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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZBARRELHOUSE CHUCK(b Charles Goering, 10 July 1958, Columbus Ohio) Blues pianist. He began playing drums at age 5, later switching to piano. He was living in Florida when he first heard a Muddy Waters record, ‘Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had', with Otis Spann on piano. He formed his own band and was soon opening for the likes of Willie Dixon, B.B. King and Bo Diddley. In the late 1970s Goering and some of his friends began following Muddy on tour, listening to his then pianist, Pinetop Perkins. They called themselves Mudheads. ‘Pinetop Perkins would recognize me and let me into his concerts. Muddy would also spot me in the audience and say, "Hey, you followin' me?" Afterward, I'd go out to breakfast with them. I was just in awe.' Finally, in 1979, he went directly to the source. ‘I took a gamble and came to Chicago, and the first thing I did when I arrived was to go to B.L.U.E.S on Halsted. I walked in the door and there was Sunnyland Slim.' For ten years he studied with Slim, who he called ‘the great-granddaddy of all the blues piano players.' He became close to people like Pinetop, Lafayette Leake and Little Brother Montgomery invited him into their homes and made him feel a part of their families. He formed a special bond with Montgomery, during a long internship. Goering arranged honorariums, drove Montgomery to jobs (and to the hospital when his health began failing); in return, the living legend took Chuck under his wing and helped his musical education. Little Brother Montgomery died in 1985; Sunnyland Slim passed on ten years later. For the last 20 years Goering has toured the world, keeping the flame alive. The list of Blues greats he has played with totals nearly 60. His CDs as a sideman or as a leader appear on 18 different record labels. His own CDs are often compilations from his personal stash of tape recordings, expertly remastered, and making a history of modern Chicago Blues. They include Salute To Sunnyland Slim 1999 on Blue Loon Records; 25 Years Of Chicago Blues 2000 on Viola (Vol 2 promised soon); 8 Hands On 88 Keys (with Pinetop, Detroit Junior and Erwin Helfer) and Prescription For The Blues, both 2002 on The Sirens Records; Blues Calling |