# Craig Chaquico

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{{short description|American guitarist and songwriter (born 1954)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = Craig Chaquico
| image            = Craig-Chaquico-KR-2016.jpg
| caption          = Chaquico in 2016
| birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1954|09|26}}<ref name="chaquico website">{{Cite web |title=About Craig |url=https://craigchaquico.com/about-craig-2/ |access-date=April 27, 2021 |website=Craig Chaquico |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427190605/https://craigchaquico.com/about-craig-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| birth_place      = [Sacramento, California](/source/Sacramento%2C_California), U.S.
| genre            = Rock, pop, blues, new age, smooth jazz
| occupation       = Guitarist
| years_active     = 1971–present
| label            = [RCA](/source/RCA_Records), [Sony](/source/Sony_Music), [BMG](/source/BMG_Music), [Capitol](/source/Capitol_Records), [Grunt](/source/Grunt_Records), [Higher Octave](/source/Higher_Octave_Music), [Blind Pig](/source/Blind_Pig_Records)
| associated_acts  = [Jefferson Starship](/source/Jefferson_Starship), [Starship](/source/Starship_(band))
| website          = {{URL|www.craigchaquico.com}}
}}
'''Craig Clinton Chaquico''' (or '''Chaquiço''', {{IPAc-en|tʃ|ə|ˈ|k|iː|s|oʊ}} {{respell|chə|KEE|soh}}; born September 26, 1954<ref name="chaquico website" />) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and composer. From 1974 to 1990 he was lead guitarist for the rock bands [Jefferson Starship](/source/Jefferson_Starship) and [Starship](/source/Starship_(band)). In 1993, he started a solo career as an acoustic jazz guitarist and composer.

==Early life==
Chaquico was born and raised in [Sacramento, California](/source/Sacramento%2C_California) and attended [La Sierra High School](/source/Carmichael%2C_California) in the suburb of [Carmichael](/source/Carmichael%2C_California).<ref name="tamarkin2003">{{Cite book|last=Tamarkin|first=Jeff|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TKyYNB0pGIoC&dq=craig+chaquico&pg=PA267|title=Got a Revolution!: The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane|publisher=Simon and Schuster|year=2003|isbn=978-0-671-03403-0|pages=267–|language=en|access-date=December 15, 2021|archive-date=May 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502041933/https://books.google.com/books?id=TKyYNB0pGIoC&dq=craig+chaquico&pg=PA267#v=onepage&q=craig%20chaquico&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Evening with the STARS raises more than $95,000 for San Juan Unified schools|url=https://www.sanjuan.edu/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=65&ModuleInstanceID=66051&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=38012&PageID=123|access-date=April 27, 2021|website=sanjuan.edu|language=en|archive-date=April 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427183614/https://www.sanjuan.edu/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=65&ModuleInstanceID=66051&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=38012&PageID=123|url-status=live}}</ref> His mother, Muriel, was a state government employee, and his father, Bill, owned an upholstery business.<ref name="tamarkin2003" /> Both were of Portuguese descent.<ref name="tamarkin2003" /> He had an older brother named Howard.<ref name="tamarkin2003" /> The household was a musical one; Chaquico recalls, "My mom and dad were musicians and played around the house all the time. I thought everybody played the piano and organ like Mom and the sax and accordion like Dad together after dinner."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artisttrove.com/artist/261715083949920/Craig+Chaquico|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230034701/http://www.artisttrove.com/artist/261715083949920/Craig+Chaquico|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 30, 2016|title=Craig Chaquico|website=www.artisttrove.com|language=en|access-date=August 2, 2017}}</ref> He began playing the guitar as a young boy, when his parents bought him his first guitar at the age of ten.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|date=September 25, 2016|title=Jefferson Starship{{!}}Craig Chaquico{{!}}American Music Therapy Association Advocate|work=Rock On Magazine |url=https://issuu.com/rockonmagazinereno/docs/rock_on_magazine_issue_1|access-date=August 2, 2017|archive-date=April 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427182913/https://issuu.com/rockonmagazinereno/docs/rock_on_magazine_issue_1|url-status=live}}</ref>

