Chris Arpad

Christopher John Arpad (born July 27, 1967) is an American steel drummer based in Tucson, Arizona. He is best known for his solo steel drum performances which combine his own vocals and live steel pan with his custom instrumental and vocal backing tracks to create a full band sounds[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

Christopher Arpad
Solo pannist Chris Arpad performing in Woodland Hills, California 2010
Background information
Birth nameChristopher John Arpad
Also known asSteel Sunsations, DJ Arpad
Born (1967-07-27) July 27, 1967
Osborne, Kansas
GenresReggae, calypso, world music, pop, Scottish highland
Occupation(s)Musician, solo steel pannist, percussionist, vocalist
Instrument(s)Steelpans
Years active1983–present
Labels
  • World Beat Records
  • Catapult Records, Publishing
  • Panyard, Inc. Publishing
  • Milan Records
  • Shoot to Kill Records
Websitewww.ChrisArpad.com

Early years

Chris grew up in McPherson, Kansas and attended Hutchinson Community College and Wichita State University.[9]

Career

Chris began performing and managing the band Stainless Steel from 1986 to 1991 and continued performing steel drums as a soloist and various other band formats to present. Stainless Steel was a regional success at the time, billed as "the Midwest's Only Steel Drum Band", touring the states of Minnesota, Kentucky, Colorado, Texas, Missouri, and Kansas. Stainless Steel opened concerts and shared stages with such notable acts as Carlos Santana, Andy Narell, Stanley Jordan, Sinbad, Tower of Power, Bonnie Raitt, Head East, Jeff Healey, The Rainmakers, and Steel Pulse; appearing at the annual South by Southwest, aka "SXSW", Music and Media Festival held in Austin Texas, in 1990 and 1991. Under Arpad's management, Stainless Steel was also a Central region showcase member of the National Association for Campus Activities, NACA, attending showcases and performing for college campuses throughout the region.

Credits
  • Steel drum soloist for a 2004 "Celebrity Mom" episode of television series show "Live Like A Star".
  • Arpad executive produced and performed two recordings with Stainless Steel on the World Beat Record Label: A four-song EP, “Know Bounds, No Barriers”, and CD, “What You See”.
  • Arrangement of three songs for solo Double Second Steel Drums; the Scott Joplin ragtime tune, "The Entertainer", and George Harrison classic, "Here Comes the Sun", and Herb Alpert's " Spanish Harlem". All edited by Steve Popernack and published through Panyard, Inc. Akron, Ohio circa 1993.
  • January 2007, Chris Arpad recorded steel pans for the dream pop band West Indian Girl on the song "Up the Coast", the album 4th & Wall, released on the Milan Records label October 2007.
  • June 2011 – Chris Arpad recorded steel pans with VH1 rock reality star Jeramy "Rainbow" Gritter, aka "Beardo", formerly with the band Whitestarr and the rockumentary TV show, The Rock Life. Arpad appears on the song "When I Think of U" – Attack Decay, on the Shoot to Kill records label.
  • In 2013, Arpad provided song arrangement, vocals, and featured steel pans on Richard Bangs's song called "Cancún Colada" penned by Bangs for a segment piece on Cancún, featured on the series show Richard Bangs' Quest.
  • Arpad with a steelpan in Malibu.
    Arpad with a steelpan in Malibu.
  • Chris Arpad, Scottish Highland Drum Competition Santa Rosa Highland Games, 1987.
    Chris Arpad, Scottish Highland Drum Competition Santa Rosa Highland Games, 1987.

References
  1. Bandhauer, Rob. "To The Beat of a Different Drum", "The Good Life", Wichita, KS publication, spring 1991, p 30, 31.
  2. "Chris Arpad". IMDb.
  3. "Cancun Colada". Richardbangs.com. June 24, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  4. Cunningham, Tricia. "Stainless Steel Seeks exposure with eclectic fare", "The Sunflower" publication, February 13, 1989, p 6, 8.
  5. Holman, Rhonda. "Steel band unafraid of being panned", "Wichita Eagle" newspaper, Friday 1989
  6. Bates, Mike."Stainless Steel", "Wichita Associated Press", April 12, 1990
  7. "Member Christopher John Arpad @ All About Jazz". Allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  8. "Site Maintenance". Remixmag.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  9. Chris Arpad - Bio. Archived August 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
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