Rachael Chatoor Bio - From music to Pickleball

In my earliest days...

I toured around my province in Canada with a duo called the Forget me Nots. After a making a funny promo video (long before YouTube was a thing), our agents told us to put together a band so they would send us overseas.

A couple months later 4 girls wound up In the United Arab Emirates, rocking out night after night for a three month tour. It was there that I found my husband who himself had travelled to the UAE from the UK to work.  

Fast forward more than a decade, four continents and a couple of kids later...

I found myself back in Canada and on the road doing a rock n roll video series called "All Access Pass" with Kelly Brock (of famed Vancouver band Dr Strangelove) where we got to go backstage and interview music industry royalty such as Loverboy and Chilliwack and go behind the scenes with music industry bigwigs to lift the veil for viewers! (We were both working musician Moms, carving out a creative space for ourselves and we had a blast doing this series).

I also had the Rachael Chatoor Band rotating in and out of the River Rock and Hard Rock Casinos, was lead singer in Hitzone, and sang background with Catherine St Germain in the Indestructables; all of which rotated in and out of the big rooms.

I played Nancy Wilson in Barracuda, Canada's Tribute to Heart, (and shared the stage several times with original Heart guitarist Roger Fisher), and eventually created the Rockingbyrds with Russell Marsland of the R & B AllStars and Jeff Neill of Streetheart.

All of these dynamic bands were playing casinos, theatres, corporate events and festivals locally and nationally.

At the time I also subbed in with a few other bands who were on the circuit and I was doing solo shows, so, some weeks were, well really, a mind melt between all the different song lists and costume changes I had to prepare or pack for. I never minded the grind however, it was my job and I liked it.

While all of that was thrilling and exciting it was also complicated as it involved loads of set lists, costumes and schedule conflicts. 

Along the way I had the incredible good fortune to be asked to be a part of one of the groups I had previously subbed in for, Dreams and Arrival, two of the busiest, bands I've ever had the pleasure of working with. (Dreams and Arrival are the same band so they were as efficient as they were diverse).

This group is a well oiled machine and I had the time of my life performing on those big stages, it was always a good gig and we were always treated very much like rockstars.

I was on and off planes and in and out of busses and hotel rooms several times a month all year long for about 4 years. I loved playing the music and I especially loved the audience reaction when we played it for them. I fed off of the love vibes they gave, and gave it right back.

The energy loop of music is like no other.

Even during the normally quieter months when many bands closed down entirely, we maintained our schedule. I was also blessed, because my solo gigs allowed me to be flexible to my travel gigs, and so I was somehow, able to do it all. I even got back into art and sold my guitar paintings on clothing and mugs and blankets and fun items. Rock stars, backstage crew, music fans and and radio DJ's purcased and shared my GUITARious gear as it was natural for me to create my own stuff and share the links to where I created it, as I travelled around. It worked well, I don't travel with gear, I share my ideas and the art that's inside me. It all worked.

About a month pre-covid, we as a band were lighting ourselves on fire, the Arrival band had just played Roger's arena during the Canucks game, and we launched a third band, Dixie Darlins (now called Gaslighter), a tribute to the Dixie Chicks. We were driving home from a theatre near Osoyoos BC when we got the news that the country was shutting down.

We figured it would last a couple weeks, maybe a month. You all know what happened next, gigs dropped left and right as the country shut down.....and it kept happening. One by one our bookings (which we had well into 2021 at that point) were cancelled, the ones that could be, were rescheduled for next year but immediately our calendar dried up and everyone's world changed. As far as bands go we did as much as we could, we were involved in the first Canada wide TributeWebFest 2020, Tracy Masson and I dusted off our Abba characters and joined the Rogers arena musicians in a tribute video for the Canucks.  But online work is a different animal: you don't get the energy loop. I missed it.

The solo venues that pivoted and kept music also kept me so I've been able to do solo work all year. And that's been soul filling. As a background performer the gig is inherently different, I have to blend in, I don't need the energy loop in the same way, I can do that show for myself, I just invite people in.

Thankfully I was able to work a little doing the solo gig throughout much of it.

In November however, Hallelujah, the band bookings started coming in.

But something happened and I didn't want to do it. I was still afraid of travelling.

Something in me had changed during the months away—I had slowed down and reconnected with my family and home life, and I liked it.

I liked not having a trip looming or packing, song lists, gear and travel to worry about.

My band, they are a machine, they are made for music and ready to play, and I wanted them to.

So I asked them to find a sub for me. They did and they had a fantastic show and the rock n roll machine that is Arrival and Dreams roared on without me and I was so happy for them and so glad they could work without me getting on a plane...

and then it hit me... I don't miss it, the travelling I mean. I do miss the audience but I don't miss the grind. I realized I was happier at home with my family .....and I think I'm done. It was the perfect time to really sub out, for good. There was enough break in the schedule which provided ample time to work a killer singer in to take my place.

