San Diego Reader

Synoposis

Background:

Chuck Schiele came to local attention as guitarist/singer/songwriter for the Grams, whose debut self-titled CD was released in March 2006, co-produced by Schiele & Jeff Berkley, written by Schiele and arranged by the Grams. The band won a 2006 San Diego Music Award as Best Americana Group and a 2007 award for "Best Americana or Country."

Schiele has also been an integral part of bands such as the Gandhi Method, Modern Peasants, and Chuck Schiele and the Mysterious Ways. He runs STUDIO B, a full-service recording facility, and is currently producing several projects, including Podunk Nowhere and Johnny Different.

Schiele and his wife have also promoted local events as Beach Music Mafia, which books local venues and events like the Ocean Beach Street Fair and the O.B. Chili Cookoff .

In addition, Schiele has been promoting New York City shows, many featuring San Diego acts. "New Yorkers really like San Diego music," he says. "They came. They clapped. They bought CDs. All the New York musicians have the impression that we have a very healthy music scene."

Schiele has booked several SoCal bands at famed Gotham venues such as the Bitter End, Kenny's Castaways (where Joey Ramone met Dee Dee Ramone at a NY Dolls concert), the C Note (now closed), and CBGB (also closed).

As of 2012, Schiele is living in Syracuse, New York, where he is collaborating on tracks with San Diegan David Ybarra, with the duo swapping files cross-country.