Chic Street Man

This workshop is called "The Freedom of Expression". It is designed for students, faculty, and corporate professionals to gain more confidence in communicating. Individuals in the areas of music, law, theater, medicine, athletics, education and government also benefit enormously from this program. There's no limit to who will benefit from the freedom of expression.

I use storytelling and theater-like games (and music when possible), so that individuals can explore, develop and share creative insights, in a trusting and relaxed environment, and always with the notion of having a good time.

I took a look at some of our most gifted entertainers; Groucho Marx, Michael Jackson, Bette Midler, Bill Cosby, Gilda Ratner, Jimmy Durante, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, John Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Maya Angelou, and asked what it was that made them so fascinating to look at, to listen to? What was their magic, their charm? I found they had a willingness to share, to connect with their audience.

The stage becomes a metaphor for getting up, "getting down" and exploring that willingness to share. We all have things to say, talented or not, and when we successfully communicate them we are entertaining, we are holding the attention of our audience. Math teachers have to hold the audience's attention, so do engineers, doctors, lawyers, and business men and women. We all must learn to do this, and when we do we are entertainers.

We are not trying to turn students and people of business into Broadway stars. We simply wish to borrow some of the entertainer's insight and talent in order to strengthen our own ability to communicate.

--Chic Street Man

My motto is "Even vegetarians have a little bit of ham". A little bit of ham is healthy. It's what makes us want to communicate. We attach this ham to the ordinary vehicles of communication, the way we talk, body language, eye contact and temporarily exaggerate to get a good look at our own willingness to be connected. It's fun. And, it works.

A FEW REVIEWS

"Chic's presentation received the highest rating on our evaluation form of any of the weekly staff development sessions we had all year."-- Micael Kemp, Coordinator of Staff Development, Career and Counseling Services, UCSB

"Chic Street Man is a man of unique gifts. He has a tremendous understanding of all aspects of the arts. His depth of knowledge from classical, to jazz, to dance, to theater and beyond is truly inspiring. In all my years in the business and throughout all my travels I have never met anyone who embodies such breadth of perspective. I have seen Chic communicate to and inspire students from kindergarten to post-graduate adulthood. He is able to teach the musical experience to the human experience. I consider Chic Street Man one of this country's greatest cultural resources." -- Daniel Heifetz, Founder/Director, Heifetz International Music Insitute

"Chic Street Man's ability to reach and bring together such a diverse group of individuals became evident...his high energy level and confidence created an environment which encouraged freedom of expression, risk taking, and enjoyment while learning...his comfort and ease, combined with the skills of master teaching, modeled the principles he sought to teach." -- Fran Wallace-Schutzman, Assistant Dean, MILLS COLLEGE

"Through his music Chic creates an environment so safe that even the most diverse groups join with him to reach out to each other." -- Rachel Poliner, BOSTON EDUCATORS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

"As the country looks for solutions...the example of Chic Street Man is on view...A child received a message: You have a skill, you have a future, you matter...Lives are changed like that." -- Colman McCarthy, THE WASHINGTON POST

"Chic has a winning style that's easy, and a masterful touch that is right on target. His workshop was outstanding. He has a special quality as a person that should be shared with as many people as possible." -- Wendy D. Graham, Instructor of Drama, MERCER COUNTY SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS

"Chic is a real find. He exudes warmth, tranquility and an easy going charm that naturally extends to his music." -- Moira McCormick, BILLBOARD MAGAZINE

Chic's travels at home and abroad give him the opportunity to function as a good will ambassador whose message of realistic optimism inspires as it entertains. I for one could listen to him by the hour. -- Stuart Duncan, NEW JERSEY NEWS REVIEW

"Chic created a fun, respectful and empowering experience for our student participants. The students left 'feeling good' about themselves and with one another, empowering them with courage, determination and personal skills to succeed in life. As one student put it...'It's a good feeling to attend a workshop that makes you feel positive and capable to do anything'." -- Linda M. Ando, OMA Mentor Program Coordinator, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

Hattie's Ax is a tale of forgiveness with authentic music in two acts. It is a play with a lot of music (as opposed to being a musical), written and performed by Chic Street Man.

Hattie's Ax conveys the story of a young black girl by the name of Hattie Beasely Smith, my great grandmother, who was raped at the age of fifteen by a young white boy in Augusta, GA. She became angry and frustrated when nothing was done to the boy for what he'd done, and in helpless protest she went mute. She soon realized she was pregnant and tried to abort the child, but my grandmother, a fiesty little fetus, survived the attempt. Not long afterwards Hattie was given a guitar, and she never put it down. The guitar became her voice for eventually transitioning back into the speaking world. She became a master at bottleneck blues guitar, and a prominent fixture in the community. She triumphed over her hardships and had a wonderful reputation for generosity and bigheartedness.

Hattie had another daughter and adopted two more before she died at the age of forty-nine. She always wanted to be buried with her guitar, but shortly before she died her guitar came up missing. Hattie's Ax tells the journey taken by her four daughters, seventeen years after her passing, to honor her request; to find her guitar and bury it with her.

All my life I've heard my mother say, "boy, you think you can pick that guitar, you should'a heard your great grandmother pick that thing."

--Chic Street man

Chic is a uniquely talented artist with an international following.

Whether singing at a United Nations conference on human rights or engaging students at a local high school assembly, Chic connects. His music transcends barriers of culture and attitude, ranging from bluesy urban acoustic ballads to funky, jazzy, upbeat originals.

Chic explores a love for people, music, and the planet. An exciting singer, writer, and performer, he inspires audiences to help make the world a better place . . . soulful, and full of wit and humor.

Chic performs in concert both at home and abroad acknowledging every day social issues through his music and easy going style.

He incorporates a variety of musical forms all of which have roots that can be traced back to the ancient African tradition of storytelling with call and response. The stories are used for the purpose of spinning a tale, but always to instill in the listeners the spirit of an honorable life and the value of living in harmony with others; and to inspire them to make positive contributions to society.

His guitar is a natural extension of his body. He uses it and his voice to create music that transcends barriers of culture and attitude. His songs explore a love for people, music and the planet and allow the audience to feel, laugh and think about themselves in relationship to the world around them. He has the rare ability to engage all audiences; adults, teens, children, seniors and entire families to make them laugh, think and feel good inside.