Chip's Musical Journey

Chip Curry’s musical career started in Tucson, Arizona in the 1970s when, with his five-string banjo, he led the Summerdog Bluegrass, Mariachi, and Swing Ensemble to a ten-year stint as the Southwest’s premiere string band. They recorded three albums, starred in five musical comedies, won many music contests, and kept folks dancin’ and toe tappin’ to many a fine performance.

Chip then took up his grandfather’s bow and became a fiddler. With it, he plays international dance music for the Westwind International Folk Ensemble and Jubilee American Dance Theater, and has accompanied them on multiple tours in Europe and Mexico.

Currently, Chip plays several hundred shows a year for children, seniors, and general audiences. His solo shows for kids and families draw from his rich Irish heritage of music and storytelling. Senior shows offer a wide selection of music from the American songbook. Folks love to sing along and even dance. He performs with several bands playing bluegrass, and Western swing--always with plenty of good old-time fiddling and banjo picking.

His sponsors have included the Western States Arts Foundation, Young Audiences, and the Arizona Commission for the Arts. As an actor, he has been a member of the Screen Actors Guild and Actors Equity Association.

In addition, he is the co-producer of the San Francisco Festival of the Mandolins, and edits the Fiddler’s Rag, a monthly magazine published by the Santa Clara Valley Fiddler’s Association.