Chad Whittaker

Chad Whittaker is no stranger to the Minneapolis music scene. Self-taught on the bass, keyboard, guitar and vocals, Chad has played well over 100 shows in 2007 alone, and with twelve different bands. After recording for 6 months Chad has finally released his debut CD Cactus Tree Motel.Chad first explored the Minneapolis music scene in 1994, joining the already successful pop band Charlie's Café. Their self-titled debut album was released in 1996, and was nominated "best pop album" later that year by the Minnesota Music Awards. Just after the millennium, Chad had an idea to start a cover band that would emulate entire shows performed by the jam-band Phish. He called it Taboot, and it won him a second nomination by the Minnesota Music Awards in 2001. In 2000, he was asked to tour with the Beach Boys as a rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist. Chad also had the privilege to play with the popular Kung Fu Hippies in 2003, and has shared stages with the Allman Brothers, the Big Wu, O.A.R., and Widespread Panic. The Hippies also found time that year to record an original CD in which Chad wrote and sang nearly half of the album.Chad joined the Tim Mahoney Band full-time in the fall of 2003, but was an occasional fill-in as far back as 1999. He also performs in the annual "Last Waltz" (legendary concert film by "The Band") tribute shows as Rick Danko. Chad is heavily influenced by Joni Mitchell, Jayhawks, Wilco, Beatles and Dylan.Chad recently played in Las Vegas with the Tim Mahoney Band along with Incubus and Linkin Park for Rolling Stone Magazine's 40th Anniversary Party and will be featured in a two-page spread for the November 15th issue of Rolling Stone.