Biography
Conceived for what was supposed to be a one-off show at House of Blues Chicago, Chicago Loud 9 materialized as a nine-piece Funk/Hip Hop/R&B/Soul band that brings nothing short of high-intensity, energy-filled musical performances. Comprised of members that are hard at work in the vibrant Chicago music scene, Chicago Loud 9 showcases a dynamic, horn-driven, foot-stomping performance at each live show. They have been listed in Illinois Entertainer as one of the “Best Local Acts in Chicago”, and also featured as the house band on daytime talk shows Windy City Live on ABC-7 and The Jam on WCIU-26.
Chicago Loud 9 blends Funk, Soul, and R&B with Hip Hop, Rock and Reggae, drawing influences from artists such as Earth, Wind, & Fire, Outkast, The Roots, Bruno Mars, Chicago, Snarky Puppy, Nirvana, Bob Marley, Anderson .Paak, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Beyoncé. The band released the album “Reason” in the Summer of 2017, their third album to-date. With new material on the way, their existing catalogue can be heard on all streaming platforms: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Soundcloud, Amazon Music, Bandcamp, etc. Follow them on all social medias @chicagoloud9.
Dhan Dee – Emcee
Dhan Dee has been a lifelong Poet and Writer. Dhan is an emcee who originally hails from Chicago’s west side and then the lower north side respectively. He recorded his first song at 14 and has been going full speed ahead since then. Before Dhan was frontman of Chicago Loud 9, he was in Hip Hop supergroup A-Team on S.K.Y Entertainment. His Motivation of wanting to have a live band came from seeing the Roots live and in person in 2007. Outside of music Dhan is a personal trainer for Chicago Fit 4 Life who puts on the No Excuses Fitness Bootcamp, which is the largest fitness bootcamp in the city of Chicago.
Duke – Vocals
Duke has always embraced a diverse range of musical styles, never confining herself to a single genre. Her journey began in high school when she joined the All City Choir, mostly singing classical music. Soon after, she delved into musical theater, participating in productions like Into the Woods and The Wiz. In college, Duke’s versatility continued to shine as she joined the gospel group Redeemed and later formed her own R&B/Blues band, Duke and Shades of Grey. She graduated from Columbia College in May 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance. Since the fall of 2021, Duke has been rocking and rollin’ on stages with Chicago Loud 9 and enjoying every bit of it. When she’s not performing, she’s busy writing new music, continually exploring her creative boundaries.
Chad Wynes – Guitars
Chad Wynes was one of the many people who felt a deep connection to the Grunge sound of the early 90’s and he immediately felt the need to pick up a guitar and join the movement. He formed his first band in 1995 in his hometown of Silvis, Illinois and has continued to perform ever since. Chad ultimately decided to pursue a full time music career and set off for Chicago in 2002. He spent the next 10 years performing original live music in Chicago while being exposed to many new influences and other like-minded musicians. He became a founding member of Chicago Loud 9 in 2012 and, outside of the band, he enjoys producing hip-hop and electronic music and working as a graphic designer.
Chris Dixon – Bass/Vocals
From a young age, Chris Dixon knew that he had a strong love of music and knew that he wanted to be a musician and a performer! A Chicago-born multi-instrumentalist, Song-writer, Composer and arranger; Christopher is proficient on the Trombone, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Percussion/Drum-set and loves to sing as well! Well versed in many genres, he has been performing since he was in grade school and his passion has allowed him to perform with multiple groups all throughout Chicago, The U.S.A, and internationally; performing in Brazil and France. He is also a graduate of VanderCook College of Music, earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Ed(‘12). When not rocking the stage, Chris is a Music teacher for CPS, spreading his love and passion for music to the younger generation!
Kyle Voivodas – Percussion
Like most prospective drummers, Kyle discovered his passion at a young age – by making drum sets out of pots and pans in the kitchen. Growing up in Indianapolis, he was fortunate enough to go to school in Lawrence Township which has one of the best Performance Arts systems in the country. He studied percussion in classical music, concert band, jazz, was the drummer in the school pep band, and was a Bands of America National Champion in marching band. The pursuit of musical studies continued and he received a college degree in Music Theory and History. He has gone on to pursue his career in the great music scene of Chicago, where through crazy circumstances, he met the members of Chicago Loud 9. He is a former Music Director at School of Rock where he instructed kids of all ages the skills and principles to rock on stage – and in life.
Tayiib Dauda – Saxophone
Middle school band director by day, saxy performer by night; Tayiib Dauda is a multi-instrumentalist who specializes in everything woodwind. Tayiib grew up in Las Vegas and began performing the local scene while still in high school with his funk-based jam band. He then moved to Chicago where he received his B.A. in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music and later completed his Master’s Degree in Symphonic Conducting at Missouri State University in Springfield, MO. When he’s not playing tasty horn lines with cLOUD9, you may see him performing with various Jazz Big Bands throughout the Chicagoland area.