Back in 1963 to 1968, I had a rock band outside of Chicago. We were known as The Chosen Few. We played the typical cover songs, but very quickly we became very well known for the original songs I was writing at the time. Sonically, we were a little bit of The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, The Zombies and others. We recorded three different tapes, two of which have disappeared from my collection. One tape survived, but it was not well recorded. So, I decided to embark on a retro music project to recreate the songs that I wrote for the band. The first song recorded was a fan-favorite, "You Made Me Cry". I sent out a notice to all my buddies from back then and most flipped out for the tune. QUOTES: "Better than I remembered", "Very true reproduction" ... "Great classic rock". Although, several of the band members have passed away way too early and could not be part of this project, I listened long and hard and tried to be as true to the sound we created as possible. I am dedicating this song collection to my band mates, Tom Peck (RIP), Wayne Welch (RIP), Jeff Weinstein (RIP) and co-founder, Phil Hagenah (Alive!), who helped to create the original rhythm and instrumentation to the music and lyrics I wrote. I entitled the CD, "Band In The Basement", because so many bands in the 50's and 60's started out in someone's basement. Our basement was a particularly busy place since my two brothers ALSO had bands and music acts practicing there. We had some exciting future stars go thru that basement including Mike Bloomfield. But, the music that was created in that basement was rock 'n roll, blues, folk, country, bluegrass....you name it! This band was my springboard that led me to embark on a long career as a songwriter, singer, musician and troubadour. Hope you enjoy the songs! ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Chet Nichols Hall-of-Fame: Singer-Songwriter-Composer-Musician This album is a collection of straight-ahead, fun rock 'n roll, blues and classic rock songs. A really fun party CD if you want to get everybody dancing. These songs have all been recently recorded and mastered. Check them them out and enjoy them as often as you like. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CHET: Chet Nichols came from a musical family. His father was an opera singer in the 30’s and 40’s and his father and mother met in the church choir. Chet was surrounded by a house of creative musicians, all friends of the family. This environment inspired Chet and his brothers and sister. Chet’s natural musical abilities were first recognized by his grade school music teacher, Sister Bernadelle, when he was in first grade. Once, after a group singing session, she invited him back to her music room and recorded Chet singing a song on an old Wollensak reel-to-reel machine. That was the beginning of Chet’s career. Shortly after that, he began studying piano and cello. He excelled at both and began competing in many solo competitions on both instruments and he never failed to not win the top prize in any of these. His first job as a busboy in an ice cream parlor in downtown Wilmette, Illinois led to his first opportunity to perform as a singer and guitarist. To celebrate this, Chet wrote a fun blues song, “I’m The Ice Cream Man” in the summer of 1962. It became a popular song ever since. Once in high school, Chet helped to start a couple folk groups and played as an opening act for artists like, Ian & Sylvia, The Chad Mitchell Trio and The Modern Folk Quartet. At the same time, Chet helped to form a popular Chicago band, “The Chosen Few”, who rose to local fame on the strength of Chet’s songwriting. “The Chosen Few’s” first demo tape was recorded by engineer/producer Bill Bradley who went on to run Madonna’s record company, “Maverick Records”. After high school, his band had to disband because of the draft and because a few members were off to college. Chet was, too. He attended Oklahoma City University were he studied theater, music and fine art. At the same time, Chet commuted to Chicago were he was in high demand as a commercial session guitar player and session singer. It was at this time that Dick Marx of Dick Marx & Associates in Chicago offered Chet his first record contract on DMA Records. Dick was one of the top commercial and record producers in the country and father of the soon-to-be-famous, Richard Marx. Shortly thereafter, he transferred to Kansas University. It was in Kansas City that he teamed up with a group other musicians, managers and booking agents to help to start Good Karma Productions who managed and booked Chet, Brewer & Shipley, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils and many others. They helped to open and manage Kansas City’s infamous Cowtown Ballroom. From here Chet continued to travel and tour as an “opening act” with many of the top artists in the country. These included; The Jefferson Airplane, Jethro Tull, John Denver, Poco, Linda Ronstadt, Brewer & Shipley, The Guess Who, The Grass Roots and many others It was also in Kansas City that Chet befriended, local night radio jockey, Stephen, “The Night Freak”. Stephen was a big fan of Chet’s very unique singer-songwriting skills and musicianship and Chet became a regular on Stephen’s radio show. Eventually, Stephen left KC and moved to LA and then San Francisco, where he worked as an engineer at the infamous Wally Heider’s studio. Chet traveled to San Francisco to work on a record with San Francisco’s musical guru, Nick Gravenites. But, due to some scheduling issues with Nick’s tightly packed production schedule, Chet’s recording schedule had to be moved