1. How did you get into performing?
Well, I always wanted to play music. I guess it’s a gift from God. I think people are born with certain gifts, and I think I was just born with the gift of music. I’ve always wanted to play some type of music.
2. Is this your main job or do you have a day job?
No, I’m retired. I’m retired from Dana Corp.
3. How long have you been playing?
What I’ve been doing now hasn’t been forever. I’ve been doing this one-man show act, oh, for the last five or six years.
4. Did you perform before that?
Years ago, before I began doing this, I traveled with some rock groups. I traveled with James Brown. I did some work with Wilson Pickett. I played with the Ohio Players out of Dayton. I also worked with a jazz group in Columbus before I moved here to Lima.
5. What instrument do you play?
I play tenor, alto and soprano sax. I have two different soprano saxes — one is curved and one is straight. They each have their own unique sound. I also sing.
6. How many shows do you have each month?
It varies — maybe two to three a month. Sometimes, it gets pretty busy, especially around the holiday season. To book me, people can call 567-242-9287 or they can email me at chucksummers7@yahoo.com.
7. What kind of places do you perform?
I like to do private events. Wedding receptions, anniversary parties — any type of private event, I like to do those. I’ve done a lot of stuff with Rhodes State.
8. What’s the most challenging part for you?
Giving people what they want. There are so many different types of music. I try to do a variety. My main forte is smooth jazz. My favorite music that I play is the gospel music that I do. I belong to Only Believe Ministries in Botkins, and I play in their praise and worship band. This, what I do here, is a hobby, plus I get paid.
9. What’s your favorite part of performing shows?
Seeing people happy and enjoying the music. It’s the most rewarding part — seeing people having fun and enjoying what they are hearing.
10. When you do a show, do you have a set repertoire or do you take requests?
I only do requests if somebody asks. Requests are hard because you never know — someone might come up with a song you never heard of. You know, they kind of expect you to know it, but that’s not always possible.
11. How many songs do you think you know?
Oh, quite a few — most of them are memory. I have to memorize. I don’t read any music or anything, so I have to memorize them. It’s challenging as you get older — you forget.
12. Where did you learn to play?
I kind of taught myself. Listening to other artists play — I really did a lot of serious listening and I did a lot of serious wood shacking. We call it wood shacking when you are rehearsing over and over. It’s you go home, go in your music room. You practice until you get it right or as close as you can.
