Todd Chappelle

Todd Chappelle's been everywhere - in Delaware, that is. And while exploration through the diminutive state may not be exciting, the addition of music and a familiar tune has turned Chappelle's home-state landmarks into a two-minute homage to the cities, bars and cultural markings the First State has to offer.

"I'm from Delaware" is getting Delaware and Chappelle some newly found recognition on the Internet, even if it's as small as the state he sings about.

Chappelle, who graduated from the university in 1993, first thought of the idea for the song after seeing a commercial for Choice Hotels International. The advertisement uses the Johnny Cash song "I've Been Everywhere" to market the vast locations in which they can house travelers.

Chappelle says after seeing the advertisement and being a long-time Cash fan, the melding of melody and "Delaware" seemed to just click in his head.

"I've always loved Johnny Cash and that song," Chappelle says. "And when I saw that commercial a light just sort of went off: 'I've Been Everywhere - I'm from Delaware.' "

With the concept in place, Chappelle just needed to think of enough familiar places in Delaware to fill four verses. He and his wife, also a university graduate, pulled out a map and a pen and began to make lists of what towns they've been to and what bars they visit most frequently.

"I've been to Milford, Wilmington, Dover, Harrington / Newark, Glasgow, Seaford, Long Neck / Claymont, Georgetown, Marydel, Middletown / Lewes, Port Penn, Smyrna, Townsend / Elsmere, Little Creek, Laurel, Dewey Beach / Fenwick, Stanton, Frederica, Felton," he sings.

Chappelle says after making lists, he then had to find the right words that both rhymed and fit in the meter of the line.

"I had to put words in the right order for the verses," he says. "I found that three syllable words worked best in lyrics."

The line that has garnered the most recognition, though, is neither three syllables, nor a place to visit.

"The line that's gotten the most reaction is, 'No more Kahunaville,' " Chappelle says. "It was a popular bar in Wilmington that hosted a lot of live concerts and was right on the riverfront. It was just a big, fun, loud place that abruptly closed. When I remembered it for the song I originally didn't think to put it in since it closed, but figured I'd just talk about its closing."

Chappelle also includes a bar that might be more familiar to students.

"I put Deer Park [Tavern] in because that's where I went most often," he says.

As of Feb. 24, "I'm From Delaware" has 9,425 plays on Chappelle's MySpace page. But Chappelle says he doesn't have any lofty expectations for his music career. With a wife, kids and a job as an accountant, music is just a fun way to pass the time.

"My goal is to have a regular performing schedule in Delaware, to continue writing songs and pursue music as a hobby," he says. "I obviously can't pursue it as a profession."

It seems, though, Chappelle doesn't need to focus solely on his music, since others are involved in its promotion. After he wrote the song, a music video for "I'm From Delaware" popped up on YouTube, without any help or hint from Chappelle.

"The video was made by a Pennsylvanian woman," he says. "I met her at one of my gigs, and all I know about her is that her name is Mary Ann and she makes videos in her spare time."

The video features pictures of all the locations in the song, which Chappelle says totals at 46 towns, 20 or so bars and approximately 20 miscellaneous things about Delaware. But what could come off as overkill or a song oozing with irrelevant Delaware locales actually sounds like a state anthem.

02/26/2008
- University of Delaware Review

Todd Chappelle's been everywhere - in Delaware, that is. And while exploration through the diminutive state may not be exciting, the addition of music and a familiar tune has turned Chappelle's home-state landmarks into a two-minute homage to the cities, bars and cultural markings the First State has to offer.

"I'm from Delaware" is getting Delaware and Chappelle some newly found recognition on the Internet, even if it's as small as the state he sings about.

Chappelle, who graduated from the university in 1993, first thought of the idea for the song after seeing a commercial for Choice Hotels International. The advertisement uses the Johnny Cash song "I've Been Everywhere" to market the vast locations in which they can house travelers.

Chappelle says after seeing the advertisement and being a long-time Cash fan, the melding of melody and "Delaware" seemed to just click in his head.

"I've always loved Johnny Cash and that song," Chappelle says. "And when I saw that commercial a light just sort of went off: 'I've Been Everywhere - I'm from Delaware.' "

With the concept in place, Chappelle just needed to think of enough familiar places in Delaware to fill four verses. He and his wife, also a university graduate, pulled out a map and a pen and began to make lists of what towns they've been to and what bars they visit most frequently.

"I've been to Milford, Wilmington, Dover, Harrington / Newark, Glasgow, Seaford, Long Neck / Claymont, Georgetown, Marydel, Middletown / Lewes, Port Penn, Smyrna, Townsend / Elsmere, Little Creek, Laurel, Dewey Beach / Fenwick, Stanton, Frederica, Felton," he sings.

Chappelle says after making lists, he then had to find the right words that both rhymed and fit in the meter of the line.

"I had to put words in the right order for the verses," he says. "I found that three syllable words worked best in lyrics."

The line that has garnered the most recognition, though, is neither three syllables, nor a place to visit.

"The line that's gotten the most reaction is, 'No more Kahunaville,' " Chappelle says. "It was a popular bar in Wilmington that hosted a lot of live concerts and was right on the riverfront. It was just a big, fun, loud place that abruptly closed. When I remembered it for the song I originally didn't think to put it in since it closed, but figured I'd just talk about its closing."

