (abbreviated) performance credits include work with Ramsey Lewis, Aretha Franklin, David Sanborn, and many others. Chuck has recorded on hundreds of commercial jingles and soundtracks and has played countless musicals in the Chicago area and on the road.
Chuck is also on the faculty of Columbia College Chicago's music department, serving as coordinator of bass studies, bass instructor, ensemble director, and coordinator of the Contemporary, Urban and Popular Music ensemble program.
Chuck has composed for film, TV, and writes and performs in his jazz/funk/soul/fusion group ‘Guru Tonic.’
We Cover:
- Growing up in a non-musical family.
- How Jermaine Jackson (Jackson 5) got Chuck interested in playing bass.
- How Chuck changed his major while in music school to music merchandising and how that helped him manage his own career.
- How Chuck's time in music school helped him to realize that everything starts with an individual’s idea and you don’t have to wait for someone to tell you to start
- Chuck’s intern experience at CBS Records, how he got the opportunity, and how it showed him what he didn’t want to do in his career.
- How Chuck transitioned into the professional world, worked at Guitar Center, then as an insurance claims adjuster.
- How Chuck’s relationship with his music theory professor ended up getting him involved in the commercial music scene in Chicago and kickstarted his early career.
- How Chuck didn’t let inexperience dictate whether or not he went for a gig.
- Building your body of work and using it to procure more work.
- How your social media channels influence your ability to get work.
- How to get involved in different musical scenes in one city.
- How Chuck got involved with jazz great, Ramsey Lewis and prepared to perform his enormous catalog.
- What it’s like performing with Aretha Franklin and how Chuck drew on all of his sight-reading and aural skills to make the gig work.
- How Chuck developed his educational programs by observing how his kids learned.
- Qualities Chuck sees in successful students
Links Mentioned:
- Chuck's Website
- Chuck's group, Guru Tonic
- Chuck's Instagram Page
Connect with The Scholarship Roadmap:
- Website
- Apple Podcasts
- Instagram
- Facebook
- YouTube
- Book A Call With Me (no commitment, no charge.)
Theme Music:
‘Elegua’ from Axiom Asunder by The Majestic Jazz Orchestra
Composed by Buzz Jones.