Bio
LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT GAIL
THE STORY
Born September 3, 1951 in Los Angeles, California, Gail's parents took her to Tucson,
Arizona to live and go to school. She graduated Palo Verde High School in 1969 and
without so much as an hour's hesitation she was packed and driving back to L.A. where
she lived with her grandmother (her mom's mom) in the Fairfax district for 2 years.
She began performing in clubs and formed her first band, Nightengale, which Chris Sarns
on bass and Steve A. on vocals and guitar. She was the chick singer in the band. They
performed in the Valley and in Venice around the Marina del Rey area for years, gaining
popularity amongst the locals, Dennis Wilson from the Beach Boys being one of them.
He used to come see Gail play almost every weekend until his untimely death.
Gail left the band, took a few months off and shifted gears. Soon after that, she moved to
the Valley and started hanging out at the Sundance Saloon, a small local bar in
Calabassas that was actually a bar in the old west days. For an unknown place, it was
filled with now famous people….and they would drop by to sit in with the band. Billy
Burnette of Fleetwood Mac fame, Rodney Crowell and Emmy Lou Harris, Jackson
Browne, Leon Russell and even Bob Dylan popped by from time to time to sit in. There
was no paparazzi and no one to bother us. There was even a guy named Teddy Jack
Eddie who was Willie Nelson's drummer – and turned out to be Gary Busey, the actor.
Those were the days.
Gail then formed Chasin Shooter, her new band with songwriter Ron Shooter. Clover, a
band from San Francisco who later changed their name to Huey Lewis and the News
opened for Chasin Shooter at the Palomino, along with the Hager Twins from the TV
show, Hee Haw. Lines formed around the corner and looking for management was the
next step. But the two remained friends and eventually split over creative differences.
But Gail, although loving and growing up to country music along with the Motown
sound, was still a folky writer had some notions about hitting another music scene. After
a few strange dreams and experiences, she took off driving across country to a place
she'd never seen – Nashville. That was 1978.
While in Nashville, Gail met some great musicians from Jackson, Tennessee, one of
them, Wes Henley, a now amazing producer, was the guitar player in Carl Perkins' band,
who eventually became my roommate. Carl was very inspirational to Gail as they spent
good bits of time together at the local music store.
For the next 11 years (to the day), Gail spent her time working odd jobs, singing and
writing in clubs and doing songwriter showcases. She picked up management out of
New York for a few years and went to Germany to perform with Crystal Gayle's band.
Gail worked closely with a lot of great talented people there but the one who helped her
the most was the 28 Grammy winner and bass player for the Motown Band, The Funk
Brothers, Bob Babbitt who was in one of her bands, Gail and the Boyfriends for a number
of years.
Gail found the business very wanting and demanding of her life force and combined with
the three record/production deals she had, they all seemed to fizzle. Gail returned to
California in 1989 to start over.
During a softball accident one day in 1990, Gail's back was injured. Longstoryshort –
she had to have spinal surgery and learn how to walk again. Less than a year later, Gail's
mother passed away, which for an only child who had a rock solid relationship with her
mother was very difficult. Then her dog passed away so there were a few years of great
depression and quiet in her life afterwards.
Then Gail joined the team as manager at Fidelity Studios in Studio City, where Gail met
a lot of movie and television personalities and stars. That was a healing time for her.
It was then she started her company Caftans by Chasin, designing gorgeous one of a kind
caftans for both men and women. But her heart wasn't really in it, and within a few
years, she was back on the stages of southern California singing again. This time, she
noticed how difficult it was for a musician, as in Nashville, people would actually listen
with grace and consideration. They had specific listening rooms but not in California. It
was back to the dog eat dog world. Back to performing with the TV on and the drunks
screaming and rudely, yukking it up at the bar at top volume. This is how it is and she
would deal with it. Not easy but one learns to overcome. And overcome she did. In
1996, Gail was voted Orange County's Favorite Singer in the Annual "Best Of" Series.
She worked everywhere in southern California.
It was during that year she performed in Laughlin, Nevada for almost a half of a year,
working so hard she discovered she had Hepatitis C. After treatment, Gail regained her
health and became an advocate for Hep C testing, as it lays dormant in the system for up
to 3 decades before being discovered.
Shortly after returning from the Laughlin stint, Gail sat in a broken patio chair and she
fractured her neck. After a year of pain meds and surgery, she was as good as new!
Then Gail joined Crossection, with Dave and Sue Cross and their 10 piece orchestra
doing jazz and R & B.
Gail's done so many different projects over the last number of years. Gail has done a
concert with Jack Tempchin (wrote Eagles hits Peaceful Easy Feeling, Smuggler's Blues,
etc.) to raise money for a girl's schoolroom in Africa for her company, ONE SOUND.
Gail also fell into reading Zen Tarot Cards and also became a Vibrational Sound
Therapist. Gail is known as a high intuitive. Then she learned the wedding business and
became an ordained wedding officiant through Rabbi Tuchman.
Gail's life has touched all sides of the box and steps out of it most of the time. There's
just no telling what she'll be up to next.
Gail has performed music working from California to Tennessee, New York to Alaska and Greece to Germany. S
he is classy, yet earthy and has a way of making dinnerhouses and concert venues feel like the living room.
