Loeb was born in Nyack, New York, near New York City. At a young age, he listened to Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Cream, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan. According to a 2005 JazzTimes article, the first song he learned on guitar was Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone", which he would later play at a guest appearance with Dylan. He discovered jazz when he was sixteen through the music of guitarists Wes Montgomery, George Benson, John McLaughlin, and Pat Martino. At that point, Loeb chose to become a musician and "never thought of doing anything else".
He studied with local music teachers, then traveled to Philadelphia and became a student of jazz guitarist Dennis Sandole. In New York City, he learned from Jim Hall. For two years he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, then left in 1976 to seek professional work in New York City.
In New York, Loeb played with Chico Hamilton, Ray Barreto, and Hubert Laws. Starting in 1979, he was a member of Stan Getz's group.[5] Getz later became the best man at his wedding to singer Carmen Cuesta. Loeb and Mitchel Forman, who was also in Getz's group, formed the jazz fusion band Metro (1994). In the 1980s, he was a member of the group Steps Ahead, which included Michael Brecker, someone Loeb credits as an influence. He replaced Larry Carlton as guitarist in Fourplay (2010).
Loeb and his wife have recorded together, with Cuesta providing vocals on his albums and Loeb playing on Cuesta's albums, and their daughters Lizzy and Christina contributing vocals.
Loeb began a solo career in 1988 with his debut album My Shining Hour on the Japanese record label Pony Canyon. He released subsequent albums on DMP Digital Music Products until receiving commercial success with Shanachie Records on The Music Inside (1996). The title song from the album held the number one position on the jazz charts for six weeks. Later, he produced Moon, the Stars, & the Setting Sun (1998), Listen(1999) In a Heartbeat (2001), and All There Is (2002).
Loeb's music has appeared on TV shows, commercials, and movie soundtracks, including The Untouchables, You've Got Mail, and Hitch.
Loeb died on July 31, 2017, aged 61 after suffering from cancer for several years.
The Music Inside
Chuck Loeb Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Those that made it, those that faded
Those that never even made the grade
Those that we thought would never last
Singers come and go and stars fade away
They vanish in the haze and they're never seen again
But the music just keeps playing on
They can't stop the music
They can't stop the music playing on
I've been half a million places
I've seen half a million people who stare
I've been a star and down and out
I've been put on, sat on, punched and spat on
They've called me a faggot, a spiv and a fake
They can knock me down and tread on my face
But they can't stop the music playing on
Let's all raise a glass to the rock stars of the past
Those that made it and those that faded
And those that never even made the grade
And those that we thought would never last
Singers come and go and stars fade away
(You can't stop the music, you can't stop the music)
They vanish in the haze and they're never seen again
(You can't stop the music, you can't stop the music)
But they can't stop the music playing on
(But they can't stop the music playing on)
You can't stop the music, you can't stop the music
You can't stop the music, you can't stop the music
You can't stop the music, you can't stop the music
You can't stop the music, you can't stop the music
You can't stop the music
Chuck Loeb’s song, “The Music Inside,” is a tribute to the music industry’s past rock stars. He raises a glass to those that made it, and those that faded, but also those that never even made it. He acknowledges the reality that some singers come and go, while others fade away. Even though many stars have vanished in the haze never to be seen again, the music they made still lives on. The irony is that despite the immense success gained by some of these stars, their lives were not always easy. The lyrics reflect how Chuck himself had been through the ups and downs of success and failure, from being a star to down and out. He had been put on, sat on, punched and spat on. He had been labeled a faggot, a spiv, and a fake. Yet despite all of these trials, Chuck believed in the power of music to endure. The music may not be able to stop the negativity and criticism, but it can continue to play on.
The song continues with a chorus repeating the phrase “You can’t stop the music” multiple times. This reiteration emphasizes the point that the music industry will continue on, with or without the individual artists. Chuck does not minimize the struggles and hardships faced by these artists even though the music will always outlive them. In the end, he reminds us to acknowledge and appreciate the impact that these rock stars had on our world.
Overall, “The Music Inside,” recognizes the sacrifice, talent, and influence of the past rock stars, the challenges they endured and depicts the power of their music to persist over time.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's all raise a glass to the rock stars of the past
Let's give a toast to the musicians who were popular in the past
Those that made it, those that faded
Referring to musicians who either succeeded or didn't in their career
Those that never even made the grade
Talking about aspiring musicians who didn't achieve their desired level of success
Those that we thought would never last
Referring to musicians who were initially underestimated or doubted
Singers come and go and stars fade away
Musicians have a fleeting career and eventually lose popularity
They vanish in the haze and they're never seen again
Once a musician loses their popularity, they often disappear from the public eye
But the music just keeps playing on
Despite musicians losing their popularity, their music remains timeless and continues to be played
They can't stop the music
The music will always continue to exist and be played, no matter what happens to the musicians who created it
I've been half a million places
The musician has traveled extensively throughout their career
I've seen half a million people who stare
The musician has encountered many people who admire them
I've been a star and down and out
The musician has experienced the highs and lows of fame
I've been put on, sat on, punched and spat on
The musician has endured mistreatment from others
They've called me a faggot, a spiv and a fake
The musician has been insulted and called names
They can knock me down and tread on my face
The musician has been physically and emotionally hurt by others
But they can't stop the music playing on
Despite facing difficulties and criticism, the musician's music will continue to exist and be played
(You can't stop the music, you can't stop the music)
The repetition of this line emphasizes the idea that the music will always continue to exist
But they can't stop the music playing on
Despite facing difficulties and criticism, the musician's music will continue to exist and be played
You can't stop the music
The phrase is repeated to reinforce the idea that music will always continue to play and exist
You can't stop the music
The phrase is repeated to reinforce the idea that music will always continue to play and exist
You can't stop the music
The phrase is repeated to reinforce the idea that music will always continue to play and exist
You can't stop the music
The phrase is repeated to reinforce the idea that music will always continue to play and exist
You can't stop the music
The phrase is repeated to reinforce the idea that music will always continue to play and exist
Contributed by Juliana A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Craig Scott
on Sierra Nevada
Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!