“I grew up in a rural area where there were farms that had sheep, cows, pigs, and chickens.  My granddaddy was the big farmer that raised cows, but then he finally just let go of it when I was twelve years old,” says Chew.  He lived with his grandparents because his mother moved to Memphis, and he did not want to live in a big city.  He loved the country hillside, and that is where he wanted to be.  “That is where the country boy in me comes from, my grandparents raising me.” At the early age of six, Chris’ interest in music was sparked by watching his father play the guitar. It didn’t take long for his musical instincts to kick-in as he began to pick up the guitar and play, too. From there, his musical inclinations grew and by the time he was 14 he was playing bass guitar every Wednesday and Sunday for his church, Mt. Austin in Hernando, MS. Never having had any formal musical training, Chris soon developed a natural ear for music. Soon he was teaching vocal parts to a 30 member choir at Mt. Austin. It was not long before he was receiving requests from other churches in his community to direct and teach vocals for their choirs. Chris sat down at the organ to help lead the choir. He soon took interest in the organ and developed another of his untapped musical talents. Wanting to play more and direct less, he put his energy into learning more about playing the bass and organ. After high school Chris went off to college at Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, MS.  There he nurtured his artist talent by playing bass in the college’s gospel choir.  After he completed junior college, he went on to the University of Memphis to pursue a degree in Business and played Division I football.  He had the opportunity to play professional football, but claims his body was too beat up by the time he graduated.  After completing his Bachelor degree, he entered the world of corporate America.  He recalls his first and last day in the corporate world.  “I was a manager at this company for four hours.  I went in for orientation and had my own desk, office, and company car.  Four hours later I realized that was not what I wanted to be doing with my life.  So I left and the same day I went to this place called Williams-Sonoma.  They tried to hire me as a supervisor and I said I would rather unload trucks, which was half the pay of being a supervisor.” claims Chew.   Later, he became interested in driving the trucks instead of unloading them. This led to his certification as a semi-truck driver.  He worked the late shift for the next five years, enjoying the solitude that the open road provides at night.  “I loved it,” he says with a smile.  “You could just free your mind and were not so closed up." While Chew was making a living behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler, the Dickinson boys formed the North Mississippi Allstars Big Band.  Paul Taylor manned the bottom end for the Allstars, but soon left the band to join Big Ass Truck due to "artistic differences."  That same day, Chris received a phone call from Luther informing him of the departure of Taylor. Luther offered the bass spot to Chris during the course of their conversation. “I instantly said to him, When do I start?  Five years later here I am still playing with them.”  In the first year, Chris played part-time because of his Sunday church performances.  There would be times where the band would drive all night on Saturday to get him back in time for his Sunday services.  Luther claims that Chris is a treasure for the NMAS and well worth the effort. “As soon as Chris joined the group everything got more exciting and we started to have a better reception that kicked the band up.  Chris’s motto is 'You got to have faith.'  There were tours and shows when Chris could not come, and it would either be me and Cody or we would have someone sit in with us.  We were completely understanding about it and waited it out because we knew Chris was worth it.  And after a year went by Chris quit his job.  You know it is such great things that we can all work together because lots of band would not work like that.  It is either you are full-time or you not,” states Dickinson. When the North Mississippi Allstars are not touring they all have side projects that they pursue.  In a recent phone interview with Chew, he was in New Orleans doing some gigs of his own with his own solo project.  Chris has built his own band with fellow musicians from Jackson, MS to form Big Chew and the Crew.  He describes it as a more funk/jazz type band than NMAS.  Big Chew and the Crew have been touring several colleges in the Mississippi and Alabama region and have been doing work for a new production company in New Orleans called Sly Productions. Chris's other project is his self-formed community choir in the south.  While on the road with the Allstars, he’s been writing songs for the choir, which can fit singers of all ages.  “I am going to have it where there are going to be hymn types of songs to make those who feel happy and like to move and wiggle a little bit.  But then I am going to have songs for the older generation where they can say, ‘We do know where we came from’,”.  He feels that generations and times are changing with the music.   He also adds, “You have to have something for the young people to keep them involved.  Chris claims that Desoto County, Mississippi is one of the number one places for  population in the world.  “There is so much talent in the county.  I mean white or black, it does not matter.  I am having a bi-racial choir.  I am not going to just have African-Americans because there are so many kinds of good talent out there to just limit it down to one race.  