Craig Chaquico

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Craig Chaquico

| image = Craig-Chaquico-KR-2016.jpg

| caption = Chaquico in 2016

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|09|26}}{{Cite web |title=About Craig |url=https://craigchaquico.com/about-craig-2/ |access-date=April 27, 2021 |website=Craig Chaquico |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427190605/https://craigchaquico.com/about-craig-2/ |url-status=live }}

| birth_place = Sacramento, California, U.S.

| genre = Rock, pop, blues, new age, smooth jazz

| occupation = Guitarist

| years_active = 1971–present

| label = RCA, Sony, BMG, Capitol, Grunt, Higher Octave, Blind Pig

| associated_acts = Jefferson Starship, Starship

| website = {{URL|www.craigchaquico.com}}

}}

Craig Clinton Chaquico (or Chaquiço, {{IPAc-en|tʃ|ə|ˈ|k|iː|s|oʊ}} {{respell|chə|KEE|soh}}; born September 26, 1954) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and composer. From 1974 to 1990 he was lead guitarist for the rock bands Jefferson Starship and Starship. In 1993, he started a solo career as an acoustic jazz guitarist and composer.

Early life

Chaquico was born and raised in Sacramento, California and attended La Sierra High School in the suburb of Carmichael.{{Cite book|last=Tamarkin|first=Jeff|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TKyYNB0pGIoC&dq=craig+chaquico&pg=PA267|title=Got a Revolution!: The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane|publisher=Simon and Schuster|year=2003|isbn=978-0-671-03403-0|pages=267–|language=en|access-date=December 15, 2021|archive-date=May 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502041933/https://books.google.com/books?id=TKyYNB0pGIoC&dq=craig+chaquico&pg=PA267#v=onepage&q=craig%20chaquico&f=false|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Evening with the STARS raises more than $95,000 for San Juan Unified schools|url=https://www.sanjuan.edu/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=65&ModuleInstanceID=66051&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=38012&PageID=123|access-date=April 27, 2021|website=sanjuan.edu|language=en|archive-date=April 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427183614/https://www.sanjuan.edu/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=65&ModuleInstanceID=66051&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=38012&PageID=123|url-status=live}} His mother, Muriel, was a state government employee, and his father, Bill, owned an upholstery business. Both were of Portuguese descent. He had an older brother named Howard. The household was a musical one; Chaquico recalls, "My mom and dad were musicians and played around the house all the time. I thought everybody played the piano and organ like Mom and the sax and accordion like Dad together after dinner."{{cite web|url=http://www.artisttrove.com/artist/261715083949920/Craig+Chaquico|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230034701/http://www.artisttrove.com/artist/261715083949920/Craig+Chaquico|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 30, 2016|title=Craig Chaquico|website=www.artisttrove.com|language=en|access-date=August 2, 2017}} He began playing the guitar as a young boy, when his parents bought him his first guitar at the age of ten.{{Cite news|date=September 25, 2016|title=Jefferson Starship{{!}}Craig Chaquico{{!}}American Music Therapy Association Advocate|work=Rock On Magazine |url=https://issuu.com/rockonmagazinereno/docs/rock_on_magazine_issue_1|access-date=August 2, 2017|archive-date=April 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427182913/https://issuu.com/rockonmagazinereno/docs/rock_on_magazine_issue_1|url-status=live}}

When Chaquico was twelve, the car he and his father were traveling in was hit head-on by a drunk driver. Both of his arms were broken, as were his leg, ankle, foot, wrist, and thumb.{{cite web|url=http://www.fifteenminuteswith.com/2016/04/01/craig-chaquico-string-theory/|title=Craig Chaquico – String Theory – Fifteen Minutes With…|last=McClellan|first=Michael|date=April 2016 |access-date=September 1, 2017|archive-date=August 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803012450/http://www.fifteenminuteswith.com/2016/04/01/craig-chaquico-string-theory/|url-status=live}} During physical therapy, his father told him that guitarist Les Paul had been in a car accident and had played guitar to help himself heal. His father promised to buy him a Les Paul guitar when he got better.{{cite magazine|last1=Taylor|first1=Chuck|title=Craig Chaquico: Musical Lone Ranger|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8AwEAAAAMBAJ&q=Craig+Chaquico:+Musical+Lone+Ranger&pg=PA104|via=Google Books|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 9, 2012|page=104|date=August 31, 2002|archive-date=April 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427182906/https://books.google.com/books?id=8AwEAAAAMBAJ&q=Craig+Chaquico%3A+Musical+Lone+Ranger&pg=PA104|url-status=live}} Although he could play only the high E string of his acoustic guitar due to his casts, he benefited from playing and his father kept his word about the Les Paul.

