Chris
Morda grew up just outside Detroit in Southern Michigan.
Chris began playing guitar as a teenager. During these
years Chris’s father was partner’s with
John Sinclair (former manager of the MC5) promoting
and managing bands and shows in Detroit. Through this
association Chris got to see the likes of Stevie Ray
Vaughan, Buddy Guy, and Koko Taylor in a local bar
in Detroit. It wasn’t until his late teens, however
that he really got bit by the blues bug. Chris began
studying privately with Robert Noll, former sideman
in Albert Collins Icebreakers. Chris studied the blues
masters with Robert for three years. Chris was heavily
influenced by his teacher Robert and Detroit public
radio’ and was exposed to a great range of blues
artist’s. Chris cites his main influences as
Muddy Waters, Albert, B.B. and Freddie King, Luther
and Bernard Allison, Johnny Winter, Son House, Buddy
Guy, and Albert Collins.
Chris
furthered his musical studies in Seattle at the University
of Washington's Ethnomusicology Program with a Minor
in Music Theory. Chris had the opportunity to study
with contemporary masters of Latin American music
from Venezuela and Tex-Mex music and developed a
love of Indian Music at this time. Chris's senior
project was a research project on the History of
Slide Guitar Traditions looking at the development
of the Indian Guitar tradition extensively. Chris
also began teaching at this time tutoring a music
theory class for non music majors as well as teaching
private lessons at a music school for at risk youth. |
