Biography
"RUNNER", from his 1st CD, SOLE INTENTION, was just selected for use by NBC's Universal Sports Network, which reaches over 50 million homes!!! (www.universalsports.com)
IT APPEARS THAT NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO PLAY CHOCKY'S SONGS, "THE DANCE"& "THE BRIDE"! DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU LIKE THEM OR NOT. ONLY ONE PERSON HAS SEEN HIS STYLE OF FINGERING...(See the "Audio portion")
His song, "Chick'n Lick'n: A Bohemian Rap-City" was just released on Tom Green's new Major Motion Picture, "SHRED" on DVD! Check the soundtrack for the movie on Imdb. URL is: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1031275/soundtrack
"Elegant Fury" and "Adria" are now available for "Ringtones" and "Music" through VerizonWireless!!! We're not sure, but you can check AT&T, Cricket, or any other cell phone services, as well!!!
When a local DJ saw the comment on this EPK about comparing Chocky to "...Jimi Hendrix meets the Eagles", he commented, "Classic rock isn't appropriate for a modern rock station". This proved only one thing...the DJ NEVER listened to any of Chocky's music! He's FAR from classic rock. Just listen for yourself. Classic rock, HE IS NOT! TAKE A LISTEN TO THE END OF "THE PROMISE". Very few women can sing that high. Al Lambert (American Idol) is using a style of singing that Chocky's been singing for decades.
Two songs from his CD, "Elegant Fury" won Honorable Mention, in the "Top 1500" WorldWide, in Billboard's World Song Contest, 2008!
New Artist Radio's newest Hall of Famer- Inducted 8/4/2006 in Nashville! Nominated NAR 2004 Rock Musician of the Year. Voted 2003 NAR Rock Artist of the Year! 2002 Rock Song of the Year! Has had Four Number 1 Hits on New Artist Radio, which include "Runner", "Out of Place", "Kyd Wok", and "Closer To Your Side". "Chick'n Lick'n: A Bohemian Rap-City" was used in a feature on the Vacation Channel.
Chocky’s video, “Lightning Fingers” documenting some of the songwriting for his 1st CD has now had over 455,00 views on MySpace.
After hearing Chocky's "Practice Sessions" Video, genius and writer of the "Pocket Jethro Tull", playwright of off-broadway musicals, James Bond and Tom Clancy novels said, "...you're the best guitarist I know, but you also might be the best guitarist alive!"
His third self-produced, self-published CD, "Elegant Fury" made nice waves. After only being released only one month, the title song, "Elegant Fury", reached "THE NUMBER 20 SPOT" on Clear Channel's nationwide websites. The competition includes artists from all across the country! "Elegant Fury" is STILL RISING!!! His new CD, "The Song", was just released, and very soon, a 5th CD, "People, Places, and Things"...(songs he produced in 1992!)
Four songs were given "Honorable Mention" at Billboard Annual Song Contest- "Fifth Avenue", "Latin Lady", "Games", and "Time After Time".
"Kyd Wok", from the CD, "Adria", was the #6 most requested song of the year for 2006 on John Anderson's "On the Horizon Radio Station"! "Kyd Wok" also played on the "DR. DEMENTO RADIO SHOW"! After "Kyd Wok" aired on the Dr. Demento's show, Jamie Rake from Patsy Moore's "Bohemian Aesthetic" wrote an article about the song! It has also received airplay from Indie 104- iRadio LA, Independent Traffic Jam, the Colorado Wave, Independent Nation, New Artist Radio, and numerous others, including standard land radio stations.
Chocky's live video of "Satch Boogie" by Joe Satriani made it on Guitar Center's "Best Guitar Videos" website right alongside Satch, himself! Chocky pulled the video to prevent infringing on anyone's copyright, even though no money was being made. Before he pulled it, the same video was posted on YouTube, and emails came pouring in from guitarists the world over who couldn't believe ANYONE could play "Satch Boogie" without a pick! He was told that it couldn't be done, and he proved them wrong, again, note for note! His fans and others were stunned (check www.chockykay.com).
He's now quit trying to prove he's the greatest guitarist in the world. He's changed his method of songwriting from one of "GUITAR AND MORE GUITAR" to realizing that a song truly is, as the saying goes, "...only as good as the vocals!" He's now garnering praise for a sound all his own, built upon melodic vocals, backed by the same huge sound, and colored with his edgy but beautiful guitar riffs.