Career

File:CC - KSAN 95 by Ron Draper (2).jpg

Chaquico began performing in clubs in his teens.{{cite web |last1=Brennan |first1=Sandra |title=Craig Chaquico |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/craig-chaquico-mn0000124734/biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=May 10, 2021 |archive-date=October 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012214559/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/craig-chaquico-mn0000124734/biography |url-status=live }} His English teacher Jack Traylor asked him to join the band Steelwind, which performed in Sacramento and San Francisco Bay, and Traylor introduced him to Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane. Kantner invited him to a series of recording sessions. At 16 he recorded for the first time with Kantner and Grace Slick on their albums Sunfighter{{Cite book|last1=Slonimsky|first1=Nicolas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=slgYAAAAIAAJ&dq=craig+chaquico&pg=PA1724|title=Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians|last2=Baker|first2=Theodore|publisher=Schirmer Books|year=2001|isbn=978-0-02-865528-4|volume=3|pages=1725–|access-date=December 15, 2021|archive-date=May 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502041943/https://books.google.com/books?id=slgYAAAAIAAJ&dq=craig+chaquico&pg=PA1724|url-status=live}} and Baron von Tollbooth & the Chrome Nun. He played on Slick's solo album Manhole in 1973. He played alongside Jerry Garcia, David Crosby, David Freiberg, and Carlos Santana.{{cite web|title=Craig Chaquico |url=http://www.blindpigrecords.com/index.cfm?section=artists&artistid=96 |publisher=Blind Pig Records |access-date=October 9, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053910/http://www.blindpigrecords.com/index.cfm?section=artists&artistid=96 |archive-date=September 21, 2013 }}

After Jefferson Airplane broke up, its remaining members formed Jefferson Starship. Chaquico joined the band in 1974. Jefferson Starship released nine platinum and gold selling albums between 1974 and 1984, including Red Octopus, which was certified double-platinum in 1995. He wrote or co-wrote "Fast Buck Freddy", "Love Too Good", "Rock Music", "Jane", "Find Your Way Back", and "Layin' It on the Line".{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/craig-chaquico-mn0000124734/biography |title=Craig Chaquico |website=AllMusic |last1=Brennan |first1=Sandra |access-date=June 8, 2017 |archive-date=August 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802082955/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/craig-chaquico-mn0000124734/biography |url-status=live }}

File:Jefferson Starship 20.jpg

The name "Jefferson Starship" was retired in March 1985 after Kantner left the band and sued the remaining members, who reformed under the name "Starship".{{Cite web|title=A band named Sue: A look at the legal saga surrounding Jefferson Airplane|url=https://projects.sfchronicle.com/2017/jefferson-lawsuit-timeline/|access-date=November 9, 2020|website=The San Francisco Chronicle|archive-date=April 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422131811/https://projects.sfchronicle.com/2017/jefferson-lawsuit-timeline/|url-status=live}} All other band members, including Chaquico, remained with the band.{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/280376/starship/biography|title=Starship|website=www.billboard.com|access-date=September 1, 2017|archive-date=September 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902173943/http://www.billboard.com/artist/280376/starship/biography|url-status=live}} Starship recorded hits such as "We Built This City", "Sara", and "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now". Chaquico and Starship appeared on MTV videos on a regular basis and performed at the first MTV Spring Break special in Daytona Beach in 1986.{{Cite news |url=https://www.gq.com/story/mtv-spring-break-vj-alan-hunter |title=MTV's First 'Spring Break' VJ Remembers What Spring Break Was Like Before Camera Phones |last=Hart |first=Louise |date=March 30, 2016 |work=GQ |access-date=September 1, 2017 |archive-date=September 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902002251/https://www.gq.com/story/mtv-spring-break-vj-alan-hunter |url-status=live }} Chaquico left Starship in 1990.{{cite web |url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/starship-mickey-thomas-fight/ |title=26 Years Ago: Starship Fight! |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=May 2, 2017 |archive-date=September 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930064629/http://ultimateclassicrock.com/starship-mickey-thomas-fight/ |url-status=live }}