When Chaquico was twelve, the car he and his father were traveling in was hit head-on by a drunk driver.<ref name="trip" /> Both of his arms were broken, as were his leg, ankle, foot, wrist, and thumb.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.fifteenminuteswith.com/2016/04/01/craig-chaquico-string-theory/|title=Craig Chaquico – String Theory – Fifteen Minutes With…|last=McClellan|first=Michael|date=April 2016 |access-date=September 1, 2017|archive-date=August 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803012450/http://www.fifteenminuteswith.com/2016/04/01/craig-chaquico-string-theory/|url-status=live}}</ref> During physical therapy, his father told him that guitarist [Les Paul](/source/Les_Paul) had been in a car accident and had played guitar to help himself heal. His father promised to buy him a [Les Paul guitar](/source/Gibson_Les_Paul) when he got better.<ref name="taylor">{{cite magazine|last1=Taylor|first1=Chuck|title=Craig Chaquico: Musical Lone Ranger|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8AwEAAAAMBAJ&q=Craig+Chaquico:+Musical+Lone+Ranger&pg=PA104|via=Google Books|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 9, 2012|page=104|date=August 31, 2002|archive-date=April 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427182906/https://books.google.com/books?id=8AwEAAAAMBAJ&q=Craig+Chaquico%3A+Musical+Lone+Ranger&pg=PA104|url-status=live}}</ref> Although he could play only the high E string of his acoustic guitar due to his casts,<ref name="trip" /> he benefited from playing and his father kept his word about the Les Paul.<ref name="tamarkin2003" />

==Career==
left|thumb|upright=0.8|Chaquico with Jefferson Starship at KSAN95's Free Concert in Justin Herman Plaza, San Francisco - June 1, 1979
Chaquico began performing in clubs in his teens.<ref name="Brennan1">{{cite web |last1=Brennan |first1=Sandra |title=Craig Chaquico |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/craig-chaquico-mn0000124734/biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=May 10, 2021 |archive-date=October 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012214559/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/craig-chaquico-mn0000124734/biography |url-status=live }}</ref> His English teacher Jack Traylor asked him to join the band Steelwind, which performed in Sacramento and San Francisco Bay, and Traylor introduced him to [Paul Kantner](/source/Paul_Kantner) of [Jefferson Airplane](/source/Jefferson_Airplane).<ref name="tamarkin2003" /><ref name=":0" /> Kantner invited him to a series of recording sessions.<ref name="tamarkin2003" /> At 16 he recorded for the first time with Kantner and [Grace Slick](/source/Grace_Slick) on their albums ''[Sunfighter](/source/Sunfighter)''<ref name="tamarkin2003" /><ref name="baker2001">{{Cite book|last1=Slonimsky|first1=Nicolas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=slgYAAAAIAAJ&dq=craig+chaquico&pg=PA1724|title=Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians|last2=Baker|first2=Theodore|publisher=Schirmer Books|year=2001|isbn=978-0-02-865528-4|volume=3|pages=1725–|access-date=December 15, 2021|archive-date=May 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502041943/https://books.google.com/books?id=slgYAAAAIAAJ&dq=craig+chaquico&pg=PA1724|url-status=live}}</ref> and ''[Baron von Tollbooth & the Chrome Nun](/source/Baron_von_Tollbooth_%26_the_Chrome_Nun)''. He played on Slick's solo album ''[Manhole](/source/Manhole_(album))'' in 1973. He played alongside [Jerry Garcia](/source/Jerry_Garcia), [David Crosby](/source/David_Crosby), [David Freiberg](/source/David_Freiberg), and [Carlos Santana](/source/Carlos_Santana).<ref name="baker2001" /><ref name="blind pig records">{{cite web|title=Craig Chaquico |url=http://www.blindpigrecords.com/index.cfm?section=artists&artistid=96 |publisher=Blind Pig Records |access-date=October 9, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053910/http://www.blindpigrecords.com/index.cfm?section=artists&artistid=96 |archive-date=September 21, 2013 }}</ref>

