Chuck Prophet

Event information

Chuck Prophet is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who has created a handful of impressive solo albums when he isn't busy collaborating with some of the most respected figures in roots rock. A songwriter with a naturalistic sense of storytelling and drawing characters, and a melodic sense that brings together the impact of rock with the nuance of country, blues, and folk, Prophet has been releasing worthwhile solo albums since 1990, when he brought out his first solo LP, Brother Aldo. Prior to that, he was a key member of the rough-edged Paisley Underground band Green on Red, who had a small cult following in the United States and a significantly larger one overseas, and in between solo efforts, he worked as a sideman, collaborator, or producer for Alejandro Escovedo, Kelly Willis, Warren Zevon, Cake, Kim Richey, and many more. Among his solo releases, 1993's atmospheric Balinese Dancer, 1997's autobiographical Homemade Blood, 2004's Age of Miracles, and 2012's loving homage to San Francisco Temple Beautiful are highlights.

Charles William Prophet was born in Whittier, California on June 28, 1963. Growing up, he lived in La Habra, midway between Orange County and Los Angeles, and got his first lessons in music from his older sister's record collection, which included classic albums from the Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater Revival, David Bowie, and the Beatles. He soon picked up a guitar, and developed favorites of his own, including Bob Dylan, Richard Thompson, and Jimi Hendrix. As a teenager, he played in local bands like Wild Game and Bad Attitude, and in 1984, he moved to San Francisco and joined the Paisley Underground band Green on Red in time to record their 1985 breakthrough Gas Food Lodging. In time, he would become the group's primary musician alongside founder and songwriter Dan Stuart, and he was an integral part of their lineup until 1992, when the group split up. By that time, Prophet had already launched a solo career, recording his first solo album, 1990's Brother Aldo, for $800 with a band that included keyboardist, vocalist, and collaborator in his road band, Stephanie Finch.

After the release of Green on Red's 1992 album Too Much Fun, the group's breakup gave Prophet more time to work on his own music, and 1993's Balinese Dancer was steeped in blues and country sounds that moved beyond the borders of Green on Red's sound. Feast of Hearts followed in 1995, and Homemade Blood came out in 1997. By this time, Prophet had been popping up as a guest artist on releases by Bob Neuwirth (1996's Look Up), Jim Dickinson (1997's A Thousand Footprints in the Sand), and the Silos (1997's Long Green Boat), and he would also contribute to 1998's Awake by John Wesley Harding and 1998's Prolonging the Magic by Cake. Prophet co-wrote the song "If You Don't Mind" with Kim Ritchey for her 1999 LP Glimmer, and he lent his guitar work to Kelly Willis' What I Deserve and Penelope Houston's Tongue, both issued in 1999, and he would work with both artists numerous times in the future. He played guitar on Warren Zevon's Life'll Kill Ya in 2000; months later, Prophet brought out a solo album, The Hurting Business, as well as a live set, Homemade Boot: Live at Roskilde June 29, 1997.