And that is how they rock n rolled on without me. They were made for this. :) 

And so I am here, close to home and family, occasionally singing and strumming solo at a select variety of bistros, lounges, private venues, golf/tennis courses. Once in a while I have a girlfriend join me onstage, stay tuned for what might happen with that... 

Which finally brings me to pickleball. Like so many others, during covid I discovered that I love Pickleball. We moved to a new area just as the world shut down and found ourselves walking our dog past a pickleball court every day, (the only thing left to do it seemed).

We used to laugh at them all, playing a game with such a weird name...

HOW JUDGY WERE WE?

Very. Which is probably why I wrote the children's story: Where are the Pickles in Pickleball?" 

You see, my own reaction to the name triggered me to judge it, so I figured that if people can read this book to young kids and get them excited about Pickleball despite the name, then maybe when kids meet me in elementary school for Pickleball month, the mystery of the name will be old news, they won’t pre judge it and they might even look forward to it. That is my hope anyhow. 

And so now I am a full time pickleballaholic. 

My hubby and I play every day that it’s nice outside (when our bodies let us) and at a certain time of year, every year, I help the local Pickleball club teach at the schools. Because I want everyone to know the sport. It has brought so much joy and health (and injury that I only got stronger from) to my life, and I want everyone to know about it. And naturally, I started making my own patterns and art to wear for Pickleball, which I put out there for others to order if they like it. Just as I did with my GUITARious gear all the years I was performing and touring. I have some classic GUITARious stuff for you too by the way. Items which in their conception so many years ago set me up for today because it has translated to Pickleball, and that is how you wound up here. 

Very. Which is probably why I wrote the children’s story: “Where are the pickles in Pickleball”? (Now out onAmazon).You see, my own reaction to the name triggered me to judge it, so I figured that if people can read this book to young kids and get them excited about Pickleball despite the name, then maybe when kids meet me in elementary school for Pickleball month, the mystery of the name will be old news, they won’t pre judge it and they might even look forward to it. That is my hope anyhow.

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Everyone Lobs! brought to you by DINK is VERB, Pickleball ARTwear mix, by Rachael Chatoor

Introducing a LOB story.

Everyone Lobs.

 

Brought to you first, by Pickleball ARTwear. 

for those who know....

 DINK is a VERB 

Find it on my website www.rachaelchatoor.com 

RETIRED ITEMS NO LONGER FOR SALE  I can still include parts of these designs in any custom order. 

Some of the latest Pickleball Artwear offerings.
All designs created with pickleballs and pickleball paddles.
 

#pickleballdasies #pickleballbutterflies #pickleballartwear #pickleballflamingo
#pickleballmindthegap 

 

Song REQUEST list for Rachael Chatoor, Solo singing and strumming ~

Angel from Montgomery (B Raitt)

A Day in the Life (theBeatles)

A little Bit More (Dr Hook)

Adventure of a lifetime (Coldplay)
All About the Bass (M Traynor)
Baby Blue (Chilliwack)                      

Baby I Love your Way (PFrampton)
Baby I’m a Want You (Bread)
Band On the Run  (Wings)

Big Love (Fleetwood Mac)
Breathe   (Anna Nalik)
Behind Blue Eyes (the Who)
Best Of My Love  (Eagles)
Better Be Home Soon (CrowdedHouse)
Black Magic Woman (Santana)
Black Water   (Doobie Brothers)

Blurry (Puddle Of Mud)
Boogie Ooogie Oogie  (Taste of Honey)
Betty Davis Eyes (Kim Karnes)
Boulevard of Broken Dreams (Green Day)
Both Sides Now (Joni Mitchell)
Brother Down  (Sam Roberts)
Chasing Cars  (Snow Patrol)

CIrcles (Post Malone)
Clocks  ( Coldplay)
Come Together (Beatles)
Crazy Talk (Chilliwack)
Crazy Love (Poco)

Crocodile Rock (Elton John)
Dreams (Fleetwood Mac)
Daniel  (Elton John)
Danny’s Song (Kenny Loggins)

Dirty Water (Rock and Hyde)
Don’t Bring me Down (ELO)
Don’t Dream it’s Over (Crowded House)

Don't Cross the River (America)
Dream Weaver (Gary Wright)
Drops of Jupiter  (Train)
Drive  (the Cars)
Dust in the Wind  (Kansas)
Everybody Hurts  (R.E.M)
Everybody Wants to Rule the World (TFF)
Everything I Own  (Bread)

Everywhere (Fleetwood Mac)
Far Away  (NIckleback)
Fast Car  (Tracy Chapman)