After Jefferson Airplane broke up, its remaining members formed [Jefferson Starship](/source/Jefferson_Starship). Chaquico joined the band in 1974. Jefferson Starship released nine platinum and gold selling albums between 1974 and 1984, including ''[Red Octopus](/source/Red_Octopus)'', which was certified double-platinum in 1995. He wrote or co-wrote "Fast Buck Freddy", "Love Too Good", "Rock Music", "Jane", "[Find Your Way Back](/source/Find_Your_Way_Back_(Jefferson_Starship_song))", and "Layin' It on the Line".<ref name="Brennan">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/craig-chaquico-mn0000124734/biography |title=Craig Chaquico |website=AllMusic |last1=Brennan |first1=Sandra |access-date=June 8, 2017 |archive-date=August 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802082955/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/craig-chaquico-mn0000124734/biography |url-status=live }}</ref>

thumb|upright=0.8|Chaquico in 1981
The name "Jefferson Starship" was retired in March 1985 after Kantner left the band and sued the remaining members, who reformed under the name "[Starship](/source/Starship_(band))".<ref>{{Cite web|title=A band named Sue: A look at the legal saga surrounding Jefferson Airplane|url=https://projects.sfchronicle.com/2017/jefferson-lawsuit-timeline/|access-date=November 9, 2020|website=The San Francisco Chronicle|archive-date=April 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422131811/https://projects.sfchronicle.com/2017/jefferson-lawsuit-timeline/|url-status=live}}</ref> All other band members, including Chaquico, remained with the band.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/280376/starship/biography|title=Starship|website=www.billboard.com|access-date=September 1, 2017|archive-date=September 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902173943/http://www.billboard.com/artist/280376/starship/biography|url-status=live}}</ref> Starship recorded hits such as "[We Built This City](/source/We_Built_This_City)", "[Sara](/source/Sara_(Starship_song))", and "[Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now](/source/Nothing's_Gonna_Stop_Us_Now)". Chaquico and Starship appeared on [MTV](/source/MTV) videos on a regular basis and performed at the first MTV Spring Break special in Daytona Beach in 1986.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.gq.com/story/mtv-spring-break-vj-alan-hunter |title=MTV's First 'Spring Break' VJ Remembers What Spring Break Was Like Before Camera Phones |last=Hart |first=Louise |date=March 30, 2016 |work=GQ |access-date=September 1, 2017 |archive-date=September 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902002251/https://www.gq.com/story/mtv-spring-break-vj-alan-hunter |url-status=live }}</ref> Chaquico left Starship in 1990.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/starship-mickey-thomas-fight/ |title=26 Years Ago: Starship Fight! |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=May 2, 2017 |archive-date=September 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930064629/http://ultimateclassicrock.com/starship-mickey-thomas-fight/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Having become disappointed with the direction Starship was going, Chaquico formed Big Bad Wolf and recorded one album in that band.<ref name="McCellan1">{{cite web |last1=McCellan |first1=Michael |title=Craig Chaquico – String Theory |url=https://www.fifteenminuteswith.com/2016/04/01/craig-chaquico-string-theory/ |website=Fifteen Minutes With... |access-date=May 10, 2021 |date=April 1, 2016 |archive-date=August 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811052941/https://www.fifteenminuteswith.com/2016/04/01/craig-chaquico-string-theory/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He began a solo career that explored [world music](/source/world_music), [new age](/source/New_Age_music),<ref name="Brennan" /> and contemporary jazz. His first album, ''Acoustic Highway'' (1993), was the number one Independent New Age Album of the Year in ''Billboard'' Magazine and a number one on the ''Billboard'' New Age Albums chart,<ref name="New Age1">{{cite magazine |title=New Age Music: Top New Age Albums Chart |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/new-age-albums/1993-09-18 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 7, 2017 |date=September 18, 1993 |archive-date=January 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126174453/https://www.billboard.com/charts/new-age-albums/1993-09-18 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=March 26, 1994|title=Top Indie New Age Albums|url=http://www.billboard.com|journal=Billboard Magazine|pages=94–100|access-date=June 7, 2017|archive-date=September 20, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120920/http://www.billboard.com/%23/news/usher-introduces-teen-singer-justin-bieber-1003966989.story|url-status=live}}</ref> while his second album, ''Acoustic Planet'' (1994), reached number one on the same chart<ref name="New Age2">{{cite magazine |title=New Age Music: Top New Age Albums Chart |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/new-age-albums/1994-11-12 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 7, 2017 |date=November 12, 1994 |archive-date=January 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126174501/https://www.billboard.com/charts/new-age-albums/1994-11-12 |url-status=live }}</ref> and received a Grammy Award nomination for [Best New Age Album](/source/Grammy_Award_for_Best_New_Age_Album).<ref name="McCellan1" /> The album borrowed from African and Native American music.<ref name="Brennan" /> The song "Just One World" was launched into space on a satellite that was part of NASA's Space Ark program.<ref name="trip">{{cite web |last1=Torre |first1=Olivia |title=Chaquico's New Trip |url=https://www.houstonpress.com/music/chaquicos-new-trip-6572349 |website=Houston Press |access-date=June 8, 2017 |date=March 30, 1995 |archive-date=August 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802122749/https://www.houstonpress.com/music/chaquicos-new-trip-6572349 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="McCellan1" />

