Biography
THE PASSION STATEMENT
A few words from the band's leader Chris...
My hands were shaking so hard I could barely play. 8 more measures until my first ever guitar solo in front of actual people…my 9th grade middle school class. In my bedroom I could play ‘Johnny B. Goode’ perfectly, note for note. In front of a crowd, it was a completely different story. I don’t know how I got the notes out, but during that middle school pep rally I managed the extreme excitement, fear and nerves enough to play the solo…not very well, but it was good enough. And when that show was done I had a very distinct feeling.
I needed more. Fast forward a few decades later, the nerves are much better managed-but I still feel that excitement when I get to be in front a crowd with a great band behind me. That excitement speaks to the importance of each performance, from a 9th Grade pep rally, to a solo acoustic gig, to a wedding reception, to a community show.
Since I was a kid I was shown the power of what music can do to bring people together, to heal, to bring joy. I’ve been hooked since then. In college I began to really understand that the only way something can be great is if you commit to it. It was then when I first said these words to myself: For better or worse, I will make my life about making music.
That decision has served me well. Since then I have shared the stage with incredible people and I have traveled the world. I have performed cover songs that everyone knows and loves. I have helped people celebrate special moments through music. I have written and played songs that have meant something to people. I’ve written about love, loss, success and self doubt; it is a rush when people connect with something I have created.
To me, one of the greatest compliments a musician can receive is when someone equates a special time in their life with a song that person has written; I have achieved this with my original songs. I treasure this accomplishment more than any other in my career.
The sense of belonging and community I have felt is by far the most profound part of my musical journey. Through school and my career I have met lifetime friends in the musical groups of which I was a part. I have belonged somewhere with them…somewhere great. When I formed 7 Sharp 9 in the year 2000, I had no idea of the people I would meet or the amazing things I would experience.
Looking back, thinking about the friends and family that have come since then, thinking about where I belong now…I wouldn’t change a thing. Just like I felt after that guitar solo in the 9th grade, I still ‘need more’ of what music provides; fun, excitement, connection, creativity, belonging, and love.
The beautiful thing about playing music is that I am giving these things to other people just as much as I am receiving them. I continue to give and receive these gifts by singing and playing my guitar. What better job is there?
Song List
7 Sharp 9 Song List - Pick and choose your favorites!
2 Princes - Spin Doctors
3 A.M. - Matchbox 20
500 Miles - The Proclaimers
Africa - Toto
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye
All For You - Sister Hazel
All Of Me - John Legend
All The Small Things - Blink 182
Always On My Mind - Willie Nelson
American Girl - Tom Petty
American Pie - Don Mclean
Animal - Neon Trees
Ants Marching - Dave Mathews Band
Apologize - One Republic
At Last - Etta James
Babylon - David Gray
Bad Bad Leroy Brown - Jim Croce
Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty
Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy - The Tams
Beverly Hills - Weezer
Billy Jean - Michael Jackson
Black Bird - The Beatles
Black Magic Woman - Santana
Blister In The Sun - Violent Femmes
Breakfast At Tiffany's - Deep Blue Something
Brickhouse - Commodores
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
Build Me Up Buttercup - The Foundations
Can't Always Get What You Want - Rolling Stones
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You - Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Can't You See - Marshall Tucker Band
Caribbean Queen - Billy Ocean
Carolina In My Mind - James Taylor
Cecelia - Simon & Garfunkel
Centerfold - J. Geils Band
Chicken Fried - Zac Brown Band
Come On, Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners
Crash - Dave Mathews Band
Cruise - Florida Georgia Line
Dance The Night Away - Van Halen
Dancing In The Dark - Bruce Springsteen
Dancing In The Moonlight - King Harvest
Dead Or Alive - Bon Jovi
December, 1963 (Oh What A Night) - Frank Valli & The Four Seasons
Devil Went Down To Georgia - Charlie Daniels Band
Dixieland Delight - Alabama
Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding
Don't Stop Believing - Journey
Don’t You Forget About Me - Simple Minds
Drift Away - Dobie Gray
Drops Of Jupiter - Train
Dynamite - Taio Cruz
Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison
Everybody Talks - Neon Trees
Everyday I Write The Book - Elvis Costello
Everything - Michael Buble
Everything You Want - Vertical Horizon
Faith - George Michael
Family Tradition - Hank Williams, Jr.
