Chuck Smith is a singer/songwriter/guitarist, who performs and records under the name Stray Deuce, with many years experience in the music business. He's performed and recorded all over the U.S. and abroad, appearing and working with with such luminaries as: Diana Ross, The Funk Brothers (Motown), Lee Ritenour (smooth jazz great), Paul Williams (received Grammy with Daft Punk in 2014, also an Oscar for best song for 'Evergreen'), Top 40 hitmaker Johnny Rivers and others. He's played with Willie's Nerve Clinic, a band he formed with bass icon Dirk Lance, a founding member of the multi-platinum band Incubus.
Chuck has written the title track to the Diana Ross album, "Baby It's Me". He's been a recording artist for both Columbia and Motown, receiving a Clio Award honoring music he wrote for a series of radio commercials, and has composed a techno-funk score for Planet Fashion in London. In addition, Chuck conducts various songwriting workshops, and has lectured at the San Diego Writer's Conference and the Learning Annex. He has taught courses on the history of rock n' roll and the evolution of songwriting; and played numerous studio dates as a singer, guitarist, and vocal arranger.
Chuck has taught hundreds of people through private one-on-one instruction. He teaches guitar, bass, vocals, and songwriting - from classical to classic rock, folk to heavy metal, jazz to punk, screamo to emo etc. He knows bottleneck slide, funk rhythms, use of effects, soloing. His vocal classes emphasize techniques geared toward contemporary music - pop, rock, jazz, blues, country, and aggressive styles. He's coached singers for "American Idol" tryouts. Several of his former students have signed major label record deals. These include members of "Incubus," the million selling modern rock band; the singer of the FaceBook dance-rap sensation "Hyper-Crush"; another is playing the prestigious Hotel Cafe tour. Chuck has prepared many students for TV and movie auditions, as well as school dramas and musicals.