BY BRITTNEE NAVE

STAR CORRESPONDENT

Chris Simmons, a music teacher at Happy Valley Middle School, has been balancing work as a teacher and a professional musician for over two decades.

Simmons has worked in the Carter County School System for 15 years, and also is a current member in the band Spank.

According to Simmons, both teaching and music were exposed to him early on in life.

“Teaching is in my family lineage,” he said. ”My aunt taught for over 40 years at Harold McCormick Elementary and my grandmother also taught in the Carter County School System.”

Simmons said he was exposed to music as a child through his parents always playing music in his home, and from his brother’s choice in music.

“My brother, who is five years older than me, was a big factor in my musical development,” he said. “From Elton John to Fleetwood Mac to Kansas […] It was all playing in his room as I was young so I had no choice but to absorb it all.”

Simmons began playing music in fifth grade after an older friend showed him the basics of drumming. From there he joined the middle school band, and went on to play in his high school band, and jazz band as well, before moving to the college level. During this time, he even got his first job bagging groceries to buy music equipment.

After high school, Simmons began performing professionally and also attended college.

“My first serious job was with local country artist Dave Friday,” Simmons said. “He was a great talent and we spent years performing and opening for acts such as Rick Trevino, Merle Haggard, Eddie Rabbit, and many others. After 10 years with his group, I spent over 16 years as the drummer for the Benny Wilson Band.”

According to Simmons, he is equally grateful for the music instructor he had in college.

“I feel fortunate to have studied through my college years with Dr. Rande Sanderbeck, who just retired last year as Professor of Percussion at ETSU,” he said. ”I learned not only many facets of performing, but I also learned the art and craft of teaching from him. He was a remarkable educator.”

Simmons performed in the marching band, concert/symphonic band, percussion ensembles and jazz ensemble at the university.

While in college, Simmons notes that his teaching career began. In 1989, he began teaching in schools as a percussion and drum line instructor. He also taught private lessons at Cates School of Music in Johnson City.

Simmons got his first official job in 1995 as a band director at Johnson County High School. He worked there for 10 years, and is proud of the work that was accomplished, which included the band growing and many students pursuing music at college and teaching levels.

According to Simmons, working with kids is always changing and it’s about them.

“There is something new and unexpected every day, so there is no time to get comfortable,” he said. “Seeing kids succeed at goals of various levels is very rewarding. I learned very early on that it’s not about me, it’s about the kids and how they are improving.”

Simmons said students often inquire about music careers, and while he tries not to sugar coat the toughness of music business, he does believe that the rewards are great and is something musicians can look back on.

Throughout the years while teaching, his performances didn’t stop. Simmons has been able to perform and tape a TV show with Jimmy Fortune of the Statler Brothers, perform with Trey Hensley for President George W. Bush’s dinner, perform in the 2008 Republican National Convention and begin work in his current band, Spank.

Simmons said Spank is his main focus now, with mostly out of state performances. The concentration of shows is in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina, with some more local shows a few times a year.

To keep himself sharp besides his work in the band, he also works with various instruments and has taken up vocal lessons over the years.

In terms of balancing his teaching and music, Simmons says it can be hard, but has years of practice at doing so.

“Teaching full time and playing with several bands can be a juggling act,” he said. “Scheduling can be difficult at times, especially when travel days have to be considered. Luckily a lot of work happens during summer break from school so that helps. After 35 years of doing it, I guess I’ve gotten used to it.”

For more information on Spank, you can go to www.spankthe80s.com.

“Being able to be in the arts field every day is a gift that I do not take for granted,” said Simmons.