Chris “Gringo Starr” Sprague – an Xperience Interview

Chris “Gringo Starr” Sprague – an Xperience Interview – by OP Callaghan.

Chris “Gringo Starr” Sprague is a supremely talented musician, with a lifetime of experience that has earned him accolades and praise worldwide. This California man, who seems to have been born to play, is not only an exceptionally talented player but a very down-to-earth and humble guy.  He’s the first person I’ve ever met who studied under the tutorial of The Tonight Show, and the only drummer I know who wears a mask.  I’ve been waiting a long time to do this interview, so please welcome Chris “Gringo Starr” Sprague.

RRX: Welcome Chris!  How did you get your start?  How old were you when you started drumming?

CS: I actually got my musical start learning guitar from my older brother Frank at the age of seven. My brother was a composition major at the University of Washington. His main instrument was guitar. Not only was he teaching me guitar, but I also was learning musical theory and how to read music, which I would learn later would become invaluable.

My interest in drums came at the age of 10.

RRX:  Nice!  So, you come from a musical family!

CS: Yes, indeed. As aforementioned, my brother Frank was a serious musician. Our oldest brother, Billy, dabbled on guitar but mainly loved the drums. He never played music for a living; he is an aerospace engineer. He always loved the drums and definitely influenced me to take up the drums seriously. My father, Bill, was a working musician as a trumpet player. He was in the Air Force Band. Once he got out of the service, he played with numerous big bands, most notably Woody Herman’s, for a short stint. Deeper into our family history on our mother’s side, we are third cousins with Buddy Holly.

RRX: Very cool! Tell me about your first drum kit.

CS: My first drum set was a Blue Sparkle vintage Ludwig kit (1966 Ludwig Club Date) that I played and recorded with for many years. I was so excited to get them. I remember my mom taking me down to “The Pro Drum Shop” in Hollywood, CA, and letting me pick out a drum set. I still have them to this day and use them all the time for recording.

RRX: I have a 1966 Club Date in Silver Sparkle. They’re wonderful. Have you taken lessons?

CS: I’ve taken a handful of lessons during my teenage years. A couple with jazz drummer Chuck Flores, Ed Shaughnessy (most known for playing with the Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson), and John Shearer, who was a freelance drummer from England who played with a lot of rock bands back in the day. But, honestly, I studied mostly on my own due to the style of music that I play. I always said, “You can’t teach feel.”  Roots rock and roll is something special and requires 99% feel.

RRX: Ed Shaughnessy is great. His triplet rolls are legendary, and he seemed so humble and easygoing whenever Buddy Rich was on the show. How was that?

CS:  I took some “brush work” lessons with him. I was learning from a Louie Belson book, and Ed really got me thinking about approaching fills and dynamics. I was talking dynamics with him, and I was using a set of 5A sticks, and he was playing with 2B, which are enormous!!

RRX: Do you play any other instruments?

CS: Yes, guitar, bass, and classical piano.

RRX:  A one-man band!  Tell me about your first gig.

CS: It was actually on bass at the age of 13. My brother Frank’s band was in need of a bass player after his bass player quit a week before a show. For Christmas the year before, I got a Univox Beatle copy bass. I learned their set of songs (about 15) in a week and hit the stage. We were living in Los Angeles. I got to do about five shows, most famously “The Troubadour” in Hollywood.

My first show on drums did not come until much later. I was 21, in a band that my brother Frank and I formed called the Sprague Brothers.

RRX: Tell me about some of the bands you’ve played in.

CS: As mentioned before, I started out playing with my brother in a band called the Sprague Brothers. I went on to play with (and continue to play with here and there) Deke Dickerson. I had the opportunity over the years to back up many (what would be considered) “old-timers/legends” such as Duane Eddy, James Burton, Nokie Edwards (of the Ventures), Roy Head, Marshall Crenshaw, the Cadillacs, the Bobbettes, Dale Hawkins, Scotty Moore (guitar player for Elvis), Jimmie Lee Fautheree, Red Simpson, Gary U.S. Bonds, Freddy Cannon, and many many more. I have been the drummer in Los Straitjackets for the past 12 years. We have also been Nick Lowe’s band for the past 10 years and just released a new album with Nick called “Indoor Safari”

RRX: What are you playing for a kit now?

CS: For the last couple of years, I became an artist representing Noble & Cooley. They are the kings of boutique drums. They have been around since 1854. Starting with making marching snare drums, bending their own shells, a process they still do to this day! They are the best of the best. I use a 20″ kick, 12″ rack, and 14″ floor tom. I use the Paiste signature series, and a 19” Zildjian beautiful baby ride.

RRX: Beautiful drums. Do you play matched grip or traditional?

CS: I mainly play match grip unless playing brushes, with which I use traditional grip.

RRX: Who were your earliest influences?

CS: As far as drummers go, Gene Krupa, Jerry Allison, Howie Johnson, and Ringo Starr. As far as records that I would listen to and play along to: the Beatles, the Ventures, Buddy Holly, Frank Sinatra.

RRX: Tell me about your new group, the Sound Minds.

CS: When I moved to the Capital Region four years ago, I started doing a project with my favorite local musicians called “Gringo Starr and his All-Star Band” (Gringo Starr is my stage name that I use in Los Straitjackets). Our show consisted of playing 1960s garage and Merseybeat style rock and roll. This band consisted of Graham Tichy, Don Young, Ritz Carlton, Jake Guralnick, and Chris Osborn (who would come up to play drums when I would play guitar during the set.) This is such a great group of musicians! But it is also like herding cats, lol. The Sound Minds is me on drums, Graham Tichy on guitar, and Ian “Ritz” Carlton on bass. The Sound Minds are basically a condensed version of the “Gringo Starr” band that was brought down to being a power trio rather than six members. Much easier to control, but I still find it difficult to play on a regular basis due to my tour schedule and the other guys being working musicians as well. We do take full advantage of our time together, though. Live shows in the area, plus one international gig is already on the book for this young band (Little Steven’s Underground Garage Cruise!) We also will have a 45 coming out soon on the Go-Time label, as well as working on a full LP that will be released on vinyl at a later date.

RRX: What band would you like to play with? Put together a supergroup with you hitting.

CS: Well, I have to say, being the drummer for Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets with fellow local musician Eddie Angel is pretty amazing!

Now, if you’re talking about a dream band, I would have loved to play drums with Paul McCartney and the Beatles. (Who wouldn’t? LOL), Also the Ventures. As far as putting together a supergroup, that’s tough to answer. I don’t believe in supergroups; there’s no chemistry there.

RRX: Anything else you would like to add?

CS: I consider myself to be very lucky to live the life of a touring musician. I’ve met so many great people and built up so many great friendships around the world that I wouldn’t trade it for anything! I have also been very blessed to have played with so many legends and great musicians worldwide, but most notably the musicians I get to play with in the town I live in.

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