back. Since, Stephen Barncard was close by, Chet looked up his old friend and it was long before the two of them were in the studio producing a soon-to-be a genre- defining album, “Time Loop”. “Time Loop” has attracted a global audience that has been attracted by Chet’s unique guitar style, unique tunings and out-side-loner-folk-acid-psychedelic songs. Chet and Stephen went on to produce two other CDs, “Waving Prairie” and “Taxi To Tonganoxie”. Chet went on to become an award-winning creative director, songwriter, composer, music producer, engineer, singer, multi-instrumentalist, film producer, animation producer, creative artist, designer, photographer, novelist, poet, TV and feature film actor and stage performer. Chet is also an accomplished Interactive Creative Director, Producer, Creative Content Specialist and Creative Media Artist. Chet was just recently inducted into The Kansas Music Hall Of Fame. He joins artists like Pat Matheny, Melissa Ethridge, Martina McBride, Brewer & Shipley, Mike Finnegan and many other accomplished performers. He was also recently added to The Chicago Actor’s A-List of Chicago-born entertainers. He was also awarded an honorary PHD in “Rock ’n’ Roll”. He has produced over 20 CDs of original material and he continues to writer, produce and create today. He has produced music that has been used in films, television and radio. His novel, “The Last Riders On Route 66”, is currently in development to become a feature film. His movie script, “The Ghosts Of Santa Barbara” is also currently in development to become a feature film. His newest novel, “The Children of Pentecost”, is now available for purchase. Chet continues to writer, produce cutting-edge and highly acclaimed singer-songwriter CDs. filled with unique stories and is a blend of folk, rock, jazz and world music. Chet’s recently won “Best Song Awards” at Broadjam with his songs: “Jezebel”, “Waving Prairie”, “Time Loop”, ”Tangled Up In You”, “Electra”, The Love I Want To Show”, “Walking In Circles”, “Kilimanjaro Moon Dance”, “Beijing Dawn”, “Serengeti Rain” and others. He is truly a “songwriter’s writer” and a “musicians-musician” Chet has recently released two new CDs, “I Was Dreaming” and “Band In The Basement”. They are very different CDs. “I Was Dreaming” is a fusion of jazz, New Age, folk, pop and progressive alternative songs. “Band In The Basement” is a collection of classic rock, blues and retro alternative music. Chet’s recent instrumental CDs, “Peak To Peak”, “Red Mesa Sunset” and “Earthways” are New Age Ambient/World Fusion fare and are filled with award-winning songs. “Red Mesa Sunset” was recently selected to be a Top Twelve CD by the music editors of eMusic.com for the month of February, 2007. “Earthways” was recently selected to be a Top Twelve CD by the music editors of eMusic.com for the month of March, 2007. “Serengeti Rain”, a song on “Red Mesa Sunset”, was awarded a Special Mention in the Music Aid International Songwriting Composition in December, 2006. “Serengeti Rain”, “Red Mesa Sunset” and “Prayer Bucket” have been #1 on numerous Internet New Age Song Charts. “Serengeti Rain” was recently a featured composition at The LA Museum of Contemporary Art’s Spring Event. Another song, “Beijing Dawn” was recently #1 on the American Idol Underground World Charts. “Beijing Dawn”, an instrumental composition from his recently CD release, “Peak To Peak”, was also awarded a Special Mention in the Music Aid International Songwriting Composition in December, 2007. Chet’s Route-66-dedicated CD, “Modern Progress” is filled with award winning songs. The song, “The Last Riders On Route 66”, won the Grand Prize in the International Route 66 Theme Song Contest in 2003. It was lauded as “the best new song about Route 66 since Bobby Troupe’s ‘Get Your Kicks On Route 66’. The song, “The Mother Road”, won the Grand Prize in the International Route 66 Theme Song Contest in 2004 ands was lauded as “the new anthem for Route 66 restoration and preservation”. Chet has numerous other songs that have won many other awards. He is the Author of the classic blues songs “I Come From Chicago”. John Fahey once called Chet “America’s best acoustic guitarist”. CHET NICHOLS Stage Performance Resume Chet has performed as a solo "Opening Act" in concert with: The Jefferson Airplane Jethro Tull The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Linda Ronstadt B.B. King John Denver George Carlin Steve Martin POCO Hot Tuna Brewer & Shipley Dan Hicks & The Hotlicks The Ozark Mountain Daredevils It's A Beautiful Day Pacific Gas & Electric Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen Mary Travers The Charlie Daniels Band Country Joe McDonald The Grassroots Mason Proffit Blue Oyster Cult The Grateful Dead Big Brother & The Holding Company Leonard Nimoy Bollo Sette Southern Comfort John Lee Hooker The Chad Mitchell Trio w/ Roger McGuinn Ian & Sylvia Jerry Lee Lewis The Chosen Few Modern Folk Quartet Richard Pryor Danny Cox Biff Rose The Guess Who Steve Goodman The Mary Clayton Band The Kansas City Philharmonic ... and more Chet has worked in recording studios with.................. Stephen Barncard (David Crosby) Henry Lewie (Joni Mitchell) Zakir Hussan (Ravi Shankar) Fuzzy John Oxendine (Sons of Champlain) Laura Allen (Laura Allen) Buddy Cage (New Riders Of The Purple Sage) Spencer Dryden (The Jefferson Airplane) Nicky Hopkins (The Rolling Stones) Dave Garabaldi (Tower of Power) Pete Sears (The Jefferson Airplane) Nick Gravenities (Big Brother) Sal Marquez (The "New" Tonight Show Band) The New Riders Of The Purple Sage Jack Shoerer (Van Morrison) Don Preston (Wings) Bill Bradley (Madonna) … and more.