Having become disappointed with the direction Starship was going, Chaquico formed Big Bad Wolf and recorded one album in that band.{{cite web |last1=McCellan |first1=Michael |title=Craig Chaquico – String Theory |url=https://www.fifteenminuteswith.com/2016/04/01/craig-chaquico-string-theory/ |website=Fifteen Minutes With... |access-date=May 10, 2021 |date=April 1, 2016 |archive-date=August 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811052941/https://www.fifteenminuteswith.com/2016/04/01/craig-chaquico-string-theory/ |url-status=live }} He began a solo career that explored world music, new age, and contemporary jazz. His first album, Acoustic Highway (1993), was the number one Independent New Age Album of the Year in Billboard Magazine and a number one on the Billboard New Age Albums chart,{{cite magazine |title=New Age Music: Top New Age Albums Chart |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/new-age-albums/1993-09-18 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 7, 2017 |date=September 18, 1993 |archive-date=January 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126174453/https://www.billboard.com/charts/new-age-albums/1993-09-18 |url-status=live }}{{Cite journal |date=March 26, 1994|title=Top Indie New Age Albums|url=http://www.billboard.com|journal=Billboard Magazine|pages=94–100|access-date=June 7, 2017|archive-date=September 20, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120920/http://www.billboard.com/%23/news/usher-introduces-teen-singer-justin-bieber-1003966989.story|url-status=live}} while his second album, Acoustic Planet (1994), reached number one on the same chart{{cite magazine |title=New Age Music: Top New Age Albums Chart |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/new-age-albums/1994-11-12 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 7, 2017 |date=November 12, 1994 |archive-date=January 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126174501/https://www.billboard.com/charts/new-age-albums/1994-11-12 |url-status=live }} and received a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Age Album. The album borrowed from African and Native American music. The song "Just One World" was launched into space on a satellite that was part of NASA's Space Ark program.{{cite web |last1=Torre |first1=Olivia |title=Chaquico's New Trip |url=https://www.houstonpress.com/music/chaquicos-new-trip-6572349 |website=Houston Press |access-date=June 8, 2017 |date=March 30, 1995 |archive-date=August 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802122749/https://www.houstonpress.com/music/chaquicos-new-trip-6572349 |url-status=live }}

In 2017 Chaquico filed suit against the remaining members of Jefferson Starship, including David Freiberg and Donny Baldwin, over the use of the band name on tour billings and merchandise, citing the 1985 agreement to retire the band name.{{Cite news|last=Iovino|first=Nicholas|date=April 28, 2017|title=Guitarist Sues to Stop Use of Jefferson Starship Name|language=en-US|work=Courthouse News Service |url=http://www.courthousenews.com/guitarist-sues-stop-use-jefferson-starship-name/|url-status=live|access-date=June 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429123011/http://www.courthousenews.com/guitarist-sues-stop-use-jefferson-starship-name/|archive-date=April 29, 2017}} In 2018 the suit was dismissed after an undisclosed settlement was reached.{{Cite news|last=Stempel|first=Jonathan|date=December 4, 2018|title=Jefferson Starship Members Settle Lawsuit Over Band Name |work=Reuters.com |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-music-jefferson-starship/jefferson-starship-members-settle-lawsuit-over-band-name-idUSKBN1O32IF|url-status=live|access-date=December 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205154051/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-music-jefferson-starship/jefferson-starship-members-settle-lawsuit-over-band-name-idUSKBN1O32IF |archive-date=December 5, 2018}}

