Biography
Chad Quist Guitarist & Producer
Sessions, Live, Sub dates and touring.
Chad grew up in the Bay Area where he began playing piano at age five. He took up guitar at ten and began studying with Jimmy Lyon (Eddie Money), Terry Maderas (Starship) and Jack Eskridge, along with other local Bay Area instructors. From age seventeen to nineteen Chad attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. There he studied music theory, composition and all styles of guitar performance.
After his college years, Chad relocated to Seattle. His talents for being adept at many styles on stage or in the studio were soon sought after by the top local acts, from the top-40 scene, to casuals and record work, doing everything from rock, pop and country to fusion and jazz. Some highlights were playing with local favorites where he had the chance to perform on stage with Kenny G, Oleta Adams, The Platters and Martha and the Vandellas. These experiences led to gigs opening shows for artists such as Ray Charles, Tower Of Power, George Benson, Rick Derringer, Head East, Diane Schuur, Dave Grusin, Lou Rawls, Larry Carlton, Basia, Huey Lewis, Diana Ross and Jamie Foxx.
In 1995 Chad began a ten year recording career with Muzak. In addition to appearing .. to one thousand Muzak cover tunes on their Environmental channel, he has over 20 of his original songs on worldwide rotation.
In '96 he released his first CD with his band Paradigm Shift and in '99 he teamed up with partner Liz Aday to form Quistaday. Their release “These Are The Days” was co-produced by veteran Bay Area engineer Wally Buck, and featured Steve Smith (Journey) on drums with Paul DeLisle (Smash Mouth) and Geoff Stanfield (Black Lab) on bass. The CD was released on Groovehouse Records and the band scored an opening slot for Pat Benatar on her 2000 summer tour. In 1997, Chad landed a touring gig with Big Brother And The Holding Company, of Janis Joplin fame. His travels with Big Brother have brought him to Europe numerous times as well as Thailand, Hawaii and throughout the continental U.S. The band has toured on bills with Vanilla Fudge, Canned Heat, Jefferson Starship and Booker T. and the MG's and recently released the live CD “Hold Me” which features Chad's fluid technical skills. More recently, Chad has been out with Glenn Yarborough, backing Glenn on his classic folk songs.
Working on his own records led Chad to his interest in producing and engineering. In the future, Chad would like to continue to sit in the producer's chair as well as tour, see the world and play music. Chad is a voting member of NARAS and a writer and publisher member of ASCAP.
Chad has recently finished producing albums for Nick Deonigi (www.myspace.com/nickdeonigi) and Devorah (www.devorahmusic.com). He has also been writing for a solo instrumental record as well as for Sanjaya and Shyamali Malakar. He'll be heading to Bejing, China after the olympics for a gig with the Martin Ross Orchestra and then back to the states for dates with Glenn Yarbrough.
“Chad Quist encompasses the total meaning of a musician. His attention to detail, refined ear, brilliant adaptability and technical prowess makes him stand out above the rest. A guitarist and producer that is seasoned across the spectrum of session work to touring, producing to subbing, and writing to arranging is the reason why I call on him first when I need a true player.”
– Loren Weisman, Producer, Founder of Protectomatic Music and Entertainment.