Chad's Bio
Chad Wright is currently one-half of the
drumming force behind Disney’s “High School
Musical the Concert” tour (the biggest tour of 2006-07 to date and the other half being
Fausto Cuevas III on percussion). In this concert, Chad displays his impeccable pocket,
wide range of versatility (from R&B to Funk to Latin to full-on Rock) and a varied display
of chops and flashes (the infamous “stick toss”). All of these things, and a great
personality and love for what he does, make up for 90 minutes of one of the best
displays of showmanship around today.
Chad was born in Atlanta, GA on February 17, 1971. A couple of years after that, he
started displaying a keen interest in drums (banging on pots and pans in his parents
kitchen). At age four, he got his first drum set and began listening to every single music
influence around him at the time. His father was an audiophile and record collector
(primarily jazz) during most of his formative years. By age seven, Chad got serious and
started taking formal lessons. By age eleven, he was gigging around town with his twin
brother Chay playing everything from talent shows and parties to night clubs and his
grandfather’s church.
In 1989, Chad decided to study music performance at Valdosta State University and
performing with their incredible big band, marching band, percussion ensemble and
symphonic band. But, in 1991, Chad made a move that would change his life and
career. He enrolled (along with his brother Chay) in Berklee College of Music in Boston,
MA. While at Berklee, Chad not only got to study with some of the best professors and
instructors there (like Ed Kaspic, Jon Hazilla, Dennis Montgomery III and Richard Evans)
but also played and recorded in some of the most sought-after and recognized ensembles
(like Jazz/Rock Ensemble, Reverence Gosple Ensemble, Singer’s Showcase) and with
some very notable names in music (like Oleta Adams, Yolanda Adams and then GRP
Records A&R Vice President Carl Griffin).
In Chad’s final year at Berklee, he started to go on the road with disco legends Tavares
and Mark Morris & Catunes (one of the biggest attracting rock bands in Boston and
New England). It was during this time that Chad began to mold his “voice” as a
drummer becoming truly versatile in every sense of the word. Six years of playing with
these two acts allowed him to prepare for the biggest move of his career, L.A.
In 2000, Chad made the move to Los Angeles, CA and take his career to the next level.
He gave himself three years to land a big gig. Little did he know that between the L.A.
blues scene that he had become a driving force in and playing with former Temptations
lead singer Ali “Ollie” Woodson (that ultimately lead him to his beautiful wife, Noriko)
that he would have a chance meeting and gig opportunity with Melvin Lee Davis (made
possible by his then girlfriend Noriko) and land the Chaka Khan gig in Fall of 2001.
From there, Chad toured with Chaka for a year (while recording Melvin’s album along
side drum legends Will Kennedy and Simon Phillips) and ended the tour with a bang –
subbing for John “J.R.” Robinson as drummer for the legendary Rufus featuring Chaka
Khan. After the Chaka tour ended, Melvin recommended Chad to legendary guitarist
Lee Ritenour for his Fall-2002 tour along with Gerald Albright. From there, the hits just
kept on coming from Monica to Tyrese to Eric Marienthal to Teena Marie and Rick James
and Keiko Matsui.
In 2006, Chad started the year off with another bang, not only maintaining drum/musical
director/Pro Tools duties with R&B legend Teena Marie and drum duties with jazz pianist
Keiko Matsui, but also playing for R&B icon Eric Benet, smooth jazz sax master Michael
Lington (subbing for regular drummer Ricky Lawson), Motown legend Richard Street
(former lead singer of the Temptations), American Idol finalist Mario Vasquez and the
legendary diva Gladys Knight. From this, he ended 2006 and began 2007 with the biggest
bang of both years, Disney’s “High School Musical the Concert” tour. Disney’s “High
School Musical” became the biggest selling CD of 2006 (selling 3.8 million copies alone),
the biggest selling DVD of 2006 and the most watched T.V. movie of 2006. As a result,
Disney decided to take the cast of the movie out on a 41-city, 43-date arena tour across
North America and a 7-city, 10-date stadium tour of Latin America. Chad is currently
drummer/musical director for High School Musical’s Corbin Bleu, as well as continuing drum
duties for Keiko Matsui, Teena Marie and Alan Hewitt.
Chad currently endorses Yamaha drums, Zildjian cymbals, Remo heads and Vic Firth sticks.
Musical the Concert” tour (the biggest tour of 2006-07 to date and the other half being
Fausto Cuevas III on percussion). In this concert, Chad displays his impeccable pocket,
wide range of versatility (from R&B to Funk to Latin to full-on Rock) and a varied display
of chops and flashes (the infamous “stick toss”). All of these things, and a great
personality and love for what he does, make up for 90 minutes of one of the best
displays of showmanship around today.
Chad was born in Atlanta, GA on February 17, 1971. A couple of years after that, he
started displaying a keen interest in drums (banging on pots and pans in his parents
kitchen). At age four, he got his first drum set and began listening to every single music
influence around him at the time. His father was an audiophile and record collector
(primarily jazz) during most of his formative years. By age seven, Chad got serious and
started taking formal lessons. By age eleven, he was gigging around town with his twin
brother Chay playing everything from talent shows and parties to night clubs and his
grandfather’s church.
