Chuck Stern

Chuck Stern
Birth nameCharles Baker Stern
Born(1979-06-22)June 22, 1979
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedDecember 10, 2023(2023-12-10) (aged 44)
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
  • multi-instrumentalist
Member ofTime of Orchids, Sculptress, Stern
Websitesterntheband.bandcamp.com/music

Charles Baker Stern (June 22, 1979 – December 10, 2023) was an American composer, musician, writer, and visual artist known for his work in experimental music.[1][2][3] He was frontman and composer of Time of Orchids,[4] played in Sculptress,[5] and released solo and band works under the name Stern.[2][1] He was born and lived in New York City. He died on December 10, 2023, at the age of 44.[6][7]

Career

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Stern was a programmer for public-access television station Manhattan Neighborhood Network.[8] He co-created Roboshithead, which The Village Voice called "the best public access show in New York,"[9] and It Changed :(, which won the 2011 Hometown Video Original Teleplay Award.[8]

From 1999 to 2007, Stern was the frontman and composer for experimental band Time of Orchids.[10][2] Over the band's tenure, its lineup included Eric Fitzgerald, Jesse Krakow, David Bodie, Kim Abrams, Will Redmond, and Charlie Looker,[10] with guest performances from Tim Byrnes, Maryanna Hansen, jazz pianist Marilyn Crispell, Kate Pierson of The B-52's, and Julee Cruise of Twin Peaks.[11][12][13] Time of Orchids released six albums; two were self-released, with others appearing on Relapse, Epicene, Tzadik, and Cuneiform.[10]

In 2008, Stern and Charlie Looker formed a duo project, Sculptress.[5]

Also in 2008, after announcing the end of Time of Orchids, Stern began a new solo project releasing music under his last name.[2][3] "Stern" eventually grew into a quartet including former Kayo Dot members Abrams, Byrnes, and Toby Driver, with releases by the band formation including Bone Turquoise (New Atlantis, 2015)[2] and Missive: Sister Ships (Sleeping Giant Glossolalia, 2018).[14]

Stern later returned to solo project status with Sunder Hawk (2020).[1][15][16] The album features guest performances from Abrams, Erin Mount, and Stern's mother, Ellen Stern, who died in 2023.[1][17] Stern's final release was Black Votive (2022).[18]

Discography

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As leader

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Year Artist Title Label Personnel
2001 Time of Orchids Melonwhisper Relapse / Aquarius Stern, Charlie Looker, Will Redmond, Jesse Krakow, Kim Abrams ft. guest Marilyn Crispell[10]
2003 Time of Orchids Much Too Much Fun Stern, Krakow, Abrams, Eric Fitzgerald, ft. guest Kate Pierson[10]
2004 Time of Orchids Early As Seen in Pace Epicene Stern, Krakow, Abrams, Eric Fitzgerald[10]
2005 Time of Orchids Sarcast While Tzadik Stern, Krakow, Fitzgerald, David Bodie ft. guests Tim Byrnes, Maryanna Hansen, Julee Cruise[11][12]
2007 Time of Orchids Namesake Caution Cuneiform Stern, Krakow, Fitzgerald, Bodie[19]
2010 Time of Orchids In Due Time Stern, Krakow, Abrams, Fitzgerald, Bodie, Looker[10][20]
2010 Stern Dredge Up Eventide Stern ft. guests Byrnes, Victoria Kereszi[21]
2010 Stern The Largo Sanctum Stern ft. guests Laura Vickers, Ian Garrick-Bethell, Katie Stern, Wendell Edwards[22]
2011 Stern Path X Stern ft. guest Looker[23]
2012 Stern Entitlement Stern, Abrams, Byrnes, Toby Driver[24]
2015 Stern Bone Turquoise New Atlantis Stern, Abrams, Byrnes, Driver[2][25]
2018 Stern Missive: Sister Ships Sleeping Giant Glossolalia Stern, Abrams, Byrnes, Driver[3][14]
2020 Stern Sunder Hawk Stern ft. guests Abrams, Erin Mount, Ellen Stern[1]
2022 Stern Black Votive Stern[18]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Manning, Todd (7 January 2020). "Stern". Burning Ambulance. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Currin, Grayson Haver (14 August 2015). "Stern: Bone Turquoise Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Murphy, Scott (10 August 2018). "Stern – Missive: Sister Ships". Heavy Blog is Heavy. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  4. ^ Mason, Stewart. "Time of Orchids". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b Weingarten, Christopher (21 June 2011). "Download: Tracks By Charlie Looker's Extra Life And Sculptress". The Village Voice. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  6. ^ Anderl, Timothy (12 August 2015). "Stomping Grounds: Chuck Stern (Stern) on New York, New York". Ghetto Blaster Magazine. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Charles Stern". Legacy.com. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  8. ^ a b "It Changed :( wins Hometown Video Award". Manhattan Neighborhood Network. 3 August 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  9. ^ Torgovnick, Kate (13 September 2007). "Even Among a Sea of Cable Channels and the Explosion of YouTube, Public Access Remains Vital". Huffington Post. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g "The Porcelain Throne: Time of Orchids". The Toilet Ov Hell. 3 June 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Time of Orchids: Sarcast While". Tzadik. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Review: Time of Orchids "Sarcast While"". Aversion Online. 19 May 2005. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Time of Orchids". Metal Music Archives. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  14. ^ a b Bellino, Emily (10 July 2018). "Video Premiere: Stern – 'Missive: Sister Ships'". Decibel. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  15. ^ Grella, George; Cohan, Brad. "March Listings". Brooklyn Rail. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  16. ^ "Sunder Hawk". Bandcamp. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  17. ^ "Ellen Stern". Legacy.com. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  18. ^ a b "Black Votive". Bandcamp. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  19. ^ "Time of Orchids: Namesake Caution". Sea of Tranquility. 15 October 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  20. ^ "In Due Time". Bandcamp. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  21. ^ "Dredge Up Eventide". Bandcamp. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  22. ^ "The Largo Sanctum". Bandcamp. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  23. ^ "Path X". Bandcamp. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  24. ^ "Entitlement". Bandcamp. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  25. ^ Phipps, Grant (12 August 2015). "Stern: Bone Turquoise - Music Review". No Ripcord. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
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