In August 2022, Chaquico filed a lawsuit against Jefferson Starship Incorporated, as well as a number of former bandmates, music companies, and managers.{{Cite news|last=Dworetzky|first=Joe|date=March 9, 2024|title=Knee Deep in Legal Hoopla: Former Starship Member Says He's Owed Millions in Royalties|language=en-US|work=Local News Matters|url=https://localnewsmatters.org/2024/03/09/knee-deep-in-legal-hoopla-former-starship-member-says-hes-owed-millions-in-royalties/|url-status=live|access-date=May 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501173404/https://localnewsmatters.org/2024/03/09/knee-deep-in-legal-hoopla-former-starship-member-says-hes-owed-millions-in-royalties/|archive-date=May 1, 2024|df=mdy-all}} In the suit, Chaquico claimed he was owed over twenty million dollars in royalties. On March 25, 2024, the court granted a motion for summary judgment in favor of the defendants.{{Cite news|author=|date=March 26, 2024|title=Jefferson Starship Suit Concludes|language=en-US|work=Courthouse News Service|url=https://www.courthousenews.com/jefferson-starship-suit-concludes/|url-status=live|access-date=May 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407194119/https://www.courthousenews.com/jefferson-starship-suit-concludes/|archive-date=April 7, 2024|df=mdy-all}}

Guitars

Chaquico's first guitar was a Winston acoustic which his mother bought for him when he was 10 years old after he'd given up his parents' idea that he would play an accordion.{{Cite web|title=SmoothViews - An Interview with Craig Chaquico|url=http://www.smoothviews.com/interviews/chaquico0206.htm|access-date=February 12, 2021|website=www.smoothviews.com|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001052/http://www.smoothviews.com/interviews/chaquico0206.htm|url-status=live}} He played a '57 Les Paul Goldtop on the first two Jefferson Starship albums and tours, Dragon Fly (1974) and Red Octopus (1975), on such songs as "Miracles".{{Cite web|last=March 2017|first=Damian Fanelli 01|title=Jefferson Starship's Craig Chaquico Reunited with His 1959 Les Paul After 39 Years|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/jefferson-starships-craig-chaquico-reunited-his-1959-les-paul-after-39-years|access-date=February 12, 2021|website=guitarworld|date=March 2017 |language=en|archive-date=November 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125022951/https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/jefferson-starships-craig-chaquico-reunited-his-1959-les-paul-after-39-years|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=March 3, 2016|title=Paul Liberatore's Lib at Large: Jefferson Starship's Craig Chaquico's quest to get back beloved Les Paul|url=https://www.marinij.com/arts-and-entertainment/20160303/paul-liberatores-lib-at-large-jefferson-starships-craig-chaquicos-quest-to-get-back-beloved-les-paul|access-date=February 12, 2021|website=Marin Independent Journal|language=en-US|archive-date=August 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820120221/http://www.marinij.com/arts-and-entertainment/20160303/paul-liberatores-lib-at-large-jefferson-starships-craig-chaquicos-quest-to-get-back-beloved-les-paul|url-status=live}} He also soon added a rare '59 Les Paul Sunburst to his collection which he played on the next two albums, Spitfire (1976) and Earth (1978) and can be heard on such songs as "With Your Love", "Count on Me", and "Runaway".{{Cite web|date=March 7, 2016|title=Jefferson Starship's Craig Chaquico's quest to get back beloved Les Paul|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2016/03/07/jefferson-starships-craig-chaquicos-quest-to-get-back-beloved-les-paul/|access-date=February 12, 2021|website=The Mercury News|language=en-US|archive-date=April 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428151141/http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/03/07/jefferson-starships-craig-chaquicos-quest-to-get-back-beloved-les-paul/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Craig Chaquico Reunited With Long Lost 1959 Les Paul Sunburst That Was Stolen During Famous Riot at Jefferson Starship Concert in Summer of 1978 {{!}} RockStar PR|url=http://rockstarpr.com/2017/05/craig-chaquico-reunited-with-long-lost-1959-les-paul-sunburst-that-was-stolen-during-famous-riot-at-jefferson-starship-concert-in-summer-of-1978/|access-date=February 16, 2021|language=en-US|archive-date=February 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226011405/http://rockstarpr.com/2017/05/craig-chaquico-reunited-with-long-lost-1959-les-paul-sunburst-that-was-stolen-during-famous-riot-at-jefferson-starship-concert-in-summer-of-1978/|url-status=live}} Both Les Paul Guitars and the Bassman amps, along with several other valuable guitars, were stolen and/or destroyed in a riot in Lorelei, Germany, in 1978, when Grace Slick was unable to perform and the show was cancelled.{{Cite magazine|last=Clarke|first=John|date=May 8, 2013|title=Jefferson Starship's Pete Sears Reunited With Stolen Bass After 35 Years|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jefferson-starships-pete-sears-reunited-with-stolen-bass-after-35-years-83148/|access-date=February 12, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|archive-date=November 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111230822/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jefferson-starships-pete-sears-reunited-with-stolen-bass-after-35-years-83148/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship/Starship {{!}} Encyclopedia.com|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/jefferson-airplanejefferson-starshipstarship|access-date=February 12, 2021|website=www.encyclopedia.com|archive-date=November 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129022159/https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/jefferson-airplanejefferson-starshipstarship|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=October 2017|first=Max Bell30|title=The epic true story of Grace Slick and Jefferson Airplane|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-epic-true-story-of-grace-slick-and-jefferson-airplane|access-date=February 12, 2021|website=Classic Rock Magazine|date=October 30, 2017 |language=en|archive-date=November 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119065647/https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-epic-true-story-of-grace-slick-and-jefferson-airplane|url-status=live}}

