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HELLO EVERYONE!!
I hit things!!!! (to use a phrase on a t-shirt from a favorite drummer of mine!) That's what I do. I take out all of my aggression on the drums, which I guess it makes me one of the most laid-back people I know. I suggest you try it...hitting drums,that is! When you see me onstage with a smile on my face, it's because I truly LOVE what I do.
I was born in November of 1970, and according to my mom, I was an easy-going, laid-back,happy child. She also claims that I was singing and banging on pots and pans at a very early age...but I don't really remember any of that. I got my first guitar at the age of six, and my first pair of drumsticks at the age of eleven.I joined the junior high school band program which is where I began learning my craft and really developing my love for making all kinds of music. I continued to musically grow and learn all through high school. During high school I decided to really pursue a career in music. My parents wanted me to go to college...you know, "just in case". After high school, I attended North Texas State University briefly, as well as the Mississippi University for Women. No, seriously. Go ahead and finish chuckling...I'll wait. Apparently, my professors at MUW saw something in me that I couldn't see in myself at the time, because they advised me to quit school and get out on the road with a band. So I did. And I never looked back. I quit school and began pursuing the life of a working musician. My journey has been long, sometimes easy, sometimes difficult, but always very fun. I have played in more bands than I can recall, in more bars than I care to remember, and have made lots of music along the way. I can honestly say that playing with Zac and the guys is one of the most (if not THE most) enriching, fulfilling, and challenging musical ventures I have ever been a part of, and I am very grateful to be able to make music with them.
All in all, I can truly say that I absolutely love what I do for a living and that I feel extremely blessed to be able to do it. I still consider myself an ardent student of music and drumming. I hope I never stop learning about it. I have always been fascinated by music and its ability to transcend, communicate,express, and affect.
The only thing that fascinates me as much as music?...My wife and two daughters. Without their love and support, I would be truly lost. They are the "yin" to my musical"yang". They give me balance and keep me very grounded...and I love them more than words could ever express.
Hopefully one day I will truly understand what makes music so special and so fascinating...probably about the same time I truly understand the manifestation of an estrogen-driven wardrobe crisis.
As always, special thanks goes out to all of my sponsors (Gretsch, Gibraltar, Zildjian, Vic Firth, Evans, and HQPercussion) for their support. Not only do these companies make great products, they take really good care of their artists. Very special and specific thanks goes out to Kim G. &Brent B., Joe T. & Ben D., Sarah M. & John D., and Marco S. & Steve L.! It would be so much more difficult to do what I do without youguys!!
I used to keep a calendar of events but it was difficult for me to keep it updated regularly. I'm re-posting it, with a loose promise that I'll do my best to keep it updated...one of my new"not-so-new-year's resolutions". However, you can always go to www.zacbrownband.com and see the tour dates that I'm doing with the ZBB! I'm also on the hunt for some updated pictures for my photo gallery. If you happen to have some, please pass them along and I'll post them with the others.
There have been some requests for some streamable and downloadable video and audio footage of my playing. My good friend, Mike Scott, who is greatly responsible for what you see here, has managed to get some footage, and post it here. My computer literacy is limited and I have trouble just getting email sometimes, so much thanks goes out to Mike for making this happen!! If you have any footage of me in either format that you think I might want to post here, please drop me a line!
Thanks for visiting and God Bless!!
Chris
Chris Fryar endorses Gretsch Drums, Gibraltar hardware, Zildjian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, Vic Firth drumsticks, HQ Percussion Products, ZOOM video and audio recorders, and Audix microphones exclusively.