Chück Hammel

Chuck has been playing drums since his grandmother bought him his first drum kit for his 2nd birthday. His father, another known musician, played sax in various band, and held rehearsal in the family's basement, which influenced Chuck greatly as a young child. He was addicted to music from day one and recalls running home from school, in his elementary years, to listen to records that his father's bandmates would often leave there in between rehearsals. It was at a very early age that Chuck decided that he, like his father, would be a musician when he grew up.......Chuck's first band was with some neighborhood kids, mostly making noise, but having lots of fun. Chuck's first gig wasn't until he was 15, playing a battle of the bands with the Snowberries. Other various lineups were formed throughout Chuck's high school years that gained high school party legendary status that quickly fizzled out, like most do....... It wasn't until 1997, when Chuck met guitarists Jeff Rak, Brian Vargo and bassist Mark Gordon to form the band known as the Big Bang (later to change their name to Orbitor), that he finally got together with a group of musicians who took their skills and dreams seriously. They went on to play together for 4 1/2 years, playing well over 200 gigs, mostly throughout NE Ohio, and releasing various efforts, including the LP "Get Your Helmet."....... Toward the end of Orbitor's run, Chuck was playing with other musicians and bands, as well as hosting various open-mic musicians' jam nights. It was during this period that Chuck met many of the musicians he plays with today. Through the medium of the social meet-and-greet that the jam nights offered, Chuck was able to keep a busy schedule and collaborate ideas with people such as Curtis Leonard, Bobby Neal & Jason Van Meter, with various recordings made with each of the aforementioned. Some of the bands Chuck has kept himself busy with over the last few years as an established member, or as a "hired gun" include: Evergreen (origianal & cover classic/alternative rock), Hot Sauce Gravy (original modern funk/soul/rock), the Curtis Leonard Band (original rock), Anne E DeChant (original folk-acoutic rock), Heartland (country), the BruceKey Band (classic rock), the Big Bananas (70's 80's party rock), Whammer Jammer (the J. Geils tribute band), New Decade (60s - present rock), the Stokes Brothers (blues, classic rock), Hayshaker Jones (classic/alt. country), Ted's Delicious Gravy (your favorite party cover band), and many others - some forgotten for better or worse, some just overlooked (for those, all apologies).