Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Chad's early influences were drummer Al Jackson and the artists of Stax Records and artists such as Al Green on Willie Mitchell's Memphis based label, Hi Records. Jim Stewart, founder of Stax Records, along with Bobby Manuel, owned a production company called The Daily Planet after the sale of Stax where Chad "hung out" and subsequently worked for The Daily Planet and learned a great deal about rhythm and recording. 

The following year, 1987, Chad got the call to record with one of the world's most prolific songwriters, Neil Young. These sessions became Neil Young & The Bluenotes and marked the beginning of a long standing musical relationship that continues today. 

Chad moved to Nashville in 1990 and began a very successful recording career. Formal recognition from his Nashville peers came first in 1996 when Chad was nominated for the Nashville Music Awards. He's been nominated many times since for the CMA and ACM musician awards. Chad's career has seen him in the studio and on stage/TV/touring with an impressive list of major recording artists(see credits list below). Chad recorded and toured with Mark Knopfler for ten years (1995-2005). His playing can be heard on Knopfler's solo records including "Golden Heart", "Sailing To Philadelphia",The Ragpickers Dream"," Shangri La" and the Mark and Emmylou Harris record of duets called "All The Roadrunning", as well as the films,"Wag the Dog" and "Metroland". A renewed association with Neil Young produced a record called "Prairie Wind".The spring of 2006 brought another recording called "Living With War." Chad performed on Neil Young's Heart of Gold Movie, filmed and directed by Johnathan Demme. Chad spent 2006-2009 recording and touring with Neil Young and performing on CSNY's "Freedom of Speech Tour." A new record was recorded in London and New York, "Fork in the Road."

For a complete list of credits and audio samples, please visit AllMusic.