Chuck (or Chuckie or Charlie) is a musical composer and arranger, recording artist, sound engineer, actor, and director. 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 became serious in theatre while in 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 has always been 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 performing in the San Francisco area with percussionist Tim Taylor.

 

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. Chuck has recorded, archived, and/or produced 28 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.

 

Chuck is presently Technical Director with Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble homed in Brentwood, California

 

Show Business Credits

Bands: (not a complete list)
Connecticut 1965
The Subterranean 5
 
California 1966-1975
Chapter V
Renaissance Faire
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: (archived at Chill Studio)
Brigadoon 1969
Acalanes District Honor Choir 1969
Short Bloom 1971 - Wildlife Refuge
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 1985 - Avenue
Party in the Moonlight 1987 - Avenue
Oddities 1988 - Chuck Phalen
From the Vaults 1990 - Avenue
 

 

Discography: (Chill Records produced)
Chuck Phalen 2000 - Chuck Phalen
Friends Till the End 2007 - Chill Studio Singers
A Very Merry Little 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 1961
Joseph - Follow That Star 1964
Freddy Eynsford Hill - Pygmalion 1968
John Mayhew - Witness for the Prosecution 1969
Morgan Evans - The Corn is Green 1970
Haemon - Antigone 1971
Cleant - The Miser 1971
Charlie Dalrymple - Brigadoon 1969
Curly - Oklahoma 1970
Sky Masterson - Guys and Dolls 1971
IF (Improvisational Family) under the direction of Doug Dildine. 1970-1973
Greylag/Turkey - HONK! 2019
Stubby Nuggets - Misdeeds at Mistletoe Mine 2019
Juror #9 - 12 Angry Jurors 2020
Prof. Bartlett - 39 Steps 2021
Arvide - Guys and Dolls 2022
Michel - Murder on the Orient Express 2022
 
Directing Credits
The Lady and the Lawyer 2022

Guys and Dolls asst director 2022
The Drowsy Chaperone 2023
A Blast From The Past 2024
 

Sound Engineer:
Live sound for bands
Chill Studio
The Dixie Swim Club - Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble
Company - Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble, Pittsburg Community Theatre, Pinole Community Players combine production
A Chorus Line - Pinole Community Players
The Addams Family - Pittsburg Theatre Company
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged - Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble & Pittsburg Theatre Company
The Drowsy Chaperone - Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble
Young Frankenstein - Pittsburg Theatre Company
You Can't Take it With You - Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble
Festival 10 - Ghostlight Theater Ensemble