Chuck Schaeffer, the first of four children, grew up in Whitehouse Station, NJ listening to obscure one-hit wonders, country tunes, Jimmy Buffett and folk music on the family jukebox at his grandparent's bar, while his fellow high school and college alumni of the 80’s and 90’s were listening to big hair rock bands, club music and heavy metal.
He studied the piano at the age of eleven. He was given his first guitar the following Christmas, but didn't pursue the instrument until over ten years later, during which he started playing and singing at parties.
His guitar skills developed further during a long period of rehabilitation following major knee surgery. He later studied classical guitar under Alice Artzt of Princeton NJ, where he established his musical stylings.
He joined the Folk Project of Northern New Jersey and later the Bucks County Folk Song Society. With the help of many of their members, and with much cooperation from the Raritan Music Center and Third Reformed Church of Raritan, he successfully organized a weekly cruise night / concert festival in his former hometown of Raritan NJ, during which he had the opportunity to work with many terrific entertainers and musicians, including Jason Wilber, lead guitarist for folk legend John Prine.
He later relocated to Bucks County, PA, where he joined a contemporary rock cover band; a short while later, they encouraged him to write and perform his own original music. He left the cover band, quickly dedicating himself to his new craft, learning the ropes on the fly at the School of Hard Knocks, performing 100+ gigs and showcases in both 2008 and 2009 while juggling a full-time job and family. He met several top area musicians who took an interest to his enthusiastic method of music, forming his own band January 2010.
Chuck fulfilled one lifelong dream of visiting the Grand Ole Opry three times in 2006 / 2007, the last time sitting in the second row of folding chairs directly in front of the Ryman Auditorium stage. The next time he goes it will be as a performer.
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Chuck participates in:
- Musicians on Call, a program that brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities;
- Torchy’s Troubadours Against Lyme Disease, a benefit for Torchy Blaine, a friend in music who went 14 years before finally being correctly diagnosed with Lyme Disease and is now battling for her life.
He also works behind the scenes for New Jersey Folk Songwriting legend Spook Handy.
Other groups Chuck has supported:
- Combat Veteran Sports Foundation
- First Night Newtown
