Chris Isaak

Chris Isaak
Isaak at the Pompano Beach Amphitheater, 2006
Background information
Birth name	Christopher Joseph Isaak
Born	(1956-06-26) June 26, 1956 (age 60) , U.S.
Genres	Rock and roll, rockabilly, roots rock, surf rock
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, musician, actor, talk show host
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1984–present
Labels	Warner Bros. Records
Website	www.chrisisaak.com

Christopher Joseph "Chris" Isaak (born June 26, 1956) is an American rock musician and occasional actor. He is best known for his hit "Wicked Game," as well as the popular hit songs "Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing" and "Somebody's Crying." He is renowned for his signature 1950s rock & roll style and crooner sound, as well as his soaring falsetto and reverb-laden music. He is closely associated with film director David Lynch, who has used his music in numerous films and gave him a large role in the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me. His songs generally focus on the themes of love, loss and heartbreak. With a career spanning four decades, he has amassed a total of twelve studio albums, and has accumulated numerous award nominations and tours. He has been called the Roy Orbison of the 1990s, and is often also compared to Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson and Duane Eddy.

Isaak was born in , California, at St. Joseph's Medical Center, the son of Dorothy (née Vignolo), a potato chip factory worker, and Joe Isaak (1929–2012), a forklift driver. His father's family is Catholic Black Sea German from North Dakota. Isaak's mother is Italian American, from Genoa.

Isaak attended in north Stockton, graduating in 1974. He was class president all three years, culminating with his election as Student Body President in his senior year, along with being the 1974 graduating class valedictorian and head of the all-male cheer squad. He subsequently attended a local college, San Joaquin Delta Community College, before transferring to the University of the Pacific, graduating with a bachelor's degree in English and Communications Arts in 1981. He also was in an exchange program which allowed him to study in Japan. After graduating from college, Isaak put together his first band, Silvertone. This rockabilly outfit consisted of James Calvin Wilsey (guitar), Rowland Salley (bass) and Kenney Dale Johnson (drums), who remained with Isaak as his permanent backing band.