We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chuck Starks. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chuck below.
Hi Chuck, thanks for joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
As a pastor’s kid, my younger sister and I grew up traveling the U.S. with our parents, a tight-knit team reviving struggling churches. My parents turned financial chaos into thriving communities, then we’d move on to the next. It was their calling; for us, it was an adventure with ups and downs. Some of us loved the new places, others found the constant moves tough, but we took the good with the bad.
Music was our escape. Whether playing church hymns or our own songs, every town gave us a stage. My dad, who never had instruments growing up, made sure we did. He gave us church platforms and community halls to shine as musicians—his gift to us.
In Charlevoix, Northern Michigan, on our 40-acre property, Dad built us a music room in a barn. On snowy winter days or starry summer nights, my sister and I could play as loud as we wanted, lost in music and free to dream.
While Dad fueled our creativity, Mom was our entrepreneurial hero. She worked at MCI and Verizon, then started her own real estate hustle. I still remember her making deals on a clunky car phone while driving—a powerhouse in a pre-smartphone world.
Music and hustle shaped us. Dad’s stages gave me a voice; Mom’s grit taught me to chase dreams. Those moments made me who I am: a believer in creativity and the drive to make dreams real.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Moving to Nashville to pursue music with my indie rock band, Brenn, was a dream come true. We found modest success, with our songs featured on shows like Road Rules, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and other MTV classics. Our tours took us up the Eastern Seaboard, playing college campuses and clubs.
The pinnacle of my musical career came when we were hired by the Pentagon to entertain American troops overseas.
Standing on that stage with my bandmates, playing for the brave men and women serving our country, was an unforgettable honor. I’ll never forget when a soldier in Turkey said, “Thank you for bringing a piece of America to us here.” It was a profound moment that still resonates with me today.
But then came the rise of streaming services. By 2009, the economy was down, and colleges and clubs struggled to budget for live music. The indie rock scene became unsustainable, and Brenn eventually disbanded.
Life took us all in different directions. For me, it was a leap into the corporate world, guided by a close friend, Brian Hall, who played with a fantastic local band called Merced. Brian introduced me to the tech industry, where I built a career that spanned over a decade.
Of course, everything changes. The corporate world is no stranger to layoffs, and eventually, I found myself at a crossroads.
Thankfully, the income I earned in tech allowed me to invest in not one, but two homes: one in Nashville and another in Joshua Tree, California. Embracing change, I ventured into entrepreneurship, learning as I went. This journey led me to earn my real estate license, and I now help people find homes in Nashville—a city I’ve called home for over 20 years.
What sets me apart as a realtor is my deep connection to Nashville’s music and culture. I know the city like the back of my hand. My steady and consistent approach helps clients navigate the high-stakes process of buying a home—a life-changing experience, as I know firsthand. My first home transformed my life, and I’m grateful to help others find that same joy.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Right now, friends and family! Maybe even a reader of Hidden Gem interviews :)
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
AI is shaking things up, pushing us all to adapt. My friend, a luxury real estate photographer in Maui, sees AI creeping into his field, threatening traditional photography jobs. He’s a realist, ready to pivot when the time comes.
In my music writing, I’m already leaning on AI. Recently I was collaborating with my friend Sam Lynagh, a fellow musician and realtor, I found myself using tools like ChatGPT to spark creativity—spinning out 20 lyrical lines that rhyme or unearthing fresh, unexpected words.
It’s like David Bowie’s old trick of cutting up book pages and rearranging words to craft a song, just lightning-fast and on steroids. You sift through the output, pick what resonates, and make it your own.
In real estate, AI’s impact looms large. I’m thinking by 2030, AI and blockchain could revolutionize property transactions, making them fully autonomous. Imagine smart contracts handling everything—property searches, negotiations, title transfers—in minutes, no middleman needed.
Realtors might pivot to advisory roles, focusing on high-value or complex deals, but trust in automation remains challenging.
I hope we never lose the human touch. However – I we used to walk into banks, talking to tellers; now, my phone can do EVERYTHING. Real estate could go the same way, but I believe there’s still room for connection—whether it’s a realtor’s guidance or writing a song with a new friend – I’m hopeful for staying connected.
Oh, and one last gem for your readers. If you’re into mind-bending stories about AI, you have to check out The Last Question by Isaac Asimov. It’s this killer short story from the ‘50s that dives into humanity’s relationship with AI over, like, trillions of years. You can read it or find it on YouTube—it’s only about 25-30 minutes. It’s got this super thought-provoking take on where our universe might end up. Totally out there, but what a wild ride!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chuck.starks/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckstarks/
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0AkaocKYiANkY5Q8Xyq2Yc?si=21qEnqjDRS-0Kzw1lDMKqw
Image Credits
Diana Garcia, Cherith Wooten, Chuck Starks