Chip was born in the summer of 1980 in San Antonio, Texas during the hottest recorded heat wave in the great states history. His Dad, Bernie, was born there as well; His Mom, Gloria, is a native to the mountains of Andrews, North Carolina. They met as a blind date while his Dad was in the Army. When Chip was still a baby they decided to move back to North Carolina

Chip's childhood was full of music as far back as he can remember. His Sunday School teacher taught them lots of songs that he would come home and sing under his Granny’s oak tree, using a stick as his microphone. Some of his earliest musical memories were of his Mom as she would often sing as she did her daily housework.

Chip's first musical influence was Ray Stevens. Someone gave him a copy of an album or two containing The Blue Cyclone, The Haircut Song, and It’s Me Again Margaret. Chip listened to all of his albums over and over throughout the years as he grew up. Later, he came across Dwight Yoakam and instantly went crazy over his bluegrassy, rock-a-billie genre with songs such as Guitars and Cadillac’s, Streets of Bakersfield and I sang Dixie, along with his unique singing style. As Chip's musical skill began to develop he noticed his vocals were somewhat nasally similar to Dwight’s. In the mix of it all he used to go through his parents old records where he would find different artists and listen to them. Flatt and Scruggs had a tremendous influence on his bluegrass roots. Orange Blossom Special, Salty Dog, and The Foggy Mountain Breakdown were some of the songs that frequented his record player.

As time went on and he started getting older Chip explored many, many different genres of music, spanning through Heavy Metal, Latin, Disco, New Age and Classical just to name a few. As a music lover he learned to be an eclectic listener having a respect for all forms of music and their musicians. Composers and performers that have touched his life in violin deeply are Beethoven, Paganini, Bach, Mozart, Annie Wolaver of Annie Moses Band, and Vance Trull, a local fiddle legend and bi-centennial fiddle champion.

When Chip was around 8, his Dad, a local Luthier (instrument maker) made him a dulcimer which he played until he felt time to move on to other instruments, that are as follows in order: Dulcimer-Bass-Guitar-Piano-Drums-Harmonica-Mandolin-Violin-Viola-Ukelele-Dobro-and Banjo. He has  written many songs in almost all genres but as of now he has the most in Gospel Music.

-How He came to be with Shady Creek.

I was in a local music store and noticed a board of want ads. Scanning through them I saw one that said," Fiddle Player wanted for local bluegrass band." So I called, auditioned and here I am with the best of the best.