CHRIS NOLE

 

If you ask Chris Nole what the best seat in the house is, whether at Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry, or in any of Nashville's finest recording studios, he’ll tell you it’s the piano bench. And he should know. He’s occupied one since the age of nine and subsequently performed worldwide with some of the biggest names in music.

"I put the CD in the player and I was… spellbound.” New Age Reporter.com

Widely known for his soulful approach on the keys, Nole takes you to another place with fresh musical compositions and lyrics. From Singer/Songwriter Pop Blues, to Solo Piano Moods, Chris covers a wide range of originality throughout his eclectic musical catalog. Chris has recorded and released eight solo LPs: Toyland (2017, CNM); It Be What It Be (2016, CNM); Little Rum Boogie (2006, Sound Works Music Group); Songs of The Wide Horizon (2003, Sound Works Music Group); Songs of The High Country (2002, Sound Works Music Group); Barrel House Boogie Piano (1999, Sound Works Music Group); A Chris Nole Christmas (2014, CNM); Fly Away–Piano Perspectives–The Music of John Denver (2007, Sound Works Music Group)

“I am in love with this album. Songs of The Wide Horizon easily earns my highest recommendation.” Wind & Wire, Bill Binkelman

To date, Nole's recordings have had over 23 million streams online. As a performer and composer, he has two stylistic sides – one being the singer/songwriter rendering down home stories with spicy lyrics – the other an accomplished pianist that roams freely around the keys, from funky boogie and blues grooves to a more melodic ethereal sound. The results have resonated with international audiences for more than twenty years now.

“Nole sets the gold standard for independent artists” - Independent Spotlight

Growing up in a musical household, Nole was influenced by a varied mix of pianists, including The E Street Band’s keyboardist Roy Bittan, The Allman Brother’s Band’s Chuck Leavall, Johnnie Johnson (Chuck Berry), Billy Preston, Professor Longhair, Randy Newman, and of course the Night Tripper – Dr. John.

Nole performed extensively around the Philadelphia/Jersey Shore area in the early eighties before deciding it was time for a change. Feeling the pull of Blues, Roots, Country, Southern Rock, and the recording studio scene, Nole moved to Nashville in 1987.  He quickly became a sought after talent who toured and recorded alongside numerous top acts, including superstar Faith Hill, pop folk icon John Denver, country-rocker Travis Tritt, Gospel-Pop-Country Music legends the Oak Ridge Boys, Don Williams, acclaimed vocalist Shelby Lynne, Emmylou Harris and many more.

In addition to being a well-established keyboardist, Chris is a composer whose songs have been recorded by various artists ranging from Faith Hill to The Swamp Honkys and have been used in several television productions, such as Men of a Certain Age, Heroes, and E! True Hollywood Story.

Chris’ many performance credits include Don Williams 'Reflections' and 'Live in Dublin' albums, the Oak Ridge Boys 2009, 2010, and 2011 Christmas Tours, Carnegie Hall with Mollie Weaver and Pete Huttlinger, Travis Tritt’s “Burning Thunder” tour and CMT All Access television special, Let This Be a Voice, the PBS television documentary special, The CBS television movie special The John Denver Story (recorded with famed composer Lee Holdridge) and The Wildlife Concert: John Denver’s A&E television special and platinum-selling live record. Chris was fortunate enough to play on John Denver’s last record, the Grammy-winning All Aboard (1997). He has also appeared with Faith Hill in three of her debut performances on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the Grand Ole Opry.

Chris describes his extensive career as a quest for music that makes you feel good – “When rhythms, sounds, melodies and stories all come together to create magic.” These days he is keeping very busy as a music producer, session player, songwriter, and performer based out of Tennessee.