In 1989, Chad decided to study music performance at Valdosta State University and
performing with their incredible big band, marching band, percussion ensemble and
symphonic band. But, in 1991, Chad made a move that would change his life and
career. He enrolled (along with his brother Chay) in Berklee College of Music in Boston,
MA. While at Berklee, Chad not only got to study with some of the best professors and
instructors there (like Ed Kaspic, Jon Hazilla, Dennis Montgomery III and Richard Evans)
but also played and recorded in some of the most sought-after and recognized ensembles
(like Jazz/Rock Ensemble, Reverence Gosple Ensemble, Singer’s Showcase) and with
some very notable names in music (like Oleta Adams, Yolanda Adams and then GRP
Records A&R Vice President Carl Griffin).
In Chad’s final year at Berklee, he started to go on the road with disco legends Tavares
and Mark Morris & Catunes (one of the biggest attracting rock bands in Boston and
New England). It was during this time that Chad began to mold his “voice” as a
drummer becoming truly versatile in every sense of the word. Six years of playing with
these two acts allowed him to prepare for the biggest move of his career, L.A.
In 2000, Chad made the move to Los Angeles, CA and take his career to the next level.
He gave himself three years to land a big gig. Little did he know that between the L.A.
blues scene that he had become a driving force in and playing with former Temptations
lead singer Ali “Ollie” Woodson (that ultimately lead him to his beautiful wife, Noriko)
that he would have a chance meeting and gig opportunity with Melvin Lee Davis (made
possible by his then girlfriend Noriko) and land the Chaka Khan gig in Fall of 2001.
From there, Chad toured with Chaka for a year (while recording Melvin’s album along
side drum legends Will Kennedy and Simon Phillips) and ended the tour with a bang –
subbing for John “J.R.” Robinson as drummer for the legendary Rufus featuring Chaka
Khan. After the Chaka tour ended, Melvin recommended Chad to legendary guitarist
Lee Ritenour for his Fall-2002 tour along with Gerald Albright. From there, the hits just
kept on coming from Monica to Tyrese to Eric Marienthal to Teena Marie and Rick James
and Keiko Matsui.
In 2006, Chad started the year off with another bang, not only maintaining drum/musical
director/Pro Tools duties with R&B legend Teena Marie and drum duties with jazz pianist
Keiko Matsui, but also playing for R&B icon Eric Benet, smooth jazz sax master Michael
Lington (subbing for regular drummer Ricky Lawson), Motown legend Richard Street
(former lead singer of the Temptations), American Idol finalist Mario Vasquez and the
legendary diva Gladys Knight. From this, he ended 2006 and began 2007 with the biggest
bang of both years, Disney’s “High School Musical the Concert” tour. Disney’s “High
School Musical” became the biggest selling CD of 2006 (selling 3.8 million copies alone),
the biggest selling DVD of 2006 and the most watched T.V. movie of 2006. As a result,
Disney decided to take the cast of the movie out on a 41-city, 43-date arena tour across
North America and a 7-city, 10-date stadium tour of Latin America. Chad is currently
drummer/musical director for High School Musical’s Corbin Bleu, as well as continuing drum
duties for Keiko Matsui, Teena Marie and Alan Hewitt.
Chad currently endorses Yamaha drums, Zildjian cymbals, Remo heads and Vic Firth sticks.
Artist List
High School Musical the Concert (feat. Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Lucas Grabeel and Drew Seeley)
Corbin Bleu
Teena Marie
Rick James
Chaka Khan
Rufus feat. Chaka Khan
Gladys Knight
Larry Carlton
Norman Brown
Boney James
Chieli Minucci
Steve Oliver
Jesse J.
Paul Brown
Alan Hewitt
Althea Rene
Shilts
Billy Miles
Oleta Adams
Yolanda Adams
Loretta Divine
Liz Whithers
Mario Vasquez
Monica
Tyrese
Eric Benet
Jaheim
Paulina Rubio
Debelah Morgan
Van Hunt
Matt Goss
Keiko Matsui
Lee Ritenour
Gerald Albright
Eric Marienthal
Michael Lington
Jeff Kashiwa
Ernie Watts
Rick Braun
Paul Taylor
Joyce Cooling
Ross Bolton
Melvin Lee Davis Band
Steve Weingart
Noriko
Little Anthony & the Original Imperials
Tavares
Ali “Ollie” Woodson (formerly of the Temptations)
Richard Street (formerly of the Temptations)
Lee Garrett (Motown songwriter)
Roy “Guitar” Gaines
Arthur Adams
Finis Tasby
J. J. “Bad Boy” Jones
Smokey Wilson
Maggie Louie
Ab
Rigo
Angaza
JAID
Mark Morris & Catunes
Jan Shapiro
Hit Skwad
Oshun
Paper Rain
Sessions Austin Road, Inc.
Berklee Reverence Gospel Ensemble