In 2017 Chaquico filed suit against the remaining members of Jefferson Starship, including David Freiberg and [Donny Baldwin](/source/Donny_Baldwin), over the use of the band name on tour billings and merchandise, citing the 1985 agreement to retire the band name.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Iovino|first=Nicholas|date=April 28, 2017|title=Guitarist Sues to Stop Use of Jefferson Starship Name|language=en-US|work=Courthouse News Service |url=http://www.courthousenews.com/guitarist-sues-stop-use-jefferson-starship-name/|url-status=live|access-date=June 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429123011/http://www.courthousenews.com/guitarist-sues-stop-use-jefferson-starship-name/|archive-date=April 29, 2017}}</ref> In 2018 the suit was dismissed after an undisclosed settlement was reached.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Stempel|first=Jonathan|date=December 4, 2018|title=Jefferson Starship Members Settle Lawsuit Over Band Name |work=Reuters.com |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-music-jefferson-starship/jefferson-starship-members-settle-lawsuit-over-band-name-idUSKBN1O32IF|url-status=live|access-date=December 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205154051/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-music-jefferson-starship/jefferson-starship-members-settle-lawsuit-over-band-name-idUSKBN1O32IF |archive-date=December 5, 2018}}</ref> 

In August 2022, Chaquico filed a lawsuit against Jefferson Starship Incorporated, as well as a number of former bandmates, music companies, and managers.<ref name="Local News Matters">{{Cite news|last=Dworetzky|first=Joe|date=March 9, 2024|title=Knee Deep in Legal Hoopla: Former Starship Member Says He's Owed Millions in Royalties|language=en-US|work=Local News Matters|url=https://localnewsmatters.org/2024/03/09/knee-deep-in-legal-hoopla-former-starship-member-says-hes-owed-millions-in-royalties/|url-status=live|access-date=May 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501173404/https://localnewsmatters.org/2024/03/09/knee-deep-in-legal-hoopla-former-starship-member-says-hes-owed-millions-in-royalties/|archive-date=May 1, 2024|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In the suit, Chaquico claimed he was owed over $20 million in royalties.<ref name="Local News Matters"/> On March 25, 2024, the court granted a motion for summary judgment in favor of the defendants.<ref name="Courthouse News Service">{{Cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=March 26, 2024|title=Jefferson Starship Suit Concludes|language=en-US|work=[Courthouse News Service](/source/Courthouse_News_Service)|url=https://www.courthousenews.com/jefferson-starship-suit-concludes/|url-status=live|access-date=May 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407194119/https://www.courthousenews.com/jefferson-starship-suit-concludes/|archive-date=April 7, 2024|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

