Chuck Stern

Chuck Stern
Birth name	Charles Baker Stern
Born	(1979-06-22)June 22, 1979 New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	December 10, 2023(2023-12-10) (aged 44)
Instruments	Vocals keyboards multi-instrumentalist
Member of	Time of Orchids, Sculptress, Stern
Website	sterntheband.bandcamp.com/music

Charles Baker Stern (June 22, 1979 – December 10, 2023) was an American composer, musician, writer, and visual artist known for his work in experimental music.[1][2][3] He was frontman and composer of Time of Orchids,[4] played in Sculptress,[5] and released solo and band works under the name Stern.[2][1] He was born and lived in New York City. He died on December 10, 2023, at the age of 44.[6][7]

Career

Stern was a programmer for public-access television station Manhattan Neighborhood Network.[8] He co-created Roboshithead, which The Village Voice called "the best public access show in New York,"[9] and It Changed :(, which won the 2011 Hometown Video Original Teleplay Award.[8]

From 1999 to 2007, Stern was the frontman and composer for experimental band Time of Orchids.[10][2] Over the band's tenure, its lineup included Eric Fitzgerald, Jesse Krakow, David Bodie, Kim Abrams, Will Redmond, and Charlie Looker,[10] with guest performances from Tim Byrnes, Maryanna Hansen, jazz pianist Marilyn Crispell, Kate Pierson of The B-52's, and Julee Cruise of Twin Peaks.[11][12][13] Time of Orchids released six albums; two were self-released, with others appearing on Relapse, Epicene, Tzadik, and Cuneiform.[10]

In 2008, Stern and Charlie Looker formed a duo project, Sculptress.[5]

Also in 2008, after announcing the end of Time of Orchids, Stern began a new solo project releasing music under his last name.[2][3] "Stern" eventually grew into a quartet including former Kayo Dot members Abrams, Byrnes, and Toby Driver, with releases by the band formation including Bone Turquoise (New Atlantis, 2015)[2] and Missive: Sister Ships (Sleeping Giant Glossolalia, 2018).[14]

Stern later returned to solo project status with Sunder Hawk (2020).[1][15][16] The album features guest performances from Abrams, Erin Mount, and Stern's mother, Ellen Stern, who died in 2023.[1][17] Stern's final release was Black Votive (2022).[18]

Discography

As leader

Year	Artist	Title	Label	Personnel
2001	Time of Orchids	Melonwhisper	Relapse / Aquarius	Stern, Charlie Looker, Will Redmond, Jesse Krakow, Kim Abrams ft. guest Marilyn Crispell[10]
2003	Time of Orchids	Much Too Much Fun		Stern, Krakow, Abrams, Eric Fitzgerald, ft. guest Kate Pierson[10]
2004	Time of Orchids	Early As Seen in Pace	Epicene	Stern, Krakow, Abrams, Eric Fitzgerald[10]
2005	Time of Orchids	Sarcast While	Tzadik	Stern, Krakow, Fitzgerald, David Bodie ft. guests Tim Byrnes, Maryanna Hansen, Julee Cruise[11][12]
2007	Time of Orchids	Namesake Caution	Cuneiform	Stern, Krakow, Fitzgerald, Bodie[19]
2010	Time of Orchids	In Due Time		Stern, Krakow, Abrams, Fitzgerald, Bodie, Looker[10][20]
2010	Stern	Dredge Up Eventide		Stern ft. guests Byrnes, Victoria Kereszi[21]
2010	Stern	The Largo Sanctum		Stern ft. guests Laura Vickers, Ian Garrick-Bethell, Katie Stern, Wendell Edwards[22]
2011	Stern	Path X		Stern ft. guest Looker[23]
2012	Stern	Entitlement		Stern, Abrams, Byrnes, Toby Driver[24]
2015	Stern	Bone Turquoise	New Atlantis	Stern, Abrams, Byrnes, Driver[2][25]
2018	Stern	Missive: Sister Ships	Sleeping Giant Glossolalia	Stern, Abrams, Byrnes, Driver[3][14]
2020	Stern	Sunder Hawk		Stern ft. guests Abrams, Erin Mount, Ellen Stern[1]
2022	Stern	Black Votive		Stern[18]

References

1. Manning, Todd (7 January 2020). "Stern". Burning Ambulance. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
2. Currin, Grayson Haver (14 August 2015). "Stern: Bone Turquoise Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
3. Murphy, Scott (10 August 2018). "Stern – Missive: Sister Ships". Heavy Blog is Heavy. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
4. Mason, Stewart. "Time of Orchids". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
5. Weingarten, Christopher (21 June 2011). "Download: Tracks By Charlie Looker's Extra Life And Sculptress". The Village Voice. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
6. Anderl, Timothy (12 August 2015). "Stomping Grounds: Chuck Stern (Stern) on New York, New York". Ghetto Blaster Magazine. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
7. "Charles Stern". Legacy.com. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
8. "It Changed :( wins Hometown Video Award". Manhattan Neighborhood Network. 3 August 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
9. Torgovnick, Kate (13 September 2007). "Even Among a Sea of Cable Channels and the Explosion of YouTube, Public Access Remains Vital". Huffington Post. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
10. "The Porcelain Throne: Time of Orchids". The Toilet Ov Hell. 3 June 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
11. "Time of Orchids: Sarcast While". Tzadik. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
12. "Review: Time of Orchids "Sarcast While"". Aversion Online. 19 May 2005. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
13. "Time of Orchids". Metal Music Archives. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
14. Bellino, Emily (10 July 2018). "Video Premiere: Stern – 'Missive: Sister Ships'". Decibel. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
15. Grella, George; Cohan, Brad. "March Listings". Brooklyn Rail. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
16. "Sunder Hawk". Bandcamp. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
17. "Ellen Stern". Legacy.com. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
18. "Black Votive". Bandcamp. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
19. "Time of Orchids: Namesake Caution". Sea of Tranquility. 15 October 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
20. "In Due Time". Bandcamp. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
21. "Dredge Up Eventide". Bandcamp. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
22. "The Largo Sanctum". Bandcamp. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
23. "Path X". Bandcamp. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
24. "Entitlement". Bandcamp. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
25. Phipps, Grant (12 August 2015). "Stern: Bone Turquoise - Music Review". No Ripcord. Retrieved 19 December 2023.

External links

• Chuck Stern discography at Discogs
• Chuck Stern at IMDb