Ross Childress
Encyclopedia
Ross Childress is a guitarist
and songwriter, best known as the former lead guitarist and co-songwriter of American rock
band Collective Soul
from 1993 to 2001. He co-wrote the music of Collective Soul's hit song "The World I Know
".
Ross Childress is currently songwriter, lead guitarist and vocalist in Starfish and Coffee, an indie/pop/rock
band he formed in 2006.
in early 1994. Over a period of eight years with the band, he recorded on, and toured in support of, five studio
albums that have sold over seven million copies and generated seven #1 singles on the U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock charts. He left the band in September 2001 after the release of the greatest hits
compilation 7even Year Itch
. Much debate still exists regarding the reason for his departure. The band had released a brief statement on its website
urging fans to understand that the situation was very personal.
During his time with Collective Soul, Childress was known for his metallic guitar sounds and heavy riffs incorporating elements of metal
and blues
in his playing. Along with songwriter Ed Roland
, he penned many of the band's popular "hooks." Childress wrote, sang lead vocals, and performed guitar on the song "Dandy Life" on the 1999 release Dosage
. This was the first time that a member other than Ed Roland had sung lead on a studio recording, save for "December," on their eponymously-titled second album, wherein bassist Will Turpin sang the counterpoint melody during the final movement of the song.
More recently, in November 2006, Ross was mentioned on the myspace.com page of Atlanta based Metal/Rockabilly band "The Hot Rods" as the producer of their debut album "Rumble Seat" slated for release in January 2007.
In December 2006, a myspace.com page for Ross appeared. It spoke of a new project entitled "Ross Childress Experience", consisting of himself on vocals/guitar, and two musician friends on bass and drums. With the addition of a second backup singer/guitarist in 2007, "Ross Childress Experience" was renamed "Starfish and Coffee," and their self-titled debut album was released on April 29, 2008.
In 2009 Ross joined Hollywood-based company SongPlacements.com to help place his solo music and "Starfish and Coffee" in film and television.
Hurst - (Trevor Hurst)
Starfish and Coffee
Ross uses a custom 22 PRS guitar, custom made for him, it first appeared on the blender album.
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and songwriter, best known as the former lead guitarist and co-songwriter of American rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Collective Soul
Collective Soul
Collective Soul is an American rock band originally formed in Stockbridge, Georgia. Collective Soul broke into mainstream popularity with their first hit single, "Shine", which came from their debut album Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid, released in 1993...
from 1993 to 2001. He co-wrote the music of Collective Soul's hit song "The World I Know
The World I Know
"The World I Know" is a song by the American alternative rock band Collective Soul, originally released on their 1995 eponymous album. Written by lead singer and guitarist Ed Roland and guitarist Ross Childress, "The World I Know" peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart when released as a...
".
Ross Childress is currently songwriter, lead guitarist and vocalist in Starfish and Coffee, an indie/pop/rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
band he formed in 2006.
Collective Soul
Childress grew up with and had played with the original band members of Collective Soul before the group signed to Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
in early 1994. Over a period of eight years with the band, he recorded on, and toured in support of, five studio
Studio
A studio is an artist's or worker's workroom, or the catchall term for an artist and his or her employees who work within that studio. This can be for the purpose of architecture, painting, pottery , sculpture, scrapbooking, photography, graphic design, filmmaking, animation, radio or television...
albums that have sold over seven million copies and generated seven #1 singles on the U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock charts. He left the band in September 2001 after the release of the greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
compilation 7even Year Itch
7even Year Itch
On September 18, 2001, Collective Soul released their greatest hits compilation 7even Year Itch: Greatest Hits, 1994-2001. It is made up of some of their greatest hits from 1994 to 2001 and included two new tracks; "Next Homecoming" and "Energy"...
. Much debate still exists regarding the reason for his departure. The band had released a brief statement on its website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
urging fans to understand that the situation was very personal.
During his time with Collective Soul, Childress was known for his metallic guitar sounds and heavy riffs incorporating elements of metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
and blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
in his playing. Along with songwriter Ed Roland
Ed Roland
Edgar Eugene Roland III was born August 3, 1963 in Stockbridge, Georgia. He is an American musician and vocalist of the alternative rock band Collective Soul. He is the primary songwriter and also contributes guitars, keyboards, producing, and engineering....
, he penned many of the band's popular "hooks." Childress wrote, sang lead vocals, and performed guitar on the song "Dandy Life" on the 1999 release Dosage
Dosage (album)
Dosage is the fourth studio album by Atlanta-based American alternative rock band Collective Soul. The album was released in February 1999 and peaked at #21 in Billboard's albums chart...
. This was the first time that a member other than Ed Roland had sung lead on a studio recording, save for "December," on their eponymously-titled second album, wherein bassist Will Turpin sang the counterpoint melody during the final movement of the song.
Other projects
In 2004/2005 Ross returned to recording music as a studio musician for the Trevor Hurst project entitled "Hurst". He contributed in many ways, including co-writing & producing. The band recruited a few other musicians to join. The album has done moderately well in Canada since its release in June 2005. Touring with Trevor as "Early Moses," named after the Basquiat painting of the same name, Ross played a few shows, but decided not to play live and remain in the background.More recently, in November 2006, Ross was mentioned on the myspace.com page of Atlanta based Metal/Rockabilly band "The Hot Rods" as the producer of their debut album "Rumble Seat" slated for release in January 2007.
In December 2006, a myspace.com page for Ross appeared. It spoke of a new project entitled "Ross Childress Experience", consisting of himself on vocals/guitar, and two musician friends on bass and drums. With the addition of a second backup singer/guitarist in 2007, "Ross Childress Experience" was renamed "Starfish and Coffee," and their self-titled debut album was released on April 29, 2008.
In 2009 Ross joined Hollywood-based company SongPlacements.com to help place his solo music and "Starfish and Coffee" in film and television.
Discography
Collective Soul- Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid, (1994) - guitars
- Collective Soul, (1995) - guitars
- Disciplined Breakdown, (1997) - guitars
- Dosage, (1999) - guitars, vocals
- Blender, (2000) - guitars
- 7even Year Itch: Greatest Hits 1994-2001 Compilation, (2001)
Hurst - (Trevor Hurst)
- Wanderlust EP, (2005) - guitars, bass, keyboards, co-writer & producer, engineer
Starfish and Coffee
- Starfish and Coffee, (2008) - vocals, guitars, keyboards, writer, co-writer, producer and engineer
External links
Ross uses a custom 22 PRS guitar, custom made for him, it first appeared on the blender album.