==Guitars==
Chaquico's first guitar was a Winston acoustic which his mother bought for him when he was ten years old after he'd given up his parents' idea that he would play an accordion.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SmoothViews - An Interview with Craig Chaquico|url=http://www.smoothviews.com/interviews/chaquico0206.htm|access-date=February 12, 2021|website=www.smoothviews.com|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001052/http://www.smoothviews.com/interviews/chaquico0206.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> He played a '57 Les Paul Goldtop on the first two Jefferson Starship albums and tours, ''Dragon Fly'' (1974) and ''Red Octopus'' (1975), on such songs as "Miracles".<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=March 2017|first=Damian Fanelli 01|title=Jefferson Starship's Craig Chaquico Reunited with His 1959 Les Paul After 39 Years|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/jefferson-starships-craig-chaquico-reunited-his-1959-les-paul-after-39-years|access-date=February 12, 2021|website=guitarworld|date=March 2017 |language=en|archive-date=November 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125022951/https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/jefferson-starships-craig-chaquico-reunited-his-1959-les-paul-after-39-years|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=March 3, 2016|title=Paul Liberatore's Lib at Large: Jefferson Starship's Craig Chaquico's quest to get back beloved Les Paul|url=https://www.marinij.com/arts-and-entertainment/20160303/paul-liberatores-lib-at-large-jefferson-starships-craig-chaquicos-quest-to-get-back-beloved-les-paul|access-date=February 12, 2021|website=Marin Independent Journal|language=en-US|archive-date=August 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820120221/http://www.marinij.com/arts-and-entertainment/20160303/paul-liberatores-lib-at-large-jefferson-starships-craig-chaquicos-quest-to-get-back-beloved-les-paul|url-status=live}}</ref> He also soon added a rare '59 Les Paul Sunburst to his collection which he played on the next two albums, ''Spitfire (''1976) and ''Earth'' (1978) and can be heard on such songs as "With Your Love", "Count on Me", and "Runaway".<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=March 7, 2016|title=Jefferson Starship's Craig Chaquico's quest to get back beloved Les Paul|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2016/03/07/jefferson-starships-craig-chaquicos-quest-to-get-back-beloved-les-paul/|access-date=February 12, 2021|website=The Mercury News|language=en-US|archive-date=April 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428151141/http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/03/07/jefferson-starships-craig-chaquicos-quest-to-get-back-beloved-les-paul/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Craig Chaquico Reunited With Long Lost 1959 Les Paul Sunburst That Was Stolen During Famous Riot at Jefferson Starship Concert in Summer of 1978 {{!}} RockStar PR|url=http://rockstarpr.com/2017/05/craig-chaquico-reunited-with-long-lost-1959-les-paul-sunburst-that-was-stolen-during-famous-riot-at-jefferson-starship-concert-in-summer-of-1978/|access-date=February 16, 2021|language=en-US|archive-date=February 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226011405/http://rockstarpr.com/2017/05/craig-chaquico-reunited-with-long-lost-1959-les-paul-sunburst-that-was-stolen-during-famous-riot-at-jefferson-starship-concert-in-summer-of-1978/|url-status=live}}</ref> Both Les Paul Guitars and the Bassman amps, along with several other valuable guitars, were stolen and/or destroyed in a riot in Lorelei, Germany, in 1978, when [Grace Slick](/source/Grace_Slick) was unable to perform and the show was cancelled.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Clarke|first=John|date=May 8, 2013|title=Jefferson Starship's Pete Sears Reunited With Stolen Bass After 35 Years|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jefferson-starships-pete-sears-reunited-with-stolen-bass-after-35-years-83148/|access-date=February 12, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|archive-date=November 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111230822/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jefferson-starships-pete-sears-reunited-with-stolen-bass-after-35-years-83148/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship/Starship {{!