Feel Like Makin' Love - Bad Company
Fight For Your Right - Beastie Boys
Fishing In The Dark - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Follow Me - Uncle Kracker
Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash
Footloose - Kenny Loggins
Forever Young - Rod Stewart
Forever Young - Bob Dylan
Free Fallin' - Tom Petty
Friends In Low Places - Garth Brooks
Georgia On My Mind - Ray Charles
Hallelujah, I Love Her So - Ray Charles
Happy - Pharrell Williams
Hashpipe - Weezer
Hava Nagila - Jewish Folk Song
Heaven - Bryan Adams
Hey Baby - Bruce Channel
Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms
Hey Soul Sister - Train
Hey Ya - Outkast
Home - Phillip Phillips
Honky Tonk Woman - Rolling Stones
Hootch - Everything
Hotel California - Eagles
How Sweet It Is - James Taylor
Hurt So Good - John Mellencamp
I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) - The Four Tops
I Don't Wanna Be - Gavin Degraw
I Loved Her First - Heartland
I Saw The Light - Todd Rundgren
I Want You To Want Me - Cheap Trick
I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston
I'm Going Straight To Hell - Drivin' and Cryin’
I’m On Fire - Bruce Springsteen
I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice
If You Could Only See - Tonic
In My Life - The Beatles
In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel
Inside Out - Eve 6
Interstate Love Song - Stone Temple Pilots
Into The Mystic - Van Morrison
Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder
It's Your Love - Tim McGraw
Jack And Diane - John Mellencamp
Jenny - Tommy Tutone
Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield
Just The Way You Are - Billy Joel
Keep Your Hands To Yourself - Georgia Satellites
Kiss - Prince
Knockin' On Heaven's Door - Bob Dylan
Kryptonite - 3 Doors Down
Laid - James
Let Her Cry - Hootie And The Blowfish
Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
Life By The Drop - Stevie Ray Vaughn
Listen To The Music - Doobie Brothers
Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
Locked Out Of Heaven - Bruno Mars
Lovely Day - Bill Withers
Lucky - Jason Mraz
Make You Feel My Love - Bob Dylan
Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffet
Marry Me - Train
Marry You - Bruno Mars
Mary Jane's Last Dance - Tom Petty
Meet Virginia - Train
Melt With You - Modern English
MMMBop - Hanson
Money For Nothing - Dire Straits
Mr. Brightside - The Killers
Mrs. Robinson - Simon And Garfunkel
Mustang Sally - Wilson Pickett
My Girl - The Temptations
My Little Girl - Tim McGraw
No Diggity - Blackstreet
One More Night - Maroon 5
Piano Man - Billy Joel
Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry
Pour Some Sugar On Me - Def Leppard
Pride And Joy - Stevie Ray Vaughn
Proud Mary - CCR
Push - Matchbox 20
Rich Girl - Hall & Oates
Ring Of Fire - Johnny Cash
Rock And Roll All Night - KISS
Rockin’ Robin - Bobby Day
Rocket Man - Elton John
Romeo & Juliet - Dire Straits
Rosanna - Toto
Runaround Sue - Dion
Santeria - Sublime
Save Tonight - Eagle Eye Cherry
Say Hey (I Love You) - Michael Franti
Semi Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind
September - Earth, Wind & Fire
Sex And Candy - Marcy's Playground
Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top
She Talks To Angels - Black Crowes
Shimmer - Fuel
Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC
Should I Stay Or Should I Go - The Clash
Shout - Isley Brothers
Shut Up And Dance - Walk The Moon
Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Stevie Wonder
Slide - Goo Goo Dolls
Small Town - Mellencamp
Some Kind Of Wonderful - Grand Funk Railroad
Somewhere Over The Rainbow - IZ
Soulshine - Allman Brothers Band
Stealing Cinderella - Chuck Wicks
Summer Of '69 - Bryan Adams
Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses
Sweet Home Alabama - Lynrd Skynrd
Take It Easy - Eagles
Take Me Home Tonight - Eddie Money
Tennessee Whiskey - Chris Stapleton
The Joker - Steve Miller
The Middle - Jimmy Eat World
The Twist - Chubby Checker
The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra
Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran
This Kind Of Love - Sister Hazel
To Love Somebody - Bee Gees/Michael Buble
Twist And Shout - The Beatles
Under The Boardwalk - The Drifters
Uptown Funk - Bruno Mars
Use Somebody - Kings Of Leon
Wagon Wheel - Old Crow Medicine Show
Walking On Sunshine - Katrina And The Waves
What I Got - Sublime
What I Like About You - The Romantics
Whatever It Is - Zac Brown Band
When I Come Around - Green Day
Wildflowers - Tom Petty
Wild Night - Van Morrison
Wild World - Cat Stevens
Wonderwall - Oasis
Worst Enemy - Lit
You And Me - Dave Matthews Band
You Are The Best Thing - Ray LaMontagne
You Make My Dreams - Hall & Oates
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