Biographical Profile For Chris Martin
Professional Experience
- 2003-2008 Four Seasons Hotel Chicago High Tea
- 1989-2007 Ritz Carlton Hotel Chicago Dining Room and Greenhouse
- 1987-1989 Barclay Hotel Chicago Barclay Club
- 1984-1987 Sheraton Chicago Kon Tiki Ports Lounge
- 1976-1979 “ Orphan” San Francisco Singer Songwriter Project
- 1973-1975 Deputy Dan/ Danny and the Dirtballs Touring Show band
Musical Roots & Training
Growing up, I bounced around quite a bit, musically. My parents tolerated nothing but classical music while jazz and rock n roll had me in their grip as a teen. I had the burning desire to play piano with the grace of George Shearing and the animal fire of Jerry Lee Lewis.
I dropped out of music school in my third year to join a touring club band that did rock covers and a tremendous 50’s greaser act. When that roller coaster ended, I went to California with a member of the band and formed a pop rock group. We wrote songs and shopped demos for four years. As soon as RCA picked us up, the band broke up and I stole back to the Midwest determined to do anything but music.
I stayed out of the music scene for about three years. Gradually, I began playing piano again and soon found myself jumping from one Chicago hotel piano bench to another until I landed at the Ritz. For the last seventeen years I have been a house pianist at Chicago's Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons hotels.
My long stint as a pianist at Chicago’s premiere hotels has placed me in front of a diverse audience. I have played a formal dinner for President H. W. Bush, a Chicago Council on Foreign Relations reception for Chinese President Jiang Jemin, The Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, Tony Bennett, Cardinal George, the list is as wide and varied as are the eminent guests who stay at these establishments. I have also played piano at corporate functions in every major venue in the city.
In addition to my Chicago piano playing career, I have been long involved in recording. With the California recording project band I began recording demos for the band using a four track recorder and 12 input board. I began using computers to sequence and record music in 1987. Today I am recording direct to a hard drive array in a small two room project studio in my Chicago two flat.