Charles F. “Chuck” Thomasy is a Bakersfield College student who finds the time to be a single dad, work a full-time job, go to college and be a musician in an active band.
Thomasy, 32, and father of two boys, is a self-proclaimed “local musician, naive artist and spiritualist” who finds the time to be a graphic design student while working a full-time job and raising two boys on his own. Not to mention, he is in a band named ExposE.
Thomasy is employed as a server at The Sugar Mill, a restaurant in town. He has worked there for 15 years and uses his salary from the restaurant to support his two boys and pay rent on a house in Bakersfield.
Thomasy enjoys his time at BC and his studies. When asked about the difficulty of it all, Thomasy said he is fortunate enough to be interested in the classes he takes, so they don’t wear on him mentally or conflict with his schedule.
“The only part is, I go to school on my days off from work, so I don’t have any days off,” he said. “My children are taken care of by their mother during the day, so I rely on her for that part, so that’s kind of hard.
“During the day I’m either at work or a dad, and then when it comes to art or school, that is usually done at night when the children are asleep,” Thomasy said further explaining his daily routine. “If I’m lucky enough to have some time to do it.”
More than just a digital artist, Thomasy, has taken drawing and photography classes at BC. Thomasy also explained that his inspiration for his art comes at different times and seems to be strongest at 4 a.m.
Thomasy has been attending BC for almost a year and hopes to use his course of study to do freelance work for local businesses. Thomasy plans to use his newly acquired skills to work on his band’s artwork, such as album covers and art.
ExposE, in which he pulls double duty as the guitarist and vocalist for, is a three-piece grunge band formed by Thomasy. He said that the band has been together for three years now and only seem to be getting better as a unit of music.
Bakersfield Music Now is the music label Thomasy produces his music through and is in the process of releasing a CD, which features local musicians from Bakersfield.
When asked how long he has been a musician, Thomasy said, “I’d say that I’ve been a musician all my life, because I’ve always had a deep influence from music, but I actually picked up an instrument when I was 12 and that’s when I actually started to play guitar. But, I actually started writing songs lyrically when I was 8.”
Thomasy also said he was influenced by Nirvana’s performance on Saturday Night Live, but had to give official credit to Phil Collins and his song “In The Air Tonight.” He mentions other such influences as Tool, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Slipknot and Seether.
“The message in my music, the same with my art … is spiritual freedom that can be taken into politics, mentality and prisoners of the mind [like one who is easily influenced by the politics of fear].
“The name ExposE really generates from my … exposing myself in a process through my art, while learning about myself,” said Thomasy.
But he goes on to explain that his band is not a political band who sides with any party ideals or beliefs, rather a band that gets its ideas from what goes on in politics, as well as other issues including world problems and religion.
Thomasy attributes all he goes through as a father, student, employee, musician and evolving being to making him who he is. “My kids teach me about myself” said Thomasy.
While he agrees it is challenging at times, he does credit his family with helping him with his kids and looking out for him when he feels tested with what life has dealt him.
His calm demeanor and relaxed body language gave no indication that it was more than he can handle. “It’s not challenging, it’s just life.”