Feel it Still (Portugal the Man)
Find You ( Nick Jonas)
Fly At Night (Chilliwack)
Fly Like and Eagle (Steve Miller Band)

Flowers (Miley Cyrus)
For What it’s Worth (B Springfield)
Get Lucky (Daft Punk)
Give Me One Reason (Tracy Chapman)
Go your own way (Fleetwood Mac)

He thinks He'll keep her (Mary Chapin Carpenter) 

Have you Ever Seen the Rain (CCR)
Heart of Glass (Blondie)
Heart of Gold (Neil Young)
Heaven (Bryan Adams)
Helplessly Hoping (Crosby Stills Nash)
Here Without You (3 Doors Down)

Here Comes the rain Again (Eurhythmics)
Hey Soul Sister (Train)

Hey There Delilah  (PLain White Ts)
High and Dry (Radiohead)
Hold My Hand (Hootie & The Blowfish)

Hold Back the Rain (Duran Duran)

Hotel California (The Eagles)

How you Remind me (Nickleback)
Hurts So Good  (John Cougar)
I Can’t Tell You Why (Eagles)

I got a name (Jim Croce)
I Wouldn’t Want to Lose your Love (April Wine)

If you could read my mind love (Gordon Lightfoot)
Im on Fire for You baby (April Wine)

I'm not in Love (10CC)
In the Air Tonight (Phil Collins)
Insensitive (Jann Arden)
It Aint Over till its Over (L Kravitz)

It's still Rock n Roll to Me  (Billy Joel)
Just the Two Of Us (Bill Withers)
Just the Way You Are (Bruno Mars)
Killing Me Softly (Fugees)
Kryptonite  (3 Doors Down)

Kiss Me (Cranberries)

Landslide (Fleetwood Mac)
Learn To Fly  (foo Fighters)
Let Her cry (Hootie and the Blowfish)
The Letter (Joe Cocker)
Linger (the Cranberries)

Light my FIre (the Doors) 

Like a Rock (Bob Seger)
Locomotive Breath  (Jethro Tull)
Lonely People (America)
Love Will Keep Us ALive (Eagles)

Luka  (Suzanne Vega)
Make it With You  (Bread)

Maneater (Hall and Oats)
Middle Of the Road (The Pretenders)
Missing (Everything but the Girl)

Moondance (van MOrrison)
Never Tear Us Apart (INXS)
Mrs Robinson (Simon & Garfunkle)
Norwegian Wood (the Beatles)
No Rain (Blind Melon)
Old Man (Neil Young)
One (U2)
One of these Nights (Eagles)
Operator (Jim Croce)

Painted Ladies (Ian Thomas)
Piano Man (Billy Joel)
Pink Houses (John Cougar)
Rocket Man (Elton John)

Price Tag ( Jessie J )
Pumped Up Kicks (Foster the People)
Say Something (Justin Timberlake)
Say You Love Me (Fleetwood Mac)
Seven Bridges Road (Eagles)
Sexy Eyes (Dr Hook)
Sharing the night Together (Dr Hook)
She’s Not There (Zombies)
Sister Golden Hair (America)
Somebody Like You (Keith Urban)

SOmewhere only we know (Keane)
Something So Strong (Crowded House)

Sometimes When We Touch (D Hill)
Space Oddity (David Bowie)

Stuck on You (Lionel Ritchi)
Summer of 69  (Bryan Adams)

Summer Breeze (Seals and Croft)
Sylvia’s Mother (Dr Hook)

Take it to the Limit (the Eagles)

Take a Chance on Me (ABBA)

Tears in Heaven  (Eric Clapton)

The Bug  (Mary Chapin Carpenter)
The Reason (Hoobastank)
Thank You (Dido)
The Air That I Breathe (the Hollies)

The Promise (when In Rome)
The Weight (the Band)

Tin Man (America)
Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper)
Time (Pink Floyd)
Time of the Season (Zombies)
Torn (Natalie Imbrugilia)
Try (Pink)
Try (Colbie Calliat)

Two for the SHow (Trooper)
Ventura Highway (America)

Watermelon Sugar (harry Styles)

We can work it out (Beatles)
We've Only Just Begun (Carpenters)
Weather with You (Crowded House)
What’s Going On (Marvin Gaye)
Where the Streets Have No Name (U2)
White Flag (Dido)

Who Knew (pink)
Wicked Game (Chris Issac)

Wildfire (MIchael Martin Murphy)
Wild World (Cat Stevens)
Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd)
With or Without You (U2)
Wild Nights (John Cougar)
Wonderwall (Oasis)

Woodstock (CSNY)

Workin for the Weekend (Loverboy)

Wonderful Tonight  (Eric Clapton)
You Cant always get (Stones)

You Don't Mess Around with Jim (Jim Croce)

If you are at a show live I won't see the request here: text me your requests at
 

seven seven eight -three eight six- eight seven four six 






  If you are looking for PICKLEBALL PARODY LYRICS GO HERE!

