Blues music has a long, rich historical tradition. Perhaps no other musician on the scene today has immersed himself as a student of this history as deeply and with the dedication of Charles Goering, better known as Barrelhouse Chuck.

Barrelhouse Chuck was born in Columbus, Ohio on July 10^th, 1958. He learned to play drums as a six year old and soon switched to piano. A turning point in Chuck’s life took place when he first heard a Muddy Waters record. He became fascinated with the pianist in Muddy’s band, Otis Spann. He began a quest to get his hands on every blues record he could find and learn about this music. 

By the time he was a teenager Chuck had formed his first band and opened up for Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, B.B. King and others. He even played with Bo Diddley. It was during this time Chuck started following Muddy’s band around the south and trying to pick up on what his piano player at the time, Pinetop Perkins, was laying down.

Chuck said, “We used to follow Muddy all around the South. We would wait in parking lots for the van with Illinois plates to roll up. Pinetop Perkins & Willie Smith would recognize me and get me into their concerts. They would invite me to be back stage to hang out with Muddy and the band. Afterward, I'd go out to breakfast with them. I was just in awe.”

It was then that Chuck realized if he was going to progress as a blues musician, he would have to go to Chicago and see the other fine players that were playing in the windy city in the late 70’s. In 1979 he drove 24 straight hours to see Sunnyland Slim at Blues on Halstead.

Barrelhouse Chuck would spend the next 16 years studying with Sunnyland Slim, who is generally considered the most important blues pianist in Chicago’s emerging post war scene. Chuck calls Sunnyland Slim the Great Granddaddy of all the blues piano players. Chuck also befriended piano legends Blind John Davis, Big Moose Walker, Detroit Junior and Erwin Helfer who were all based in Chicago.  It was these players’ tutelage and friendship that was instrumental in Chuck emerging as a world class talent in his own right.

It was however the relationship Chuck formed with Little Brother Montgomery that is the most significant for Chuck.  Montgomery is one of the truly great pianists who ever lived and Barrelhouse Chuck pays tribute to his friend, mentor and teacher every time he sits down at a piano. As Chuck says, “Little Brother Montgomery was like a grandfather to me.”

Barrelhouse Chuck continued to develop his immense mastery of blues piano. He performed with some of the most renowned Chicago blues musicians such as Jimmy Rogers, Eddie Taylor, Otis Rush, Louis Myers, Buddy Guy, Big Smokey Smothers and the recently departed Hubert Sumlin, just to name a few. His recording credits are as long as my arm and read like a virtual who’s who of modern day Chicago blues.

In 2008, Chuck was asked by Kim Wilson to play piano for the soundtrack to the movie Cadillac Records. Wilson and Chuck play with Larry Taylor, Billy Flynn and others on this soundtrack, giving authenticity to the music of the halcyon days of Chicago blues and the famed record label founded by Leonard and Phil Chess.

During the past three decades Chuck has played piano all over the world. He has also played more than a dozen times at the Chicago Blues Festival. Even though most of his teachers have passed on, Barrelhouse Chuck has become one of the bearers of the flame, and keeps both their spirit and music alive, passing it along where ever he plays.

In 2011 Chuck released an album of mostly solo acoustic numbers called Blues Calling. In 2012, Chuck is releasing an ambitious CD box set entitled 35 years of Chicago Blues Piano. This three disc package is a must have for any serious fan of blues piano.

Every time Chuck takes his seat behind his piano a living breathing part of Chicago blues history comes alive.

- David Mac