The things which set his music apart are his dedication to melodic vocal lines, he's not afraid to use pleasing, non-raspy vocals (like Steve Perry of Journey- recall that Journey was told they would never make it in Rock because Steve Perry's voice was too pretty!), and he also uses two and three part harmonies in rock songs. This has almost become non-existent today with the ubiquitous one-person front singers in rock! Furthermore, he refuses to be boxed in by only one style, writing award winning new-age sounding songs like, "CLOSER TO YOUR SIDE", and an amazing country-sounding "chicken pickin" tune called "CHICK'N LICK'N: A BOHEMIAN RAP-CITY which has been compared to the likes of Eric Johnson and Steve Morse. His writing is prolific and he's produced songs of many styles except hip-hop, although he prefers hard rock, alternative, classic rock, and fusion. He's written orchestral arrangements for some of his songs. The reason he's been asked to play in different groups is his unique ability to feel at home playing anything from hard rock, blues, jazz, fusion, classic rock, country, and any other music you can dream up...he's grabbed an acoustic guitar and played many weddings, sending Kleenex's Stock soaring! IF YOU NEED A GUITARIST WHO CAN PLAY IN ALMOST ANY GENRE, YOU'VE JUST FOUND HIM!
Now, his 4th CD, "THE SONG", is proving that he has a vastly greater base of talent than anyone ever thought him capable. With only these 4 CD's, he has now spanned more styles of music than any other singer, songwriter, or artist has ever had the courage to attempt. However, don't think that he doesn't understand or know his audience and what they want. He has merely proven that he can write, arrange, record, and produce almost any style of music.
His influences include Eric Johnson, Steve Morse, Stevie Wonder, the Beatles, Joe Satriani, the Foo Fighters, Carlos Santana, Jean Luc Ponty, Jimi Hendrix, Jimi Jamison, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Phil Keaggy, Al DiMeola, Django Rheinhardt, Stefan Grapelli, Josh White, and many more. He performs either with a guitar alone, or by using a backup CD of his own music which he also produced in his studio while he plays the lead parts and sings the lead vocal along with it. He was once told this wouldn't work with his style of music, but this unusual set-up has been accepted with surprising enthuiasm by many audiences! The lesson is: Don't ever tell him something can't be done! He'll do it...an email just came in to Chocky which said, "Hi Chocky, I'm going to see Jimmie Vaughn on the fourth of July, but he's got nothing on you!"
*** One of his proudest musical achievements: His promotional poster/photo is now on display at the International Museum of Peace & Solidarity in Uzbekistan along with dignitaries the world over. He was asked by the Director and Curator, Anatoly Ionesov, to submit a statement on world peace to be displayed along with his promo photo. Others displayed in the IMPS include Phil Collins, Crystal Gayle, Senator Edward Kennedy, two Nobel Laureates, the Prime Minister of Belgium, and many others. The URL is: http://www.civilsoc.org/nisorgs/uzbek/peacemsm.htm
He has either backed up or played venues with Iron Horse, DeGarmo & Key, Nancy Honeytree, Jamie Owens, Ernie Ashworth, Edie Foy, Rudy and Steve Gatlin (Gatlin Brothers Band), Donna Gatlin, Bill Wright Blues band, Chris Aaron, and many others. Formed the group "Aslan", with Bill Glover, Petra's original and incredible drummer. Petra, Bryan Duncan & Sweet Comfort (all Multi- Grammy & Multi-Dove Award Winners) have been guests in his home. He also did studio work on an album produced by Wayne Boosahda (Stephanie Boosahda's husband) along with Leon Russell's first producer in Sapulpa, OK. The producer was so impressed he offered Chocky a chance to stay as a studio musician, but Chocky was determined to become adept at engineering and producing his own CD's.
The bottom line:
Sam Kinsey, a San Antonio music promoter, once told Chocky, "I WANT TO BE THERE WHEN YOU HIT IT BIG!"
Instrumentation
Chocky Kay: On his CD's, he plays all instruments and sings all vocals. Guitar, bass, keyboards, percussion, etc. Backs up himself with his self-produced studio CD's. Take a look at the video, "Lightning Fingers". It had over 455,000 views on MySpace!
Discography
1. "Sole Intention"- 1999. (Award winning songs listed)
Runner- (Hit #1 on NAR Top 40 & Voted 2002 NAR Rock Song of the Year)
Out of Place (Hit #1 on NAR Top 40)
2. "Adria"- 2005. "Kyd Wok" from this CD is getting great radio airplay! (Award winning songs listed)
Closer To Your Side (Hit #1 on NAR Top 40)
Kyd Wok (Hit #1 on NAR Top 40)
3. "Elegant Fury"- Released 12/5/2007.
"Elegant Fury", the title song is already #22
on Clear Channel's Online National unsigned
artists. Over 2,300 artists on the website.
4. Just Released!: "THE SONG"
copyright 2008. The change is dramatic and
amazing.
5. Coming Soon: "People, Places, & Things"
(re-released from 1992).
Links
| http://www.chockykay.com |
| Chocky Kay's Main Website |
| Chocky's MySpace Site |