Chuck Case, a Watertown native and resident of Tea, SD, is a longtime regional in demand drummer, bandleader, music educator and retired military bandsman having served 24 years in the United States Air Force and South Dakota Army National Guard bands. Chuck started playing drums at 9 years old after being inspired by watching older brother and first “drum hero” Dave play the drum solo along with the song “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.” Influenced by numerous famous rock and jazz drummers, Chuck played his first professional band job at the age of 15 with the band “Dave and The Gents” and continued to play jobs with the band throughout his high school years.

After attending SDSU, Chuck served his country as a drummer/percussionist in the United States Air Force with the Strategic Air Command (SAC) Band at Offutt AFB, NE, having served 1985-1994. While a member of this organization, Chuck was the drummer and musical director of the rock/country group Night Wing, performing for military and government dignitaries and civilian audiences around the country. With Night Wing, Chuck had the pleasure of being drummer for the late John Denver in 1991 for over 25,000 people for a televised concert at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE. After leaving the Air Force he continued his service with the 147th Army Band (National Guard), retiring after a total of 24 years of combined service.

Having performed music professionally for 46 years in a variety of styles, Chuck has performed with the South Dakota Symphony, Mercedes Ellington, The Four Aces, The Four Lads, The Diamonds, The Fabulous Flippers, Watertown Big Band, Blue Twilight Jazz Quartet, Surfin' Safari, Jimmy Weber, The Webers, Dustin Evans, The Rude Band, Flashback, DNR, Danica Michaels, Just Duet and numerous other bands and musicians throughout the region. He also formed and led “Chuck Case and The Late Night Boomers”, the house band for the regionally televised late night talk show “Late Night Boomin.” Chuck wrote the show's theme song and other original musical compositions and arrangements for the show. He is a 2019 individual inductee into the Legends of Dakota Country Music Hall of Fame and the 2025 SDRRHOF with the band Surfin’ Safari.

As a music educator, Chuck has taught percussion at Dordt College and the University of Sioux Falls. He is owner and co-founder with his wife, Jennifer, of Case School of Music in Tea, SD, where he has taught in person and online virtual private lessons to hundreds of students throughout the region since 1999, teaching drum set, concert, marching, and hand percussion. Passing along his love of music, he continues to teach private lessons virtually online to students of all ages and skill levels.

Chuck continues to play for his own enjoyment and currently is revisiting his roots of rudimental drumming, studying and performing traditional early American military drum music on traditional military rope drums.

Chuck considers the greatest achievement in his life is marrying the love of his life and wife of 38 years, Jennifer, who is also a drummer. They have a son, Dakota (Lexi), a step granddaughter, Lily, and two dogs, Dudley and Gracie.

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