Meet Chuck Lapinsky: Percussionist & Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chuck Lapinsky and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chuck, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I am originally from Chicago, Illinois. From the time I was a pre-teen I had a love of music. I think it began with visits to my uncle’s home where they always had classical music playing on their record player. I began playing music in my school band and have been playing music my whole life. Eventually I landed on drums and before moving to San Diego, did a stint as a drum instructor for a now defunct music store.

Meeting so many different types of artists over the years expanded my appreciation for the whole creative process. Being a photographer as early as my high school years, I gradually moved away from performing and into serious concert photography once I moved to San Diego.

While I photographed many major stadium acts, my focus has always been on supporting local artists and smaller venues, where the need for support is the greatest.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art does indeed vary. While playing music has always been the main driver for me, photography was a serious endeavor over the years. While San Diego knows me best as a concert photographer, I also work in landscape and nature photography and that is where some of my finest imagery lives.

It is never easy to get recognition, and photography and music are no different. There are so many talented artists in both genres. All you can do is constantly work to produce your best and roll with the punches that inevitably are thrown at you. If you love your work and have passion for it, then you will succeed.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, right now with Covid, all of the music venues are closed and there is no live music to share with visitors. San Diego offers so much to see and do. I would take my friends on a sea to desert tour. Because of where we are located, we can go to the beach in the morning, enjoy lunch in Julien up in the mountains, and drop down into the Anzo Borrego desert for dinner.

Some of my other favorite places to take visitors is Torrey Pines, Joshua Tree National Park, Salton Sea…I could go on forever. The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
When I began performing, one of my main influences at that time was The Rolling Stones. Over the years, I experimented with different genres of music, but it wasn’t until I caught on to Zydeco music that my love of percussion bloomed.

I have been very fortunate to have been able to make long term friendships and perform on occasion with some of the big hitters in Zydeco music such as Chubby Carrier and Terrence Simien.

I would consider those as to be my main influences.

Website: https://chucklapinsky.smugmug.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chucklapinskyphotography/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chuck.lapinsky/?show_switched_toast=0

Image Credits
Chuck Lapinsky Photography