Chris Arpad – Specialist Event Entertainer

Solo Steel Drum & Vocals (Est. 1985)

About the Artist

Since 1985, Chris Arpad has defined himself as a dedicated Event Specialist. While many focus on the "stage," Chris focuses on the experience, bringing four decades of expertise in reading a room and perfectly tailoring his performance to the needs of the event. Whether providing a sophisticated acoustic backdrop or a high-energy dance set, Chris delivers a professional, "turn-key" entertainment solution.

Selected Professional Credits

Television & Media Appearances

Miss USA Pageant (Televised): Featured Soloist (South Padre Island, TX) and Featured Band Leader with Stainless Steel (Wichita, KS).
Richard Bangs' Quest: Featured steel pans, vocals, and arrangement for the "Cancún Colada" segment.
Live Like A Star: Steel drum soloist for the "Celebrity Mom" episode.1
MTV Networks: Featured entertainment for various network wrap parties and events.

Recording & Session Work

West Indian Girl (Milan Records): Recorded steel pans for "Up the Coast" on the album 4th & Wall.2
Beardo (VH1 / Shoot to Kill Records): Recorded with Jeramy "Rainbow" Gritter (from The Rock Life) on the track "When I Think of U."
Executive Producer: Produced two albums on the World Beat label: Know Bounds, No Barriers and What You See.

Published Arrangements (Panyard, Inc.)

Published Arranger: Created solo Double Second Steel Drum arrangements for "The Entertainer" (Scott Joplin), "Here Comes the Sun" (George Harrison), and "Spanish Harlem" (Herb Alpert).

High-Profile Live Openings

Solo Brand Artist: Featured for Appleton Estate Rum events before Foreigner, Los Lobos, and Hootie & The Blowfish.
Band Leader (Stainless Steel): Shared the stage with Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Steel Pulse, Tower of Power, Jeff Healey, Stanley Jordan, and comedian Sinbad.

The Repertoire

Using a high-fidelity "full band sound" with custom backing tracks and live vocals, Chris covers a vast musical landscape:

Islands & Trop-Rock: Calypso, Reggae, Hawaiian, Tiki, and Buffett.
Retro & Yacht Rock: Motown, R&B, 50s/60s Oldies, and 70s/80s hits.
Eclectic: Country, Blues, Americana, Latin, Classical, and Polka.

Event Inquiry Guide

To help me provide a tailored quote for your event, please include:

Event Type (Corporate, Private, Grand Opening)
Date & Performance Time
Venue & Location (Specify Indoors or Outdoors)
Desired Vibe (Ambient, Spotlight, or High-Energy)
Special Requests (Specific songs or themes)

Pro-Note: Chris provides a self-contained sound system designed for both indoor and outdoor environments. All that is required is a flat surface and access to a standard power outlet.

Career Snapshot: A Lifelong Journey in Rhythm

Before he was a premier steel drummer, Chris Arpad’s career was forged in the high-pressure world of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and as the drum corps leader for the City of McPherson Bagpipe Band. Having started his professional career at just 14 years old in a Country Western band, Chris spent 27 years in Los Angeles as a session artist and brand ambassador for the Cayman Islands. Today, he brings that world-class entertainment pedigree to the Southern Arizona event scene.