Born October 29, 1985, and raised in Warwick, NY, Christopher Reddan was born into a family where music was always prevalent. Reddan’s earliest musical influences were listening to his dads’ records of Jimi Hendrix and Cream. He later started playing drums at the age of nine, and by the age of 10 he received his first drum set. Over the next few years, Reddan took many drum lessons and practiced up to eight hours a day. Childhood friend Chris Barretto introduced him to his father, legendary percussionist Ray Barretto at a young age. Reddan recalls going with Ray to attend a show with fellow congero Poncho Sanchez at the Blue Note NYC. "The fire and passion in those guys' playing was so unbelievable I couldn't even comprehend it...at that time I had no idea that league of playing was possible." This time period also saw him attending Drummer's Collective Drum School and The National Guitar Workshop Summer Program. Some of his teachers have included: Papa John Mole, Tom Venable, Frank Katz and Adam Nussbaum. Around the age of 13, Reddan started playing professional gigs with local musicians. His family enriched him by taking him to see live jazz and blues in the NYC area, including Popa Chubby, who would later open the door for Reddan’s musical career. By the age of 14, he was introduced to future friend and mentor, the late blues master, Bill Perry.
When Chris was in high school, his main focus was performing a lot of gigs and juggling school. He met blues rocker, Popa Chubby, at a high school music program, and they became instant friends. In 2004, Chubby visited the Corner Stage Music Club to see Reddan play. Shortly after, Reddan started filling in for legendary studio drummer, Steve Holley, on Popa Chubby’s gigs. Before long, Reddan was performing full-time in the Popa Chubby band.
Chris Reddan was touring the world by the age of 18. He toured all over Europe, The United States, Canada, and Africa with Popa Chubby for four years. Chubby taught him a great deal about music and the business aspect of music during this time. A highlight of Reddan’s career was getting to perform on a double bill with Popa Chubby and childhood hero, Johnny Winter. He also appeared on such prestigious festivals as: Nice Jazz Festival, The Bos Pop Festival, The San Sebastian Jazz Festival, The San Javier Jazz Festival, Blues on the Farm, Memphis in May, Santa Cruz Blues Festival and Ulmer Zelt Festival. On some of these festivals, he appeared alongside legends such as: The Allman Brothers, Sting, Gov’t Mule, Steve Vai, Blood Sweat and Tears, Simply Red, Ten Years After, and many, many others.
During the summer of July 2007, Reddan received news on the road that his longtime friend and mentor, Bill Perry had passed away on July 17. He was extremely devastated, along with his older brother John Reddan who played rhythm guitar in the Bill Perry band for six years.
Chris Reddan has toured, recorded and/or gigged with- Popa Chubby, Bill Perry, Lance Lopez, Jimmy Vivino, Little Sammy Davis, Michael Hill’s Blues Mob, Galea, Slam Allen, Arthur Neilson, Big Ed Sullivan, Nicholas D'Amato, and Sarah Morr.
Currently, Reddan is recording and touring full-time with older brother, John Reddan, forming the Reddan Brothers Band. The Reddan Brothers will be releasing their first record by the fall of 2008.
Influences: Al Jackson JR., Mitch Mitchell, John Bonham, Buddy Miles,
Ginger Baker, Billy Cobham, Steve Ferrone, Steve Jordan, Tony Williams, Keith Moon, Bernard Purdie, Elvin Jones, Papa Jo Jones, Kenny Arnoff, Buddy Rich, Morgan Rose, Max Roach, Pistol Allen, Uriel Jones, Benny Benjamin...and many others.
Discography:
2007 Popa Chubby- Deliveries After Dark
2007 Bill Perry- Don’t Know Nothing About Love
2006 Popa Chubby- Electric Chubbyland (3 CD Live set)
2006 Popa Chubby- Electric Chubbyland Live DVD
2006 Arthur Neilson- Hell of a Nerve
2006 Big Ed Sullivan- 300 Pounds of Brooklyn Love
2005 Popa Chubby- Stealing the Devils Guitar
2005 Sarah Morr Band- The Giving Tree
