Chuck McDermott

Over the last 30 years, Chuck McDermott has left his musical mark on audiences on both coasts of the United States. After a restless two years at Yale University, Chuck arrived in Boston in 1971and formed an influential country rock group, Chuck McDermott and Wheatstraw, which during the better part of that decade won over audiences and music critics with strong original songwriting and exciting live performances. Chuck's two albums with Wheatsraw, Last Straw and Follow the Music, drew critical praise from Rolling Stone, the Village Voice, the New York Times, Billboard, Variety and others and broadened Chuck's reach beyond the Boston area. The late 70's found Chuck touring from Montreal to New Orleans, headlining venues like New York's Lone Star Café and opening for major rock and country acts.

In 1980, Chuck moved to Los Angeles and formed the more rock-oriented Chuck McDermott Band. The group quickly moved up in the crowded LA music scene, headlining at the famous Palomino Club and attracting major label interest. Early upon his arrival in LA, Chuck met and began a friendship and musical collaboration that continues today. Their close musical rapport became evident to fans on his recording, Blondes, which featured Chuck's vocal, guitar and production work. Strengthened by their years of touring as an acoustic duo, their collaboration continued on Trancas, The Last Campaign, and Punch the Big Guy. In 1985, Chuck's career took a turn away from the full time pursuit of music, but he has not been idle. He founded the country's first electric power marketing company, managed two Congressional campaigns, served as a Congressional Chief of Staff, ran the Government Affairs office for a multi-national environmental services company, and is now the CEO of a Boston -based energy and financial services company. Chuck, his wife Laura, and their three children live in the Boston area where he continues to write and perform. These days it is likely for audiences to see sons Christopher and Patrick backing Dad up on bass and guitar respectively. Chuck describes as "his best friend and America's greatest musical poet" (and godfather to daughter Kelly).

Note: This information was posted to the web site when Chuck appeared at our 16th Annual Benefit Weekend, January 12-13, 2001.