Chris Pike in his happy place — behind a drum set.
Everything musical dominates the life of Chris Pike, musician and owner of the Ridgefield Music Store for the past 25 years.
“Drumming is my passion but I also play guitar, keyboard, pennywhistle, recorder, bass, and sing if there is a real need,” Pike says.
After attending a Ridgebury School concert as a preschooler, Pike was hooked on drumming.
“After that school concert all I wanted to do was drum. There was always music, especially folk music and singing, in my house while I was growing up. Both my father and brother, Chad, were guitar players but I wanted to be a drummer.”
Pike was not able to start his drum lessons until fourth grade, but he was fortunate to have Charles Spire as his first music teacher. Spire went on to inspire many Ridgefield youth. As Pike progressed through the grades, playing in every school band, orchestra, jazz group, and ensemble possible, he became an outstanding musician.
He graduated from Ridgefield High School in 1979 and attributes his success in music, after Mr. Spire, to Clayton Arnott, head of the music department at the high school.
“I started off in high school with athletics. I played football, volleyball, and baseball but they were really a lot of hard work. I much preferred sitting on a chair in back of my drum and expending my energy on drumming. I tend to be motivated by laziness.”
The natural college for Pike to attend was Berklee School of Music in Boston. He learned a great deal at Berklee and graduated summa cum laude.
“I worked my way through college hand writing musical scores that are now done by computers. I played in numerous bands, gave lessons, wrote music and learned that in the music business you have to be able to be multifaceted to succeed.”
Fortunately along his musical journey, he met Marty Piter and Joseph Cardillo, previous owners of the Ridgefield Music Store.
“After graduating from Berklee I went to work for Mr. Cardillo at the Ridgefield Music Store for 10 years. When Mr. Cardillo decided to retire and sell the business, I saw my opportunity to get into music in a new way and the rest is history.”
With performing in his blood, Pike went on to play with numerous groups, probably making his most money playing with SRO, a well- known wedding band in the area.
“However, my most memorable moments in music were opening for such musicians as B. B. King, Willie Nelson, and Yes, competing in the old Battle of the Bands, and playing under the huge tent for the town’s millennium celebration. Today I play with two great bands, Bone Dry and the Stone Band. We play anything under the “rock umbrella,” and that is what I enjoy.”
At this point in his life, Pike feels that he needs to make a change. His parents are going to be needing his help in North Carolina and he is going to move south to be there for them.
“I have had a good run here in Ridgefield and happy with the choices that I have made, but it is now time for someone with more technical knowledge to take over the business. I have no regrets.”
Pike is a real study in contrasts. When he sits behind his drum is he a wild man with energy to spare, but in person he is very laid back, humble, and just a really nice guy with a sparkle in his eye. On his store window is a sign that says, instruments, rentals, repairs and bad jokes. When asked what his favorite bad joke is, he says. “What do you call a porcupine without needles?” The answer is pointless.
Pike’s life has been far from pointless. He has influenced many young musicians in the area, continues to write all types of music, supports the arts in any way that he can, and has succeeded in multiple areas of musical venues.
He is a Ridgefield icon that will be missed when he moves south.
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