I have got three young girls in my choir right now, and I am willing to put them up against Destiny’s Child or whomever and they will blow them away,” he says confidently.  Chew’s plan is to start off with a big concert choir.  They have been rehearsing for the past few months for a big May concert in the Desoto County area.  “The show is going to be in May sometime when the Allstars have some time off.  I have to schedule it around the Allstars most importantly,” he adds. Chew has hopeful plans for his choir in the next year.  He wants to start collaborating with other musicians on songs for the choir.  His pastor’s wife, who has a few gospel songs out right now of her own, plans on collaborating to write some material with hopes of having an independent record out by the end of next year for his choir.  He is a musician that wants to start small and take the necessary steps to test the water.  “Desoto County is starving for this,” claims Chew.  He plans on giving all the money he raises for the choir the first year to the less fortunate children of Desoto County, and feels that he is not too high and mighty to forget where is comes from.  “People always tell me that I am always the same.  I am by no means a rock star.  It is hard not to fall into all that havoc.  I mean every once in awhile I will have me a glass of wine, but that is about it,” he claims. “Or four or five glasses,” Luther jokingly adds on top of Chew’s comment. I asked Chew who some of his favorite musicians were in the jamband community.  He takes a moment to think about the question.  “I don’t necessarily care for the word ‘jamband’ because music is music.  But I have really enjoyed playing with Medeski, Martin, and Wood.  They are really on top of their game.  It was such an amazing experience playing with John during The Word project. Luther Dickinson states that it was Chris who came up the name for the band.  Dickinson says, “We were on the bus one day and I went up to the front of the bus where Chris holds court.  ‘Court’ is Chris’s office where he watches gospel videos and reads the Bible   He is often heard saying that he has to get ‘The Word’ out. Well, I approached Chris and said to him, Chris we have got to find a name for our gospel band and Chris shouts out ‘You got to get the word’ and I was like that is it we going to be called ‘The Word,” as Dickinson recalls back on that day.  Chris and Luther both say that they would like to team up again with Medeski and Robert Randolph to perform as “The Word” if their schedules allow it. “I am starting to like Widespread Panic the more I listen to them, and I really am digging Trey Anastasio’s solo project.  But on the other side I am a Miles Davis freak and an admirer of John Coltrane, plus there is a lot of different gospel as well like Andre Crouch and Pop Staples,” cites Chew. In these past five years the Allstars have produced two albums that have received positive press from the mainstream and underground media.  Their two albums, Shake Hands with Shorty and 51 Phantom have both received Grammy nominations in the blues category.  Their third album, Polaris, is due in stores April 10th.   Chew says they all work together when crafting a song.  “This record is not going to be the traditional blues record like the way 51 Phantom rocked.  This record is going to be a little more rock with a little twist of pop.  There is definitely going to be a change in there.  Some people might not dig it and some people will.  We are all excited about it, and we have a new management team that is also Dave Matthews Band management that is going to keep us busy all year long.  We are growing and taking small steps.  Our attendance is gradually increasing the more we play.  Plus our fan base ranges from twelve to seventy years old.  A few months ago I met this twelve-year-old girl after a show. Her mother brought her and a friend to the show for the first time and they were out there dancing and clapping their hands having a good time.” Luther Dickinson adds, “We always have fun playing no matter where we are…Chris is very contagious and has such a great spirit.  We are so blessed to know him and play with him.  He has such a great spirit.  We all think he is Michael Jackson or Michael Jordan.  I mean he is just a complete superstar in our eyes.” Chew’s gospel roots, the Dickinson’s family roots, the Burnside family, the Kimbrough family, and Otha Turner are a tight knit community of musicians and people whom the North Mississippi Allstars represent them and keep them alive in their music and they feel that they owe it to them.  They will never forget where they come from and are proud to put Hernando, Mississippi on the map for music of all genres.  Chris Chew is a man that is deeply committed to sticking to his values and roots despite all the success he and the Allstars have had in the past few years.  “I always told myself that I would never forget where I came from.  Gospel music is my roots, and I love gospel music because it is just in my blood.  I want to educate these younger kids and have an impact in their lives to be something of themselves,” he stated emphatically.   Last year Chris did a lot of public speaking in Desoto County high schools to educate the local students.  “I talked to the kids and told them that college is not for everybody.  Don’t go to college to make your mom and dad happy because it is not for everybody.  I try to convey the message that you should do what you love to do, and college will either provide you the opportunity or it can change your perspective on life.  But don‘t do it if you are doing it to make your parent‘s happy,” he asserts. He is a man that hears a calling to give back to his roots and community.  By preaching his WORD he is leading these children in Desoto County to make good choices in their lives.