Chuck Cissel

Chuck Cissel's rise proved meteoric for the Tulsa, Oklahoma native, who succeeded at virtually every endeavor he pursued. Throughout his teenage years he performed as both singer and dancer, securing a role in his high-school staging of South Pacific that so moved a local benefactor the patron underwrote his subsequent university studies.

Cissel departed Tulsa for New York, NY in 1971, where he won Broadway roles in Hello Dolly, Purlie, Don't Bother Me I Can't Cope, Chorus Line, and additional productions. Within Chorus Line he portrayed Butch Burton, the African-American dancer/singer characterized by a defiant attitude.

Through those theatrical contacts he released his debut single, Swept Away, on MCA Records, with Michael Bennett of Chorus Line serving as producer. He then formed Chuck Cissel and New Concept, taking the ensemble on a shortened tour of the chitlin' circuit alongside other emerging acts. In 1977 guitarist Rudy Stevens oversaw another recording session, yet attempts to interest New York labels proved fruitless, prompting Cissel to relocate to California in 1979.

There Larkin Arnold, then employed by Arista Records, offered a recording contract and enlisted Skip Scarborough together with Dave Crawford to helm the resulting album, Cisselin' Hot. The tracks Cisselin Hot, Forever, and the Marva Hicks duet If I Had The Chance Today garnered regional attention, although nationwide sales remained modest. Apart from occasional background vocal work, including a 1981 session for Elton John, Cissel's once-rapid ascent ended almost as abruptly as it had begun.