Emmett Chapman

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 4 Nov 2021 11:13 am

Another great tree has fallen. A brilliant American original. If you're not familiar with his great invention - the Chapman Stick, you should be. Emmett dreamed up this fascinating thing and the techniques needed to play it back in 1969 in his little house up in Laurel Canyon. Besides becoming a virtuoso on it and teaching his two handed tapping method to others, he built thousands of instruments since then in his shop in the Woodland Hills right down the road from me. Now there is a small army of brilliant players all over the world playing every sort of music from Bach to jazz to funk to heavy metal to Russian folk music on Stick. I spent many hours at his shop under his tutelage trying to carve out my own voice on this strange beast of an instrument.
Well done Emmett. A life well spent.

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https://youtu.be/PqbS6BLfJpo

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 4 Nov 2021 12:28 pm

So sorry to hear about this... I know you guys were close. My sincere condolences to you Mike, his family, friends and devotees of the Stick.
The Stick is truly an amazing instrument...a one-off type of instrument conceived by someone who themselves was most likely a one-off. Mike directed me to some YouTube links about the Stick, and I was totally blown away.

Here's to Emmett Chapman - a man alone on a mountaintop, IMHO.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 5 Nov 2021 8:16 am

That's a shame. I've enjoyed listening to people play the Chapman Stick in various ensembles over the years. My condolences to his family and friends.

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 5 Nov 2021 8:33 am

Brilliant is exactly what it is. Chapman not only created a marvelous instrument but had the vision and talent to master it and inspire thousands of followers. RIP Emmett Chapman.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 5 Nov 2021 5:05 pm

RIP to a great visionary and musician.

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 5 Nov 2021 7:42 pm

Thanks for posting.
It’s good for musicians to acknowledge the passing of a genius, especially one that takes an instrument where it’s never gone before, or invents one that takes music where it's never been. RIP Emmett Chapman.

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 6 Nov 2021 10:10 am

Sad news about a real creative innovator. Condolences to you, Mike, on losing your pal.

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 6 Nov 2021 10:11 pm

Prayers for the Family and Friends

Chris Templeton · Post by **Chris Templeton** » 7 Nov 2021 6:29 pm

Awwww, a true innovator. Tap on.

Chance Wilson · Post by **Chance Wilson** » 9 Nov 2021 10:51 pm

My Pa was a street performer and there was another dude out there that played stick. When I was young, I spent many a chilly year on the streets warming myself by the fire of his music that wouldn't have been possible if Chapman hadn't had dreamed and luthiered that thing into reality. Here's some music for Resting in Peace. RIP Chapman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9feMF-F5Tg

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 15 Nov 2021 10:32 pm

This guy is pretty great and is one of a handful of real virtuosos on the Stick. He flew out from the East Coast to play at Emmett's funeral last Friday here in LA.

https://youtu.be/RCXjEIQANes