Chuck Stern
American musician, writer, and artist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charles Baker Stern (June 22, 1979 – December 10, 2023) was an American composer, musician, writer, and visual artist known for his work in experimental music.[1][2][3] He was frontman and composer of Time of Orchids,[4] played in Sculptress,[5] and released solo and band works under the name Stern.[2][1] He was born and lived in New York City. He died on December 10, 2023, at the age of 44.[6][7]
June 22, 1979
- Vocals
- keyboards
- multi-instrumentalist
Chuck Stern | |
|---|---|
| Born | Charles Baker Stern June 22, 1979 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | December 10, 2023 (aged 44) |
| Instruments |
|
| Member of | Time of Orchids, Sculptress, Stern |
| Website | sterntheband |
Career
Stern was a programmer for public-access television station Manhattan Neighborhood Network.[8] He co-created Roboshithead, which The Village Voice called "the best public access show in New York,"[9] and It Changed :(, which won the 2011 Hometown Video Original Teleplay Award.[8]
From 1999 to 2007, Stern was the frontman and composer for experimental band Time of Orchids.[10][2] Over the band's tenure, its lineup included Eric Fitzgerald, Jesse Krakow, David Bodie, Kim Abrams, Will Redmond, and Charlie Looker,[10] with guest performances from Tim Byrnes, Maryanna Hansen, jazz pianist Marilyn Crispell, Kate Pierson of The B-52's, and Julee Cruise of Twin Peaks.[11][12][13] Time of Orchids released six albums; two were self-released, with others appearing on Relapse, Epicene, Tzadik, and Cuneiform.[10]
In 2008, Stern and Charlie Looker formed a duo project, Sculptress.[5]
Also in 2008, after announcing the end of Time of Orchids, Stern began a new solo project releasing music under his last name.[2][3] "Stern" eventually grew into a quartet including former Kayo Dot members Abrams, Byrnes, and Toby Driver, with releases by the band formation including Bone Turquoise (New Atlantis, 2015)[2] and Missive: Sister Ships (Sleeping Giant Glossolalia, 2018).[14]
Stern later returned to solo project status with Sunder Hawk (2020).[1][15][16] The album features guest performances from Abrams, Erin Mount, and Stern's mother, Ellen Stern, who died in 2023.[1][17] Stern's final release was Black Votive (2022).[18]
Discography
As leader
| Year | Artist | Title | Label | Personnel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Time of Orchids | Melonwhisper | Relapse / Aquarius | Stern, Charlie Looker, Will Redmond, Jesse Krakow, Kim Abrams ft. guest Marilyn Crispell[10] |
| 2003 | Time of Orchids | Much Too Much Fun | Stern, Krakow, Abrams, Eric Fitzgerald, ft. guest Kate Pierson[10] | |
| 2004 | Time of Orchids | Early As Seen in Pace | Epicene | Stern, Krakow, Abrams, Eric Fitzgerald[10] |
| 2005 | Time of Orchids | Sarcast While | Tzadik | Stern, Krakow, Fitzgerald, David Bodie ft. guests Tim Byrnes, Maryanna Hansen, Julee Cruise[11][12] |
| 2007 | Time of Orchids | Namesake Caution | Cuneiform | Stern, Krakow, Fitzgerald, Bodie[19] |
| 2010 | Time of Orchids | In Due Time | Stern, Krakow, Abrams, Fitzgerald, Bodie, Looker[10][20] | |
| 2010 | Stern | Dredge Up Eventide | Stern ft. guests Byrnes, Victoria Kereszi[21] | |
| 2010 | Stern | The Largo Sanctum | Stern ft. guests Laura Vickers, Ian Garrick-Bethell, Katie Stern, Wendell Edwards[22] | |
| 2011 | Stern | Path X | Stern ft. guest Looker[23] | |
| 2012 | Stern | Entitlement | Stern, Abrams, Byrnes, Toby Driver[24] | |
| 2015 | Stern | Bone Turquoise | New Atlantis | Stern, Abrams, Byrnes, Driver[2][25] |
| 2018 | Stern | Missive: Sister Ships | Sleeping Giant Glossolalia | Stern, Abrams, Byrnes, Driver[3][14] |
| 2020 | Stern | Sunder Hawk | Stern ft. guests Abrams, Erin Mount, Ellen Stern[1] | |
| 2022 | Stern | Black Votive | Stern[18] |