User:Nafariusjones/Blackie Starks

Blackie Starks, born Michael Christopher Roy Starks (April 29, 1972) is an American rock vocalist/guitarist sometimes compared to Scott Weiland or Chris Cornell  most notably known for fronting KARMA (World Empire Records) and Field of Grey (Level 3/Spectra records) and is currently fronting the rock band Isaac James alongside Joel Ekman, formerly of grammy nominated Stone Sour, Gil Cole, and John Lillard. Blackie also appeared as an extra in the Robin Williams film, Patch Adams and recorded a song titled FASTER with a project called BURN featured on a Nascar DVD titled Adrenaline Vol. 1

The beginning
Michael Christopher Roy Starks was born in St Louis, MO into a family of well known musicians including his grandfather, the original Blackie Starks, a country artist who he himself was a veteran of the Grand Ole Opry and had a hit song called Running Wild. Chris would sit at family gatherings as early as 11 years of age and watch his family play music in a circle, with guitar in hand and absorb every ounce of performance like a sponge. His father, blues harmonica player Doc Sweetwood, and uncles all musicians as well, it was only natural he would follow in their footsteps and soon began playing drums at the age of 12. By the age of 16 he would join his father in local bars when he was allowed and sit in for a few songs on drums and would soon join a garage band that lasted only a short while. At an early age, Chris had the opportunity to sit in with many notable artists like Buffalo Bob and Johnny Johnson, both formerly of Chuck Berry's band.

The Military (1992-1998)
At the age of 18, Chris joined the USAF and took a long break from playing any instrument until being stationed in Osan AB, Korea where with a year of not much else to do, he regained his passion for guitar and soon would spend hours re-familiarizing himself with both the drums and guitar. Upon returning stateside in 1996, he formed Dimestore Indian, a cover/original band as a rhythm guitarist with some friends and soon began playing local North Carolina bars before recording his first record titled "Wooden Nickels", as the newly appointed frontman after a lineup change during the recording session. Dimestore Indian, would end up sharing the stage with notable bands like The Hazies, Sister Hazel, Matchbox20, The Nixons and more...

Brief radio career (1997-1999)
One year before exiting the military, Chris took a part time job with Fayetteville, NC's Rock 103.5 as an overnight disc jockey and would eventually monitor the live Howard Stern feed in the early AM. After leaving the USAF, Chris became a full time employee at Rock 103.5 and began producing overnight spots for the station.

In the movies (1998-2001)
While in Karma, Chris appeared as an extra in the Robin Williams film Patch Adams, filmed in Chapel Hill NC and can be seen in the "quad" scene in the background dressed as a student. Another member of Dimestore Indian/Karma, John Serrao, would also appear in the film as an orderly. Karma was also approached to write for the soundtrack and appear in the local indie film, "Whisper" where Chris has a small speaking part on screen.

Karma (1999-2003)
In 1999, Dimestore Indian would come to an end and three of the members would form the rock band, Karma (band) whereas Chris would carry on as a solo act before running into a local producer who began recording some of the music Chris had written. Not happy with the result, Chris suggested contacting his old band members to finish the record. Late 1999, Chris would rejoin the members of what was now known as Karma and part ways with the local producer before hiring William Pettit of William Pettit Agency as their manager. Karma would eventually strike a deal with World Empire Records and begin recording "Running On Adrenaline" with producer, Rick Beato. The record went on to release three singles that would receive regular rotation on over 70 radio stations with the aid of Protocol Entertainment. Karma began touring immediately to support the release of Running On Adrenaline and would share the bill with notable bands like Nickelback, Our Lady Peace, SR-71 (band), Default (band), etc... In 2003, plagued with constant bass player changes and disagreements with management, the band took a hiatus.

NASCAR (2003)
Shortly after the break from KARMA in 2003, Chris would form a writing project called Burn (band) with long time friend, Julius Yoder III and soon the band would write and record an albums worth of music including a song called "Faster" which would make it's way on to Nascar Images DVD "Adrenaline Vol. 1" hosted by driver Tony Stewart. The band also did a high energy remake of REO Speedwagon (band)'s, "Ridin' the storm out" which was followed up by a video. Being nothing more than a writing project, Burn did little more than write and perform a few local shows before disbanding December 2003.

Field of Grey (2004-2007)
January 2004, Chris moved back to hometown and birthplace, St Louis, Missouri where he ran into an as of yet known cousin and guitarist, John Pennington to form Field of Grey with Robert Lloyd of Conquest (Dark Star Records), and Brian Wakefield. Adopting the name Blackie in memory of his grandfather, Chris and Field of Grey (band), hired Robin McNeil of Namaste INTL as their manager and signed with Level 3 records. Their first album titled "Warning" was produced by Scott Spelbring of Dragonfly East Studios and after having great success with Protocol Entertainment, Chris contacted PE and shortly afterward, "Warning" would produce two solid radio singles across the country including regular rotation on XM Squizz among others. The band set out on the road in support of "Warning" and would tour fairly heavily. The band would eventually replace drummer Brian Wakefield with Dalee Thomas but tensions between Dalee and John would force the end of the band in 2007.

Isaac James (2007 to present)
Early in 2007, Blackie as he was now known, felt he'd reached an end in his career due to frustrations of his musical background. I was done dealing with unprofessionals who didn't share the same passion for the art as I did and I literally put my equipment up for sale before being talked out of it by close friends. April of 2007, Blackie was contacted by a manager in Kansas City Missouri who had found his music online through a social networking site and wanted him to try out as a rhythm guitarist/backing vocalist for a band with a finished record. A band that included Joel Ekman, formerly of Stone Sour, Gil Cole and a newcomer named John Lillard. All of the members including Jason Carroll, lived at least three hours away from Kansas City MO, with the exception of Gil so practices were difficult and had to be coordinated carefully. Several times while waiting for Jason to arrive from the road, the four members that would eventually be known as Isaac James (band), would begin working out song ideas with Blackie on lead vocals and they all recognized an undeniable magic between the four of them that seemed difficult to attain with the fifth member in the mix. October 2008, Gil, Blackie, Joel, and John would eventually part ways from Jason and form Isaac James (band) and Scott Spelbring was once again brought in to record their first EP titled Too Much Horsepower. TMH with Protocol Entertainment at the forefront, released it's first single "HEY" to FM and Satellite radio and the band has gained international recognition in a matter of months of forming. TMH is also currently being sold in over 31 Best Buy locations across the US as well as several digital media outlets including ITUNES and Amazon.com

Isaac James

 * 2009: Too Much Horsepower

Field of Grey

 * 2005: Warning

Karma

 * 2003: Running On Adrenaline

Dimestore Indian

 * 1998: Wooden Nickels

Other works

 * 2003: Burn (band) "Nascar Adrenaline Vol. 1" (lead vocals on "Faster")