Up for the Na Hoku Hanohano Award in the religious music category is Kaua‘i’s own Chucky Boy Chock. Chucky is predominately a singer/songwriter who gives back to the community by speaking in prisons and at churches as well as helping
Up for the Na Hoku Hanohano Award in the religious music category is Kaua‘i’s own Chucky Boy Chock. Chucky is predominately a singer/songwriter who gives back to the community by speaking in prisons and at churches as well as helping to feed the homeless. But it was not always so.
Chucky spoke of 25 years on the road as a performing musician — a time when he admitted to being naughty. He credits his dancer wife, a member of the famed Smith family, with his turnaround. With her love and help he changed his life.
Chucky has played on 17 different CDs and albums with various artists. His music has always had a strong island flavor and although in the 70s there were a lot of traditional artists, he arranged his compositions to be different so he would stand apart. Many of his songs written in the Hawaiian language were done so with the help of his university professors.
Chucky can play more than 35 different musical instruments from all over the world.
He has mastered the steel pan from Jamaica, the pipa from China, the marimbas from Mexico and has been given many musical instruments by people from all over the world because they are aware of his interest and his gift to teach himself music.
Chucky came to Kaua‘i 23 years ago and married his wife 21 years ago. They have twins in college who are studying law and education, both with minors in music. Chucky is soon off to Japan to do some commercials for companies there with his jingle writing business.
Chucky himself fell into music as a career. He had wanted to be a detective, but his roommates at school were musicians and he saw the fun and the money they were making and then decided that was the lifestyle for him. Later, when he discovered his talent for songwriting he turned his talent to doing “the Lord’s work.”
The new album called “Chucky Boy and Friends,” which is up for the Album of the Year Award in the Religious category, is sung personally by Chucky (and Friends).
As well, he plays ‘ukulele, guitar and steel pan on the CD. He records at New Song Studios in Hanapepe with the help of David Leong, who Chucky calls “super talented.” He also works with Kaua‘i-born Robbie Kaholokula on this album as well as on “Celebrate.”
You can purchase his work from iTunes, CDBaby and Amazon.com.
The 35th Annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards takes place tonight at the Hawai‘i Convention Center in Honolulu.
