Hard Work and Perseverance with Chris Crain

Fresh Coast Jazz Backstage

In today’s episode of Fresh Coast Jazz Backstage, host Carl Brown chats with Chris Crain, a musical chameleon who is a vocalist, keyboardist, songwriter, and producer. Chris has been playing since he was seven years old and has a passion for raising up the next generation through his Better Project Awareness Foundation, which provides free summer music camps. He transitions effortlessly between blues, R & B, gospel, and jazz standards.

Chris talks about his adventures traveling around the country, international opportunities in the U.K. and Japan, and the benefits and satisfaction of working without a major label. He reflects on his new level of success in 2021 and the perseverance and hard work it’s taken to get to that point, despite his doubts along the way.

Take a listen to Chris Crain’s Madam Queen, Ain’t No Sunshine, and 3 Days Ahead.

Highlights:

01:38 It’s a good thing when you don’t see success early because it gives you the time to develop and to learn patience.

05:45 I’m glad you didn’t quit either and I can’t tell you how happy I am to see the success you’re having because you stuck with it and I think sometimes this music business, it looks so glamorous on the outside to people, but people don’t understand all the hard work and all the effort that goes into it.

08:44 I’m not chasing fame. I’m not trying to become famous. I’m doing this because it’s who I am and music called me and I couldn’t walk away from it.

14:52 It fulfills me, man. I take solace in knowing that when I’m done with a record, I’ve given it my all.

21:40 What I did, I relaxed. I started to focus on my family, so that I can be in a peaceful place and then that opened my mind so I can write. I wrote the Glow album in 2020.

27:48 When I took this step back, and I stopped chasing, then the world opened up. I’m able to see that one of the best things I could have done was to take the time to ask myself the hard questions, and then to give myself the hard answers that we are taught to mask.

Contact:

Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

Chris Crain