Chris Hanks

I started playing the guitar when I was 12 years old when my parents bought me my first guitar. I took a few months of guitar lessons but It moved to slow for me. So I proceeded to teach myself how to play the guitar. Not many people in my family are musical. I was inspired by my cousin Kelly who can sing like an angel. Maybe my rhythm came from my Cousin Ricky who is an amazing drummer. We all used to spend time playing music on our vacations. I grew up listening to country music. I would cut the grass, play with legos, matchbox cars and build model cars listening to music. My parents listened to country music, and oldies like Motown. When I got into middle school and high school I started worrying about what people thought of me. It wasn’t cool to like country music and wear cowboy boots. Luckily I started not caring what people think and became happy with who I am when it came to music. Growing up in a not so country town I started listening to a lot of different types of music like rap, r&b, rock, and reggae. That’s why I can play so many types of music and why I like lots of styles of music. Country has always been in my heart though and what I want to play. Going to lots of concerts seeing big country stars also inspired me. I didn't play and sing a lot during high school and college but started back slowly in my early twenties. It took me a lot of time to break the fear of playing in front of people. You wouldn't be able to tell it now. I perform lots of cover songs all across the board from country to rock to reggae and on. You don't have to like country music to enjoy my music. I’ve been told that a lot. The songs I write are country and about life. I would love to play music for a living. The fame, money and the rock and roll life style is not what drives me. I just want to travel around and entertain people and play music because it’s my passion. Anybody that truly knows me will tell you how much I love music. It's in my heart.

CHK