Tim is a Kentucky native whose career spans more than fifty years as an entertainer with an impressive thirty plus years as a professional drummer and vocalist.
Growing up in Lexington during the 60s and 70s, he watched a myriad of variety and music shows on television which further fueled his passion to perform at an early age. Fortunate to have had supportive parents, his mother enrolled him in tap dancing lessons after he showed an interest while attending his sister’s dance lessons. Tim believes that studying dance laid a valuable foundation for becoming a successful drummer.
Grabbing the attention of his peers in elementary and junior high, Tim soon found himself gigging with numerous rock/pop bands comprised of older and more seasoned players and considers many of these musicians his local heroes.
He studied and performed music from elementary school through college, meeting and working with many of his mentors, participating in talent shows, school concert band, and marching with one of the best high school marching bands in the state.
After high school, he continued pursuing his passion for marching as a member of The Pride of Cincinnati Drum & Bugle Corps. Tim was also offered music scholarships and attended college at Morehead State University and the University of Kentucky. All of these experiences laid the ground work for greater opportunities where he would soon break beyond local and regional boundaries with rock act, Shaking Family. The band recorded two albums, one with independent label Big Ole Records and a world wide release with Elektra/Asylum Records out of New York.
By 1992 Tim’s drumming reputation had landed him a touring gig with Atlantic Records country music artist, John Michael Montgomery. He moved to Nashville to continue his musical career. It was during this period he also began honing his songwriting skills with numerous Nashville songwriters. Within two years of traveling the continent performing, Tim signed an artist development and publishing deal with Hallmark Direction Management and KenTen Publishing.
Over the next twenty years, Tim garnered the attention of many within the music industry while building a noteworthy resume touring and recording with an impressive roster of artists including Richard Marx, Kathy Mattea, Trace Adkins, John Michael Montgomery, Ricochet, Jessica Andrews and others. He has performed on recording sessions for multi-award winning songwriter Paul Williams who has penned hit songs for The Carpenters, Barbra Streisand, Three Dog Night, Helen Reddy, David Bowie and more. Tim worked closely with Grammy Award winner singer/songwriter Richard Marx for several years. He had the privilege to work with multiple award winning actor/singer/songwriter Billy Bob Thornton, Bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley and Grammy award winner Kathy Mattea. Tim performed with award winner Shania Twain on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno promoting her blockbuster crossover country/pop album, Come On Over.
A multi-instrumentalist, Tim has a notable track record as a lead and backing vocalist as well, singing on major recording artists’ albums. He is a featured singer and backing vocalist with Kathy Mattea on her Mercury Records LP, The Innocent Years performing backing vocals on four songs including one with rock legend Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills and Nash. Tim has also recorded vocals on albums with country group, Ricochet on their Columbia Records LP, What You Leave Behind, Hal Ketchum’s Curb Records LP, Lucky Man, Ralph Stanley’s Rebel Records LP, Clinch Mountain Country, and Shaking Family’s worldwide released LP, Dreaming in Detail. He was also the featured vocalist on a 1990’s commercial for the restaurant franchise, The Cooker.
In 2011, Tim began working on his first solo album, Circle of Heroes which is available at iTunes. The album is a salute to some of Tim’s biggest influences in music.
Tim taught lessons alongside his wife, Michelle for over ten years and founded the Chewning School of Music in the spring of 2016. He oversees operations at the music school and helps Michelle with special events. Tim is currently writing, producing and performing his own music projects and is working on plans to add songwriting, compostioin and recording classes at Chewning School of Music.
Growing up in Lexington during the 60s and 70s, he watched a myriad of variety and music shows on television which further fueled his passion to perform at an early age. Fortunate to have had supportive parents, his mother enrolled him in tap dancing lessons after he showed an interest while attending his sister’s dance lessons. Tim believes that studying dance laid a valuable foundation for becoming a successful drummer.
Grabbing the attention of his peers in elementary and junior high, Tim soon found himself gigging with numerous rock/pop bands comprised of older and more seasoned players and considers many of these musicians his local heroes.
He studied and performed music from elementary school through college, meeting and working with many of his mentors, participating in talent shows, school concert band, and marching with one of the best high school marching bands in the state.
After high school, he continued pursuing his passion for marching as a member of The Pride of Cincinnati Drum & Bugle Corps. Tim was also offered music scholarships and attended college at Morehead State University and the University of Kentucky. All of these experiences laid the ground work for greater opportunities where he would soon break beyond local and regional boundaries with rock act, Shaking Family. The band recorded two albums, one with independent label Big Ole Records and a world wide release with Elektra/Asylum Records out of New York.
By 1992 Tim’s drumming reputation had landed him a touring gig with Atlantic Records country music artist, John Michael Montgomery. He moved to Nashville to continue his musical career. It was during this period he also began honing his songwriting skills with numerous Nashville songwriters. Within two years of traveling the continent performing, Tim signed an artist development and publishing deal with Hallmark Direction Management and KenTen Publishing.
Over the next twenty years, Tim garnered the attention of many within the music industry while building a noteworthy resume touring and recording with an impressive roster of artists including Richard Marx, Kathy Mattea, Trace Adkins, John Michael Montgomery, Ricochet, Jessica Andrews and others. He has performed on recording sessions for multi-award winning songwriter Paul Williams who has penned hit songs for The Carpenters, Barbra Streisand, Three Dog Night, Helen Reddy, David Bowie and more. Tim worked closely with Grammy Award winner singer/songwriter Richard Marx for several years. He had the privilege to work with multiple award winning actor/singer/songwriter Billy Bob Thornton, Bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley and Grammy award winner Kathy Mattea. Tim performed with award winner Shania Twain on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno promoting her blockbuster crossover country/pop album, Come On Over.
A multi-instrumentalist, Tim has a notable track record as a lead and backing vocalist as well, singing on major recording artists’ albums. He is a featured singer and backing vocalist with Kathy Mattea on her Mercury Records LP, The Innocent Years performing backing vocals on four songs including one with rock legend Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills and Nash. Tim has also recorded vocals on albums with country group, Ricochet on their Columbia Records LP, What You Leave Behind, Hal Ketchum’s Curb Records LP, Lucky Man, Ralph Stanley’s Rebel Records LP, Clinch Mountain Country, and Shaking Family’s worldwide released LP, Dreaming in Detail. He was also the featured vocalist on a 1990’s commercial for the restaurant franchise, The Cooker.
In 2011, Tim began working on his first solo album, Circle of Heroes which is available at iTunes. The album is a salute to some of Tim’s biggest influences in music.
Tim taught lessons alongside his wife, Michelle for over ten years and founded the Chewning School of Music in the spring of 2016. He oversees operations at the music school and helps Michelle with special events. Tim is currently writing, producing and performing his own music projects and is working on plans to add songwriting, compostioin and recording classes at Chewning School of Music.