Founder Chris Theberge

INternational Background

Chris was raised in the U.S. and Latin America, living in Managua, Nicaragua, and playing drumset in Chile and the U.S. through his teenage years.   Returning stateside to Washington D.C, he worked in the inmate music program at Patuxent Prison and Lorton Correctional Institution and played drums in local Jazz groups and in DC’s homegrown Go-Go music scene. After graduating from Boston University with a business degree, Chris moved to New York City where he joined the innovative TouchTunes interactive music marketing firm, establishing a joint-venture in Japan and New Zealand and providing marketing to labels such as Sony, Warner, Universal, Polygram, Tommy Boy and Interscope Records.   In NYC,  Chris met Puerto Rican Latin jazz Legend Jerry Gonzalez and began his studies of Afro-Latin drumming,  gigging nights on conga drums, and DJ'ing on NYC radio show on WNYE FM 91.5 titled "An Hour of Drums."  He also began his travels to Cuba & Southwestern Nigeria where he immersed himself in traditional drumming and Orisa culture, eventually initiating into the Yoruba Ifa tradition and Cuban bata drumming fraternity.  

GROOVE COLLECTIVE

In the early 90's Chris helped co-found the NY-based jazz/funk group Groove Collective.  As early pioneers of the emergent jamband & funk/world jazz scene, Groove Collective released albums on Warner, Giant Step, Universal, Shanachie, and Impulse!/Savoy.  With Groove Collective,  Chris embarked on a decade long international touring and recording career, performing at Montreaux in Switzerland, Red Sea Jazz, North Sea Jazz, Red Rocks, WOMAD New Zealand, Japan’s Mount Fuji festival, Paleo Festival, and Blue Note clubs in New York, Milan, Tokyo, Osaka & Nagoya.

In 2007 Groove Collective was nominated for a GRAMMY! and Chris turned his attention to production and began recording with Nigerian, Cuban and Puerto Rican master drummers, teaming up with his friend and mentor, percussion superstar Giovanni Hidalgo.

MUSIC WORKS NYC

In 2010 when Chris founded Music Works NYC and began the process of finding and building a studio facility in the city to collaborate with other artists and provide recording/production services.  The studio’s inauguration featured guest of honor world-renown conguero Giovanni Hidalgo and a full-on drumming throw-down in the studio. After only a few years of operation, Chris was delighted and surprised when his childhood drumming hero, pop icon Phil Collins walked through the door and ended up renting his studio for the next 2 years.   With  Music Works Studios thriving, Chris, along with business/creative partner, artiste-in-residence Nina Creese, have set their sights on music production, artist development, and helping others to navigate the music industry.  

EDUCATION/MENTORING/INDUSTRY

Over the years Chris has taught percussion and given workshops in the U.S, Japan and New Zealand and mentored young students in the New York Road Recovery music program. Chris has published articles on world percussion for Global Music, Percussion Source, NY International and UK’s Straight No Chaser magazine.  Chris also served on the The Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative and is a member of NARIP (National Association of Record Industry Professionals) and a voting member of the Recording Academy (The National Academy of Recording Arts And Sciences) (NARAS), which presents the Grammy Awards.