If you are watching me play live or hiring me for your private event, use this list to boss me around and tell me what you would like to hear! 

live music challenge - my photos

So facebook has a challenge going on where live musicians post photos of them on stage, without an explaination.
Thought I'd do it here on my blog: 

this one isn't me, it's Tracy, I took the photo from the stage to capture the awesome crowd

 

The ever changing landscape of music in my life~

 A few years ago I had the incredible good fortune to be asked to be a part of  Dreams and Arrival, two of the busiest, most hardworking bands I've ever had the pleasure of working with. (BTW Dreams and Arrival are the same band so we were as efficient as we were diverse). 

                                
                                                  ( from my first gig with Arrival)

This group is a well oiled machine and I had the time of my life performing on those big stages be it a festival, theatre or casino show. It was always a good gig and we were always treated, well, like rockstars. 

   

I was on and off planes and in and out of busses several times a month all year long for about 4 years. I loved playing the music and I especially loved the audience reaction when we played it for them. I fed off of the love vibes and gave it right back. The energy loop of music  is like no other. 

                                       

 

                                                     

Even during the normally quieter  months when many bands closed down entirely we maintained our schedule. I was also blessed, because my solo gigs allowed me to be flexible to my travel gigs, and so I was somehow, able to do it all.

Until Covid. 

About a month pre-covid, we as a band were lighting ourselves on fire,  the Arrival band had just played Roger's arena during the Canucks game, and we launched a third band, Dixie Darlins, a tribute to the Dixie Chicks. We were driving home from a theatre  near Osoyoos BC when we got the news that the country was shutting down.

We figured it would last a couple weeks, maybe a month. 

You all know what happened next, gigs dropped left and right as the country shut down.....and it kept happening. 

One by one our bookings (which we had well into 2021 at that point) were cancelled, the ones that could be, were rescheduled for next year but immediately our calendar dried up and everyone's world changed.  As far as bands go we did as much as we could, we were involved in the first Canada wide TributeWebFest 2020, Tracy Masson and I dusted off our Abba characters and joined the Rogers arena musicians in a tribute video for the Canucks. But online work is a different animal, you don't get the energy loop. I missed it. 

The solo venues that pivoted and kept music also kept me so I've been able to do solo work all year. And that's been soul filling. As a background performer the gig is inherently different, I have to blend in, I don't need the energy loop in the same way, I can do that show for myself, I just invite people in.

PS please find Gracie's Next Door live music line up to see when I am playing next~  

                                      

Anyhow, in November, Hallelujah,  the band bookings started coming in. 

But I didn't want to do it. I was still afraid of travelling.

And something in me had changed during the months away, I had slowed down and reconnected with my family and home life, and I liked it. I liked not having a trip looming and packing and travel to worry about. 

This is where all the musicians I know who are aching to work again, think I've lost the plot .... Most of them, including everyone my own band,  want to gig. Especially my band, they are a machine, they are made for music and ready to play, and I wanted them to. So I asked them to find a sub for me. 

They did and they had a fantastic show and the rock n roll machine that is Arrival and Dreams roared on without me and I was so happy for them and so glad they could work without me getting on a plane......

and then it hit me.......
I don't miss the travelling,
I mean I miss the audience but I don't miss the grind. 
I realized I was happier at home with my family......and I think I'm done. 

                                 

Knowing there was a bigger than normal gap in our schedule (we already had bookings for 2021)  I knew it was a good time for the band to pivot and so I gave my notice, told them I was retiring from the road and they set their focus to dial in  killer new powerhouse vocals, and finally, officially, they are there!! 

Arrival and Dreams have an incredible new singer stepping  into their mix and she is a sensation all by herself in the music world, so she's going to bring a dynamic new energy to the show! You can meet Karina Morin on the facebook pages! ARRIVAL and DREAMS!

If you don't already know these bands or the players, I do hope you go find them online and keep the love flowing, for I wish them all the very best as they go out and keep kicking ass out there in the music world! Keep them on your radar and buy tickets to their shows. I can assure you they will take epic good care of you and give you that live concert experience you have been missing so much~


With bunches of love to the Arrival/Dream Team........, thank you for the years of music, I look foward to watching you blaze more trails through the industry, you all are all top shelf! 

Always a fan...
Rach 

Oooooh yes I almost forgot,  I'll be opening up an Etsy store, to pass on my old stage clothes and guitarious gear~ 
Stay tuned to this page HERE