}} Encyclopedia.com|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/jefferson-airplanejefferson-starshipstarship|access-date=February 12, 2021|website=www.encyclopedia.com|archive-date=November 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129022159/https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/jefferson-airplanejefferson-starshipstarship|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=October 2017|first=Max Bell30|title=The epic true story of Grace Slick and Jefferson Airplane|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-epic-true-story-of-grace-slick-and-jefferson-airplane|access-date=February 12, 2021|website=Classic Rock Magazine|date=October 30, 2017 |language=en|archive-date=November 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119065647/https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-epic-true-story-of-grace-slick-and-jefferson-airplane|url-status=live}}</ref>
Into the '80s, Chaquico was sponsored by [Carvin Guitars](/source/Kiesel_Guitars) and often appeared on tour, in the studio and in guitar magazine ads playing a Carvin V220 or a Carvin koa doubleneck played through Carvin amplifiers, his favorite being the Carvin X100B.<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 17, 2017|title=Craig Chaquico: Jefferson Starship, Craig Chaquico (solo)|url=https://musicplayers.com/2017/07/craig-chaquico-jefferson-starship-craig-chaquico-solo/|access-date=February 12, 2021|website=MusicPlayers.com|language=en-US|archive-date=January 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119151238/https://musicplayers.com/2017/07/craig-chaquico-jefferson-starship-craig-chaquico-solo/|url-status=live}}</ref> Carvin released a Craig Chaquico Signature acoustic guitar, which continued to be produced after Carvin's evolution into Kiesel Guitars.<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 6, 2025|title=Craig Caquico Signature Series|url=https://www.kieselguitars.com/series/guitar/craig-chaquico-signature|access-date=March 6, 2025|website=KieselGuitars.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Philanthropy==
thumb|Chaquico at Renown Children's Hospital in Reno, Nevada, 2016
Chaquico became a believer in the healing power of music after recovering from a car crash when he was twelve.<ref name=":1" /> With the National Association of Music Therapy, [Beamz](/source/Beamz), [Remo](/source/Remo), and [Washburn Guitars](/source/Washburn_Guitars), he provided instruments to patients in hospitals.<ref name="trip"/> He has worked with organizations such as the American Music Therapy Association and Memory and Music which use music therapy with injured and traumatized people and those with various forms of dementia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musictherapy.org/about/artists|title=Artist Support of Music Therapy - Artist Support of Music Therapy - American Music Therapy Association (AMTA)|website=www.musictherapy.org|access-date=October 10, 2012|archive-date=October 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008143723/http://www.musictherapy.org/about/artists/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
{{Interlanguage link|Jazziz Magazine|lt=''Jazziz Magazine''|fr}} named him one of the 100 most influential jazz guitarists of all time.<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 4, 2015|title=Guitarist Craig Chaquico performs at Vinyl|url=https://www.mtdemocrat.com/prospecting/craig-chaquico-performs-at-vinyl/|access-date=April 27, 2021|website=Mountain Democrat|archive-date=April 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427191109/https://www.mtdemocrat.com/prospecting/craig-chaquico-performs-at-vinyl/|url-status=live}}</ref> He was named Best Pop Instrumental Guitarist in ''Guitar Player'' magazine's 1997 Readers' Poll.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 1, 1997 |title=27th Annual Guitar Player Readers Poll |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-19015787.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806220306/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-19015787.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 6, 2017}}</ref>

