Work in progress
Chill Records Presents
Chuck Phalen
About this guy....
Oh what fun it is to entertain...
Chuck (or Chuckie or Charlie) is a musical composer and arranger, recording artist, sound engineer and actor. He grew up thinking that singing before, during and after meals was something that all families did. Pop, his father Clint, was a country, western, and bluegrass picker while his mother, Mary was a pop jazz singer. Chuck began singing in children’s choirs at age 8 which coincided with his first acting appearance on stage. He formed his first band in Wilton, Connecticut when he was twelve and accompanied his sister Suzie doing folk music.
Chuck didn’t get back into acting until high school and college when his family moved back to the San Francisco Bay Area. He managed to cultivate a real love for the theatre while continuing his musical training. But it has been music that was always the focal point of Chuck’s life. A music major in college, studying opera for five years under the tutelage of Virginia Blair, and Music/Recording Industry at S.F. State gave Chuck a solid knowledge he craved.
Realizing that he was not cut out for opera, Chuck opted for something else. He made the road his home for the next eight years traveling mainly west of the Mississippi with three bands. Tiring of the constant travel, he and two lifelong friends, songwriters Bill Jason and Jim Thompson, formed Avenue in 1985 performing in the San Francisco area with percussionist Tim Taylor, keyboardist Mark Sheppie ,and guitarist/vocalist Bruce Leino.
Chill Studio became Chuck's lifelong dream of having a recording studio in 1989. With longtime friends Bill Jason and Jim Thompson, the three composed and recorded for ten years as well as archiving the many hours of recordings from their years of playing music together.
In 2000, Chuck embarked on writing and composing a musical. The completion of this musical, "Friends Till the End", took seven years. Another musical is in the works. During this period, Chill Records was born. Through Chill Records, Chuck recorded, archived, and produced 29 albums and he has performed on numerous other recording projects as a studio musician.
The last decade has brought more challenges for Chuck. He sang with the John Muir Chorus for 9 years. Started performing with a folk/jazz trio called SideStreet with Sue Kiel and Sydney Stull. And maybe his most rewarding event was performing in a stage musical with his three eldest grandchildren, Abby, Eli and Chris.
Owner and operator of Chill Records
chillrecords1952.com
Technical Director for Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble, Brentwood, CA
Bands:
Connecticut 1966
The Subteranean 5
California 1967-1975
Wildlife Refuge
Roadapple
Appaloosa
Lyndale Special
Minnesota 1975-1978
Possum Road
Sutter’s Mill
Foxfire
California 1979-2021
Grace Band
Rhythm on the Range
Avenue
Cruise Control (West Coast)
Sourdough Boys
SideStreet
Discography:
Brigadoon 1968
Acalanes District Honor Choir 1969
Short Bloom 1971
- Wildlife Refuge
Bites the Dust
- Roadapple 1972
Appaloosa 1973
- Appaloosa
Holiday Inn 1974
- Lyndale Special
The Mystic Possum 1975
- Possum Road
KBSB Radio Presents 1975
- Possum Road
Sutter’s Mill 1976
- Sutter’s Mill
Live at the Bronco 1977
- Foxfire
Young Life 1983
- Grace Band
The Myth 1987
- Avenue
Party in the Moonlight 1988
- Avenue
Oddities 1988
- Chuck Phalen
From the Vaults 1990
- Avenue
Chuck Phalen 2000
- Chuck Phalen
Friends Till the End 2007
- Chill Studio Orchestra & Singers
A Very Merry Christmas Charles 2008
- Chuck Phalen
Making It Up As I Go Along 2010
- Isahrai Azaria with Charlie Phalen
In The Beginning There Was Music: Songs of My Father 2010
- Chuck Phalen
var Winter and Spring Concerts 2012-2017
- John Muir Chorus, Sandra Peter Director
It’s A Chill Christmas 2012
- Chuck Phalen w/ the Chill Studio Singers & Orchestra
Just Dreamin’ 2015
- Chuck Phalen
Carols For a Yuletide 2016
- Sydney Stull & Chuck Phalen
CD Release Party at the Berkeley Arthouse & Cultural Center 2017
- Josh Harris, Bill Jason, Jim Thompson, Lloyd Ferris, Chuck Phalen, Sydney Stull, Sue Kiel
Appaloosa 43 Year Reunion Show at the Berkeley Arthouse & Cultural Center 2017
- Appaloosa
Adrienne 2017
- Adrienne Tann Stark
All On a Winter’s Night 2018
- Sydney Stull & Chuck Phalen w/ Sue Kiel
Back On The Street Again 2021
- SideStreet (Sydney Stull, Chuck Phalen,
Sue Kiel)
Acting Credits:
The Troll - The Three Billy Goats Gruff
Joseph - Follow That Star
Freddy Eynsford Hill - Pygmalion
John Mayhew - Witness for the Prosecution
Morgan Evans - The Corn is Green
Haemon - Antigone
Cleant - The Miser
Charlie Dalrymple - Brigadoon
Curly - Oklahoma
Sky Masterson - Guys and Dolls
IF (Improvisational Family) Doug Dildine director
Greylag/Turkey - HONK!
Stubby Nuggets - Misdeeds at Mistletoe Mine
Juror #9 - 12 Angry Jurors
Arvide - Guys and Dolls
Michel - Murder on the Orient Express
Sound Engineer:
Live sound for bands
Chill Studio
The Dixie Swim Club
Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble production
Company
Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble,
Pittsburg Community Theatre,
Pinole Community Players
A Chorus Line
Pinole Community Players
Hope Rising
Kaleidascope Cancer Connection
Addams Family
Pittsburg Theatre Company