Editor’s Note: The Reel Black List is our annual spotlight of brothers and sisters in the worlds of film, TV, advertising, music, radio and media who are making a difference through their contributions and creativity daily. Today we celebrate Chip E.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Chip E. (Chip Eberhart) attended St. Ignatius College Prep, Kenwood Academy, Columbia College and DePaul University. He started spinning records in 1982 and by 1984 he was producing records. In 1985 Street Mix magazine declared Chip E. as the “Godfather of House Music.” In 1987, he became the first (and still the only) Chicago artist to be in regular rotation on all three major Chicago radio stations (WBMX, WGCI-FM and B96). Former B96 programming manager Joe Bohannon (Joe Bo) made the decision to add “If You Only Knew” to regular rotation and with that began the transition of the station from CHR (contemporary hit radio) to a dance music station.
Chip E’s first recording Jack Trax was an extended play record that featured Time to Jack as well as It’s House. These songs are considered by many as the first House record, and the first to use the terms “Jack” and “House” as they relate to the genre. 2024 marks the 40 year anniversary of House Music and Chip creating the first record. Chip E. assisted Frankie Knuckles when he co-produced Frankie’s first record You Can’t Hide. By the age of 21 Chip E. was a worldwide name. Because of difficulties getting out of a contract with D.J. International records, Chip decided that he would rather not record if he had to do it for D.J. International. His first release Jack Trax is one of the most coveted early house music releases, fetching upwards of $1500.00 (USD) on eBay.
After walking away from the recording industry, Chip remained in entertainment. Always being a tech-head, Chip found a love for authoring DVDs back when packaged media was a thing. He was recognized for his talent by Apple and began assisting them with their first DVD tools. From DVDs Chip found his way into Avenue Edit. Watching and working with some of the most talented editors in Chicago, Chip would go onto consult for Apple on Final Cut Pro 6 as well as Final Cut Pro 7 (back when FCP was great), and was president of the Chicago Final Cut Pro Users Group. For the better part of the last decade, Chip has worked in the film industry. Besides editing, Chip has been the Executive Post-Production Supervisor for several films distributed by Paramount/Viacom/BET.
Let’s find out more about Chip E.
What’s your origin story?
A lot of people know “Chip E” the DJ and music producer, but very few know Chip Eberhart the film editor and sometimes director.
Some people say I got my gifts from my mother. I mean I literally got gifts from that woman. When I was 4 years old, she gave me a little record player, and I played Ray Charles “Hit the Road Jack” over and over. I love the repetition of “Don’t you come back no more, no more, no more, no more.” Who knew years later that repetitiveness would have such a great role in the house music I produce as in “Time to jack, jack your body” or “li li li li li like this.”
At the age of 8 an advertising co-worker of my mother’s gifted me with an electric guitar. My musical sensibilities had taken root and were growing. At the age of 12, Mom gifted me with a Nikon camera. I learned to love taking that instrument and creating images. One Christmas, she gave me a Camcorder, and from that gift emerged my love for film. I believe I was about 13 when she gifted me with a stereo and the following year I requested and received two turntables, and a keyboard. One day she said, “Let me show you how to use a computer, this is DOS” …and the rest is history. Today you’ll see on my IMDB that not only have I edited several films (as well as edited the Jerry Springer show for a while) but I think besides editing I’ve really found my niche as Post-Production Supervisor. In the last couple years, I’ve been the Executive Post-Production Supervisor as well ad VFX Supervisor for just over a half dozen feature films distributed by Paramount/Viacom/BET
How did you get into your craft?
I got into music at the age of 16 where my love for music got me into parties as a dj and got me a job at Imports, etc. which specialized in rare music. I began making my own music on my turntables. One day my mother, who was in advertising, brought a cassette of a commercial she was writing for the play “The Little Dreamer.” In one part of the commercial, she has an actress saying “Clap your hands.” I copied that and then repeated it (having learned to love repetition at the age of four) and had her saying “Clap your hands, clap, clap, clap your hands, clap your hands” I added a music track to it and that was officially my first attempt at a new style of music which I later called House Music.
I got into the film industry because as I said, my mother was in advertising and she took me to the studio to see a commercial shoot, and I was fascinated. Plus, I was doing some amateur road racing and had a lot of in-car-video. I had to learn to edit video. In addition, I had just been featured in a British documentary on House Music. I didn’t like the way they told my story. I wanted to tell me own story, and I’m kind of CDO (It’s like OCD, but I prefer the letters in alpha order). 25 years ago, I taught myself how to author DVDs as well as edit film and video. I started getting noticed on the internet for my knowledge of Apple’s video tools, did some beta testing as well as consulting for Apple, and soon after I was hired at Avenue Edit. There I met Phil Lee, and I met Darryl Manuel through my mother. I learned I had skills, not only as an editor, but as a director when I worked with Darryl on a soap opera that my mother and a friend of hers had written. I am now solidly in the industry.
What did your parents think you would be?
At one time my parents thought I was going to be a newscaster because I used to watch TV with my grandmother and my aunt when my mother and father were at work. When they came home, I would report the news to them. I was about five years old. Later they thought I would be a photographer because I had gotten so good with the Nikon Camera my Mom bought me that I was actually making composites for aspiring models
Who were your mentors?
My mentors were many. When I was in grammar school, Mr. Williams was my 6th grade teacher. He had a love for Black history, and for some reason he really took to me. Another mentor was the well-known professional photographer, Reginald Payton. He took me under his wing as an apprentice for over a year. All that said, my mother, Emma Young, former VP of Creative at Burrell Communications, former head of marketing for Soft Sheen products, former copywriter and producer at Leo Burnett, as well as speech writer for Harold Washington and other Chicago and Illinois political figures, that woman continues to be my mentor, and I appreciate her more and more every day.
Bravest thing you’ve done?
I think the bravest thing I’ve done was when I was in my first year at Columbia College and decided I wanted to make a record. I had worked and saved for over a year to get a set of professional turntables, Technic SL1200 MK2. I had to sell those turntables to afford studio time. I had to go all in and believe that my music would be a success.
How do you handle failure?
I avoid them. If something doesn’t work out the first, second or even third time I try it, I don’t call it a failure, I call it an experience, and I learn from each experience until when I finally get it right, it’s very, very right. I think it was Edison that said, I never had any failures, I just learned 99 ways how not to make a lightbulb.
What do you do to pump yourself up?
Sometimes I will go to the studio and create a song, or I might create some lyrics, or maybe a screenplay idea. Creating pumps me up.
What drives you to create?
Life. People. The music that lives in my head
What TV series, movies, or ads are portraying powerful, inspirational Black images in 2023?
American Fiction.. Origins. Equalizer series. Atlanta. The Chi.
What is the biggest challenge to Black people in your industry?
Overcoming the stereotypical expectations of people who don’t understand that most Black people are not like those created in the imaginations of white writers and filmmakers.
Who is a talent, actor, director or writer, you are dying to work with?
I felt that being such a powerful actor, Will Smith’s actions were disappointing. I learned early on that in the entertainment business, every time you walk outside, you’re on stage. I wish he had set a better example.
When you’re not creating, what do you do in your off time?
When I’m not creating, sometimes I enjoy taking a nice drive on a twisty road. I’ve always had a passion for cars and motorsports, and there’s no more relaxing feeling than being at one with man and machine.
Predict your future! Where are you in 5 years?
In five years I expect to be at the Academy Awards accepting an Oscar for Best Movie of the Year. I think I have to do this soon. My family is still waiting for me to become a multi-millionaire, and I don’t want to disappoint them.
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