==Discography==
* ''[Acoustic Highway](/source/Acoustic_Highway)'' ([Higher Octave](/source/Higher_Octave_Music), 1993)
* ''[Acoustic Planet](/source/Acoustic_Planet)'' (Higher Octave, 1994)
* ''A Thousand Pictures'' (Higher Octave, 1996)
* ''Once in a Blue Universe'' (Higher Octave, 1997)
* ''From the Redwoods to the Rockies'' with [Russ Freeman](/source/Russ_Freeman_(guitarist)) (Windham Hill, 1998)
* ''Four Corners'' (Higher Octave, 1999)
* ''Shadow and Light'' (Higher Octave, 2002)
* ''Midnight Noon'' (Higher Octave, 2004)
* ''Holiday'' (Higher Octave, 2005)
* ''Follow the Sun'' ([Shanachie](/source/Shanachie_Records), 2009)
* ''Fire Red Moon'' ([Blind Pig](/source/Blind_Pig_Records), 2012)

'''With Jefferson Starship'''
* ''[Dragon Fly](/source/Dragon_Fly_(album))'' (Grunt, 1974)
* ''[Red Octopus](/source/Red_Octopus)'' (Grunt, 1975)
* ''[Spitfire](/source/Spitfire_(Jefferson_Starship_album))'' (Grunt, 1976)
* ''[Earth](/source/Earth_(Jefferson_Starship_album))'' (Grunt, 1978)
* ''[Freedom at Point Zero](/source/Freedom_at_Point_Zero)'' (Grunt, 1979)
* ''[Modern Times](/source/Modern_Times_(Jefferson_Starship_album))'' (Grunt, 1981)
* ''[Winds of Change](/source/Winds_of_Change_(Jefferson_Starship_album))'' (Grunt, 1982)
* ''[Nuclear Furniture](/source/Nuclear_Furniture)'' (Grunt, 1984)

'''With Starship'''
* ''[Knee Deep in the Hoopla](/source/Knee_Deep_in_the_Hoopla)'' (Grunt, 1985)
* ''[No Protection](/source/No_Protection_(Starship_album))'' (RCA/Grunt, 1987)
* ''[Love Among the Cannibals](/source/Love_Among_the_Cannibals)'' (RCA, 1989)

'''With Paul Kantner, Grace Slick'''
* ''[Sunfighter](/source/Sunfighter)'' (Grunt, 1971)
* ''[Baron von Tollbooth & the Chrome Nun](/source/Baron_von_Tollbooth_%26_the_Chrome_Nun)'' (Grunt, 1973)

'''With Grace Slick'''
* ''[Manhole](/source/Manhole_(album))'' (Grunt, 1973)

'''With Jack Traylor and Steelwind'''
* ''Child of Nature'' (Grunt, 1973)

'''With Big Bad Wolf'''
* ''Big Bad Wolf'' (1998)

===As guest===
'''With [3rd Force](/source/3rd_Force)'''
* ''3rd Force'' (Higher Octave, 1994)
* ''Force of Nature'' (Higher Octave, 1995)
* ''Vital Force'' (Higher Octave, 1997)
* ''Force Field'' (Higher Octave, 1999)
* ''Gentle Force'' (Higher Octave, 2002)

'''With others'''
* [Joan Burton](/source/Joan_Burton), ''Only a Moment Away'' (1993)
* [Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen](/source/Commander_Cody_and_His_Lost_Planet_Airmen), ''Rock 'n Roll Again'' (1977)
* [Cusco](/source/Cusco_(band)), ''Apurimac III: Nature Spirit Pride'' (1997)
* [Russ Freeman](/source/Russ_Freeman_(guitarist)), ''From the Redwoods to the Rockies'' (1998)
* [Gregg Rolie](/source/Gregg_Rolie), ''Gregg Rolie'' (1985)
* [Tom Scott](/source/Tom_Scott_(saxophonist)), ''New Found Freedom'' (2002)
* [Mickey Thomas](/source/Mickey_Thomas_(singer)), ''[Alive Alone](/source/Alive_Alone)'' (1981)

==See also==
*[List of ambient music artists](/source/List_of_ambient_music_artists)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Discogs artist}}

{{Jefferson Airplane|state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chaquico, Craig}}
Category:1954 births
Category:20th-century American guitarists
Category:20th-century American male musicians
Category:21st-century American guitarists
Category:21st-century American male musicians
Category:American jazz guitarists
Category:American male guitarists
Category:American male jazz musicians
Category:American musicians of Portuguese descent
Category:American rock guitarists
Category:Capitol Records artists
Category:Guitarists from San Francisco
Category:Higher Octave Music artists
Category:Jazz musicians from San Francisco
Category:Jefferson Starship members
Category:American lead guitarists
Category:Living people
Category:New-age guitarists
Category:RCA Records artists
Category:Smooth jazz guitarists
Category:Sony BMG artists
Category:American people of Portuguese descent

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Craig Chaquico](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Chaquico) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Chaquico?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.
