Meet Chuck Ebert | Executive Producer, Grammy® Award-Winner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chuck Ebert and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chuck, what role has risk played in your life or career?

CHUCK: Sometimes we have to take risks in our lives to gain benefit for the future. Sometimes you lose too! It’s called RISK for a reason. For me, it’s a leap of faith and trusting in God that I’m doing the right thing at the right time!

I took a huge risk in building my recording studio, THE CABIN, and nearly went broke in doing so. At the time, the amount of financial investment and the state of the music business itself was a very daunting challenge (and still is BTW) but my belief in making it a reality was what drove me through. I trusted my gut that it was the right thing to do and with the help of family and friends, THE CABIN became a world-class recording studio with #1 songs played all over the world. I’d count that risk as a huge success!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

“It’s the song that inspires, the music that transforms, and the creative art that comes from putting it all together. That’s music and that’s what I love so much about being a producer.” – Chuck Ebert

A world-renowned Grammy® Award-Winner, Executive Producer, Director, Mastering Engineer, #1 Songwriter, Musician and Consultant, Chuck Ebert brings over 30 years of professional experience to the Axon Entertainment team. He has produced/engineered many #1 and Grammy nominated, award-winning artists including: Don Henley (The Eagles), The Dixie Chicks, Chad Prather, Jeff Clayborn, Kris Kristofferson, Brian Setzer, James Blackwood, The Light Crust Doughboys, The Jordanaires, Jim Kimo West, Grant Maloy Smith, Rooted in Song, Janky, Katy Gaby, and many more. He has also worked with ESPN, HBO, The Travel Channel, and the Academy Awards.

Chuck is also quite a spokesperson! His witty humor and outgoing personality (“Where is Chuck TODAY?” on social media) have made him an ideal guest emcee for various events and charities such as “Rooted in Song – An American Music Experience” and “An Evening with Chad Prather” at Enchanted Rock Ranch, “A World of Guitar” and “Noche de Pasion” at the Kimbell Art Museum, Trauma Support Services of North Texas Special Event, Animal Hope Adoptions Special Event, LightCatcher Winery Special Events, “Sting Fling” and “Christmas on Main Street” for the Azle TX Chamber of Commerce and many more.

His Professional Memberships include:

Voting Member of The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS – The Grammy’s®), Member of the P&E Wing of NARAS (Producer and Engineering), CMA Voting Member (Country Music Association), ACM Voting Member (Academy of Country Music), GMA Voting Member (Gospel Music Association), Member of The Audio Engineering Society (AES), Member of The American Society of Authors Composers and Publishers (ASCAP), Member of Nashville Songwriting Association International (NSAI), Member of The Indie Collaborative (IC), CEO/President of Axon Entertainment, Inc., President and Founder of “The Cabin Record Co.”, Executive Board Member and Founder of Buffalo Chip American Whiskey (BCAW), Inductee of Heritage’s Who’s Who in America, Inductee of Princeton’s Business Owners.

THE STORY…

Q: So how did you get to be a Grammy Award-Winning music producer?

CHUCK: I picked up my Mom’s old acoustic guitar and started teaching myself to play music around twelve years old in Bossier City, Louisiana. I was a military brat as they say. Dad was stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base. I heard “Lala” by Derek (Eric Clapton) and the Dominoes on the radio one night and knew I had to learn how to play electric guitar! But first, I had to get one. This acoustic isn’t going to cut it. I need distortion! I need to ROCK!!

I had to find a way to make money to buy an electric guitar and the quest began. I started my own lawn service and mowed yards like crazy. I charged $3.50 to $5.00 for any yard I could mow to earn enough to buy one. It was the summer of 1981 and I wore that little mower out! $144.44 was the sticker price of the black, Hondo Les Paul copy guitar at the base BX (base exchange). I was 14 when I got that guitar. Wish I still had it.

I look back on those times because they were so instrumental (both musically and fundamentally) to me. My mom and dad allowed me to play loud rock guitar music with my younger brother who played drums, in a small 1200 square foot house. The walls were thin and the entire neighborhood could hear us. The kicker was Dad was a jet engine mechanic and Mom worked at a high school cafeteria kitchen. They worked in some seriously noisy environments themselves but loved us enough to allow us to make some of our own noise even when it wasn’t so great of a noise to them! They supported us and cheered us on the best they could. That was love that allowed me to follow my passion for music and eventually become a professional record producer.

Q: What are some of your proudest moments?

CHUCK: I actually have a few but two really stand out. Winning a Grammy, well that is by far one of the most incredible moments in my career. We won for “Best Southern Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album”. The record was titled “We Called Him Mr. Gospel Music: The James Blackwood Tribute Album” and featured The Jordanaires, Larry Ford and The Light Crust Doughboys. We had some stout competition as well too, up against Randy Travis, Charlie Daniels, and The Gaither’s. It was so amazing we won!

I couldn’t attend the award’s show that year as I had just found out I had a ruptured disc in my neck that was close to severing my spine. It was so bad that my doctor said go straight home and don’t do anything until you get to surgery. If I had gotten on a plane to go the show with air turbulence and my disc moved anymore, I would have about seven minutes to get to a hospital before possibly being paralyzed for life. Thank God I had surgery and it was corrected.

The second is the birthing of The Cabin Recording Studio. That in itself is a miracle and I still stand amazed that I get to work and create in such a beautiful place. It’s a log cabin studio built inside a metal building on acreage nestled in the Texas countryside. It’s pure recording bliss! We are about ten minutes from Fort Worth and close proximity to the big city but with deer, horses, etc…just good country living.

Q: Is being a music producer a challenge in today’s economy?

CHUCK: Being in the music business is a GIANT challenge for anyone in any economy! Everyday has its own up’s and down’s. Anyone that can make a living in today’s music business is very fortunate as it just isn’t easy and it’s a huge struggle for most. I think the hardest thing for so many artist to realize is that they are entrepreneurs and to really be successful takes more than just great music. It takes people, money, determination and the knowledge of the music business put into action.

The music market is one of the most densely populated places in the entertainment world today. Thousands of songs are released every single day on multiple platforms. That’s a ton of material available to the public but if you know how to make your music stand out in the crowd, you normally have a really good chance of being successful. I’ve consulted with many on that very subject and I’m always pleased to see the light bulbs go off when they can see a game plan, implement it and actually get paid for their music. Again, it’s not easy but it’s definitely doable.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to see?

“Fort Worth…It’s a big city with a small town vibe”- Chuck Ebert

I really love Fort Worth and all it offers to the visitors and locals alike. What a wonderful place to call home! So many incredible restaurants. I’m a foodie so let’s eat!! Some of my favorites are seafood at Eddie V’s, Blue Sushi and the amazing Clay Pigeon, to Thai Terrace and Chinese food at Szechuan, Mexican food at Blue Mesa and me being part cajun (I’m a Louisiana boy ‘ya know ‘iiii’eeeee…), we gotta’ get the shrimp and salad at Pappadeaux’s!

After eating out though, I love to chef it up at The Cabin so we’d be enjoying dinner with some of my original made from scratch dishes for sure! Tilapia Vistoso, Bang Tango Peppers, Argentina Rockin’ Red’s, oh man my mouth is watering thinking about it! I LOVE chef’n great food and serving it with great wine. Having a great meal with great conversation, enjoying each other’s company, sipping a glass of Vino…now that’s LIVING! It’s always an adventure at The Cabin!!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
CHUCK: Without the help of God, family and friends I would not be where I am today. My Shoutout goes to everyone I’ve met, all those I haven’t and the beautiful world we live in!

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