Chad began his journey on the guitar in Mississippi at the age of eleven. Having spent much of his childhood in the Delta, Chad was influenced by the music of Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, and other haunting voices from that area.
After high school, Chad spent many formative years in Florida, where he had the unique experience of studying under Jack Peterson and Barry Greene. His years there reflected a dedicated passion for the instrument and a relentless pursuit of personal growth.
Chad arrived in New York in 1997 and began studying with Jack Wilkins. Jack was instrumental in exposing Chad to the rich history of the guitar in jazz, as well as the extremes to which jazz guitar can be taken.
Around 2001, Chad met and began studying with guitarist Peter Leitch, with whom he maintains a close relationship to this day. Chad credits Peter as being a major influence in his playing and an inspiration in his serious pursuit of photography. The "Images" section of this website is devoted exclusively to Chad's photography.
For the last several years, Chad has dealt with a serious wrist injury that caused extensive atrophy in his left wrist. After two surgeries performed by Dr. Nelson Botwinick, Chad has resumed playing on a cautious basis. He credits his wife Sarah, his dad Jim, and Dr. Botwinick for giving him the courage to believe that it could be done.
On January 1, 2011, Chad released his first recording named "Sympatico," which features eight duets with Peter Leitch and three solo pieces by Chad.
Chad has been on faculty at Saint Ann's School since 1999, where he teaches Guitar, Jazz Combo, Jazz Theory, and Jazz Techniques. He resides in Brooklyn with his wife Sarah.