Into the '80s, Chaquico was sponsored by Carvin Guitars and often appeared on tour, in the studio and in guitar magazine ads playing a Carvin V220 or a Carvin koa doubleneck played through Carvin amplifiers, his favorite being the Carvin X100B.{{Cite web|date=July 17, 2017|title=Craig Chaquico: Jefferson Starship, Craig Chaquico (solo)|url=https://musicplayers.com/2017/07/craig-chaquico-jefferson-starship-craig-chaquico-solo/|access-date=February 12, 2021|website=MusicPlayers.com|language=en-US|archive-date=January 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119151238/https://musicplayers.com/2017/07/craig-chaquico-jefferson-starship-craig-chaquico-solo/|url-status=live}} Carvin released a Craig Chaquico Signature acoustic guitar, which continued to be produced after Carvin's evolution into Kiesel Guitars.{{Cite web|date=March 6, 2025|title=Craig Caquico Signature Series|url=https://www.kieselguitars.com/series/guitar/craig-chaquico-signature|access-date=March 6, 2025|website=KieselGuitars.com|language=en-US}}

Philanthropy

File:CC - Craig Using Music Therapy - Beamz and Guitar - at Renown Children's Hospital.jpg

Chaquico became a believer in the healing power of music after recovering from a car crash when he was twelve. With the National Association of Music Therapy, Beamz, Remo, and Washburn Guitars, he provided instruments to patients in hospitals. He has worked with organizations such as the American Music Therapy Association and Memory and Music which use music therapy with injured and traumatized people and those with various forms of dementia.{{cite web|url=http://www.musictherapy.org/about/artists|title=Artist Support of Music Therapy - Artist Support of Music Therapy - American Music Therapy Association (AMTA)|website=www.musictherapy.org|access-date=October 10, 2012|archive-date=October 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008143723/http://www.musictherapy.org/about/artists/|url-status=live}}

Awards and honors

{{Interlanguage link|Jazziz Magazine|lt=Jazziz Magazine|fr}} named him one of the 100 most influential jazz guitarists of all time.{{Cite web|date=March 4, 2015|title=Guitarist Craig Chaquico performs at Vinyl|url=https://www.mtdemocrat.com/prospecting/craig-chaquico-performs-at-vinyl/|access-date=April 27, 2021|website=Mountain Democrat|archive-date=April 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427191109/https://www.mtdemocrat.com/prospecting/craig-chaquico-performs-at-vinyl/|url-status=live}} He was named Best Pop Instrumental Guitarist in Guitar Player magazine's 1997 Readers' Poll.{{Cite web |date=February 1, 1997 |title=27th Annual Guitar Player Readers Poll |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-19015787.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806220306/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-19015787.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 6, 2017}}