Chuck Stern

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]

Chuck Stern
Born	Charles Baker Stern (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

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]