6 minute read
King Chris
Local Los Angeles Legend
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Interview by Kim Crain All images compliments of Christopher Rocha. “King Chris”
I had the opportunity to sit down with “King Chris,” one of Los Angeles’s vocal legends of soul, funk and R & B. Christopher Rocha has played alongside Bryan Beller,
Nick Milo, Rick Latham, Joe Travers, Dave Brown, Yogi Lonich, Jimmy Paxton, Rick Musailam, Jv Collier, Al Kim, Toshi Reagan, Steve Stevens, Jonathan Dresel,
Rafael Moreira, Walter Ino, and Dave Schulz, to name a few.
Kim: What did it take to come from Texas to Los Angeles & become a local legend ?
Chris: It was a dream at a young age. I used to hear about Los Angeles, growing up, so it was kind of a dream to come out here and just sing! I used to hear about all the great artists and bands that used to come up out of Los Angeles and make their way from nothing to stars and you would see the transformation. It was all a big lure to me!
Back home I was a big fish small pond. It was good to get out in the open water coming to Los Angeles. And there have been a lot of sharks in that open water. LOL! I like to get out there and sing and move folks.
Kim: That is absolutely wonderful. I know when I first saw your show it felt like a spiritual experience. Very moving and uplifting!
You always perform with an all-star band. Who are some of the musicians you have performed with?
Chris: Everybody I get to play with are pretty phenomenal people. I don’t know why I have attracted such great players? I guess they like my singing? I guess that’s it.
One thing about these great musicians, touring guys, these wonderful artists, like Joe Travers, unbelievable, they call him the Vault keeper for Zappa. I know that you have met Joe, he is the best of the best. Guys like him. I got to play with a drummer Rick Latham. He wrote that book advanced funk studies (creative patterns for advanced funk drummers). I remember seeing it in music class. His literature. And here I am playing in a band with him! So when I look back I am grateful for all of those moments. King Chris
they don’t get being on tour. These cats when I talk to them, they say the same thing on tour sometimes; you’re playing the same note at the same time at the same part of the show every night, all the time, it is not much deviation.
These cats are so good. They crave being spontaneous. I think that’s what I give them. I think that’s been the draw for some of these great players to come around. We deviate, we can follow, its happening then. We might know the structure of the song. But sometimes we don’t know where the song is going to turn, how is it going to feel, but we know how to read each other. You loose that magic feeling sometimes when you are out there, it takes a special group of musicians to bring back that feeling that you got when you first started playing.
Kim: Your voice is very powerful and unique What kind of training did you have growing up?
Chris : I was schooled at a young age in gospel music. I come from a family of singers. My father is an incredible singer actually. He was a bass, tenor and had an incredible range. He had a big booming voice. He would sing gospel. And than later on I discovered that big bold sound in singers like Luciano Pavarotti, Meatloaf, Billy Caruso, these phenomenal vocalists. When I discovered singers like this I ended up studying opera and theatre in school. I learned It’s more than the musicians “like my voice”, because when we get onstage, the musicians get fulfilled in a way that
about using my voice as an instrument, and what it does mechanically, technical stuff that you learn. That’s where I got a little bit of my technique, but I am my own singer with my own personal style that is unique, I have been told.,
Kim: Would you recommend other musicians to follow in your footsteps and come to Los Angeles?
Chris: Not necessarily Los Angeles. It could be Nashville, New York, you just got to make the jump. If you want to do anything in life, make a jump! That leap of faith, a lot of people do not believe in faith. Faith to me is like hope. Its that confidence that you can do it! Go somewhere and do something. Try to do something. Get involved. That’s when you find yourself as a singer. We all ask those kinds of questions. What kind of singer am I? What do I bring to the table? Who am I? Just like that you know! Dave Brown, Nick Milo, King Chris, Joe Travers, Yogi Lonich
King Chris
I think its smart to get out there and do something, get involved. That’s where you going to find yourself. I remember getting out there when I first started at an open mic night.
Kim: Do Something! Get out there and and start whatever you have to do to be a part of something.
Kim: How did you break into the music scene in Los Angeles? You have your own show every Wednesday at Back Stage in Culver City.
Chris: I was actually working at a karaoke bar. Its funny how things happen. I was working as a door guy when I first came to Los Angeles. Sometimes I would get up and sing Karaoke, and soon I was known as the singing door guy. The costumers would call me up to sing a song that they wrote down. They would pay me sometimes to sing their song. I was doing it for a while and the owner got wind of it. The owner came down to see the show one night. He said; “can you put a band together and start a night here?” I’m totally down to singing other peoples stuff and to bring other peoples songs to life.
Kim: I just want to say thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview today. You are such a exceptional vocalist and an outstanding performer. It is a pleasure to get to know you. Keep us all posted on when we can listen to your original music.
Check out “King Chris” on at @kingchrissings on IG
And that was like 15 years ago. I have had the most beautiful musical moments that live inside of me.
Kim: Are you working on any new projects? What’s in the future for King Chris?
Chris: Im in the studio right now cutting tracks. I am recording my original material to finish an album of my original music. It’s been one of my biggest goals. It’s been taking me a long time to get to this place.
I have also been working in the studio with Michael Urbano from the band, Smashmouth. He was coming to my shows. Unfortunately they lost their lead singer. We are doing some tracks for audition purposes. The King Chris Show – Save the date : will start up again after the New Year at Back Stage in Culver City every Wednesday night at 9:00!