She stamps her own distinctive musical signature on everything she sings and writes. Making a butter-smooth
transition from power vocalist to the sultriest of torch singers and lyrically coasting from introspective
to downright gritty, this animated performer's voice will have your ears standing at attention!
What Do People Say?
"I will go to my grave not understanding why I'm so affected by the tones in your voice. It's a bit like
going to heaven. That must be what the tones of the angels sound like. I swear, I FEEL the tones as well
as hear them. Other people's voices don't do that to me. You're like the Pied Piper."
(Lenore Reneiw, Critic)
"Your beauty abounds and has truly manifested itself through the years . This work comes at a most needed
time, and is much appreciated. I hope you are doing well, and wish Love and happiness always to you and yours."
(Steve Logan, Singer/Songwriter)
"Gail Chasin is phenomenal. Her style, grace and healing power come through everything she does. When she
sings it’s like an angel singing…it IS an angel. Whether it’s live or on one of her many CD’s, the warmth
and love that comes through her and her music touches my heart every time I hear her. The world is blessed
to have her!"
(Jeffrey Sean Pool – Certified Pranic Healer and Spiritual Comedian)
"One of those performers who should be a household name but isn't. A
special singer with a fan base that borders on a cult following."
(Alan Marciocchi, Entertainer Magazine, Laughlin, Nevada)
"One of the most mesmerizing and soulful performers who's worked in
Music City."
(Robert Oermann, Music/TV Journalist, Nashville, Tennessee)
"When Gail Chasin sings, E. F. Hutton Listens!"
(Diana Visco, Washington Times Communicator, Washington DC)
"Gail Chasin sings and writes the songs of a lifetime - a real Diva."
(Jon Pepper, Blues Critic, Los Angeles, California)
"Chasin is a poignant lyracist as well as a great singer."
(Jennifer Layton, *Indie-Music.com)
"Unseen by the Philistines -
Appreciated by the Illumined -
Loved by the Lucky""
(Tom Kelly, Disneyland Caricaturist)
"Your voice is incredible. You can ride around the universe on it."
(Carol Williamson, Laguna Beach Art School)
"I appreciate your voice. Its a real and full voice."
(Steve Young, writer of Seven Bridges Road)
"Thank you for your inspiration and love - not only for me but for the world - you truly are a Superhero.
The Universe is proud of you."
(Evolve, Spiritual Rapper)
"Once again you astound me. How can you not know how amazing you are? Your music and performances combined
with the fact that you look (and are) as beautiful and confident, is really appealing."
(Diana Visco, CEO American Soil)
"Your voice is somethin’ else. The ease at which you use it, the inflections and the perfect (enviable) vibrato.
Cheers Gail."
(Peter Burt, Studio Keyboardist for Kiss, REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick & numerous others)
"Your poetry is life rearranging but despite my heathenism, I think you really are from another realm. I'm so
earthbound that I can't even keep you company."
(Anonymous)
Vocal Influences
Mahalia Jackson, Miriam Makeba, Linda Rondstadt, Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, Phoebe Snow, Etta James, Sara
Vaughn & Dinah Washington.
Past Employers, Co-Writers & Friends
Dickie Betts (Allman Bros. Band) and Warren Haynes (Government Mule), the late Hoyt Axton, Dolly Parton,
Crystal Gayle, Felix Cavaliere (The Rascals), Steve Earl, the late Carl Perkins, Emmy Lou Harris, the late
Eddie Rabbitt, Randy Travis, Ben Vereen, the late Vassar Clements and Bob Babbitt (bassman in The Funk Brothers'
Motown Band) and songwriters Steve Young ("Seven Bridges Road") and Wayne Carson ("The Letter" & "You Were
Always On My Mind") only to name a very few.
Voted Orange County's Favorite Singer in the annual "Best Of" Series a number of years ago, Gail continues to
write and pitch her songs.
Just A Few Places
The Coach House (San Juan Capistrano)
B.B. King's Lucille's (Universal City)
Galaxy Theatre (Costa Mesa)
House of Blues (Hollywood)
Ghengis Cantina (Hollywood)
The Troubadour (West Hollywood)
Palomino Club (North Hollywood)
Verizon Theatre (Irvine)
On The Other Hand...
Singer, songwriter, demo and jingle singer, phonetic foreign language tranlator, vibrational sound therapist and sound
shaman, intuitive zen tarot card reader, wedding officiant, counselor and former radio talk show host, Gail Chasin has
worked in all facets of the arts and on both sides of the stage, camera and desk!
She's been employed by booking agents, record producers, major recording artists, audio rental equipment companies,
rehearsal studios, major music magazines, publishing companies, recording studios and post-production video and a
nimation houses. Gail also penned the international theme song for Hepatitis C, "Kill the Dragon" and back in the
Orange County, California, Gail Chasin was voted favorite and most popular singer in the annual 'Best Of' Series in 1996.
Today, Gail combines her life and social world with her music performing at concerts, private events, local fine
winerys and dining venues, new thought churches, officiating weddings and funerals and teaches vibrational sound
therapy workshops along with private sessions.
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Copyright 2010, Gail Chasin