Chappelle also includes a bar that might be more familiar to students.

"I put Deer Park [Tavern] in because that's where I went most often," he says.

As of Feb. 24, "I'm From Delaware" has 9,425 plays on Chappelle's MySpace page. But Chappelle says he doesn't have any lofty expectations for his music career. With a wife, kids and a job as an accountant, music is just a fun way to pass the time.

"My goal is to have a regular performing schedule in Delaware, to continue writing songs and pursue music as a hobby," he says. "I obviously can't pursue it as a profession."

It seems, though, Chappelle doesn't need to focus solely on his music, since others are involved in its promotion. After he wrote the song, a music video for "I'm From Delaware" popped up on YouTube, without any help or hint from Chappelle.

"The video was made by a Pennsylvanian woman," he says. "I met her at one of my gigs, and all I know about her is that her name is Mary Ann and she makes videos in her spare time."

The video features pictures of all the locations in the song, which Chappelle says totals at 46 towns, 20 or so bars and approximately 20 miscellaneous things about Delaware. But what could come off as overkill or a song oozing with irrelevant Delaware locales actually sounds like a state anthem.

02/26/2008
- University of Delaware Review

September 7, 2008

Tropical Storm Hanna prompted cancellations of football games, community days, arts festivals and more this weekend. But organizers of Delaware City's annual Canal Fest were determined that their show would go on.

"Are you ready to get wet?" musician Todd Chappelle asked as he played a sodden set under the gazebo in the City Park on Saturday.

The rain got heavier and the wind began to gust as Chappelle's performance began at 11:30 a.m., forcing more than a dozen residents to take shelter under trees, tarps and umbrellas.

"We could not reschedule," said co-organizer Beth Konkus, owner of the Delaware City Marina.

Armed with umbrellas, the Eriksen family -- parents Dawna and Doug plus 15-year-old Marjie and 10-year-old Seth -- arrived to listen to Chappelle. "Here come the die-hards," Dawna Eriksen announced as they walked by.

The small audience began to clap and sing along as Chappelle launched into his signature song, "I'm From Delaware," a takeoff on the tune, "I've been Everywhere," written by Geoff Mack and made famous by Johnny Cash and Hank Snow, among others.

"As long as the gazebo is still standing, or until 12:30 p.m., I'll be here," Chappelle told the group. "That's really true today. I hope I get out of here alive."
- News Journal (Wilmington, DE)

One hopeful music star is making his singing dreams come true by poking fun at the First State. Todd Chappelle is shocked by the effect his song about Delaware is having on the people who call the state home.

Chappelle has always loved music. But, he never thought by playing his old guitar he would make a name for himself.

Chappelle said, "It's been an incredible response, so much more than I expected. I'm thrilled and I'm honored that people enjoy the song and are passing it along."

The song he's talking about is called "I'm from Delaware."

It sounds just like Johnny Cash's song "I've been everywhere" except with a twist. It pokes fun at the first state. It took Chappelle two months to write out all the words. And he even mentions dozens of Delaware towns, which he looked up by unfolding a state map and just making a list.

He sings about pollution in Delaware, constant road construction, Punkin Chunkin and even the annual Apple Scrapple Festival.

"I've had it described to me as a musical tour of Delaware. And I think that's a good description. It hits so many places and the unusual people that are unique to Delaware," said Chappelle.

"I'm From Delaware" and several other songs will be released on a new CD this week also titled "I'm From Delaware."

Chappelle does not expect to get rich from singing, but he also never thought his song would be aired on radio stations all over Delmarva. And Marylanders will not be left out either. He is writing a song about Salisbury and Ocean City set to debut next month.

Chappelle says , "If it brings happiness to a lot of people and I can make people laugh with my music then that's the most rewarding thing of all."

11/28/2007
- WBOC-TV (Salisbury, MD)

Comedic singer-songwriter Todd Chappelle has a local hit on his hands, and it's taken on a life of its own.

His song "I'm From Delaware" (sung to the tune of "I've Been Everywhere") was an Internet sensation during the summer months and has now received airplay on almost a dozen regional radio stations.

Chappelle spoke by telephone from his home Sunday as he prepared to drive to WSTW FM in Wilmington for an on-air interview.

"It's a testament to the power of the Internet. Everyone just started forwarding the song to each other," Chappelle said. "My dad had a couple of people forward it to him back in August -- and they didn't even know it was me."

The song can be looked at as either an ode to -- or an indictment of -- the First State. It references everything from congested roadways and developments to Punkin Chunkin to the demise of Wilmington's Kahunaville nightspot.

Chappelle is now unveiling a full-length CD, and not surprisingly, "I'm From Delaware" is the title track. A record-release party at Mojo 13 in Wilmington was scheduled for Thursday; a Sussex County release party will take place Saturday at the new Iguana Grill in Milton, which has hosted a number of music acts in recent weeks.

Chappelle played in rock bands after college and also began playing solo acoustic shows. "I'd do three or four sets a night playing Jimmy Buffett, Cat Stevens, James Taylor," he recalled. "I had one or two funny songs and I noticed they'd get the best reactions of the night. So then I added another one and another one and another one ...

"I make sure they aren't too dirty for a general audience, yet still have a little bit of an edge to them."

'Amish Girl' is about dating an Amish girl," he said. "'Country Song Titles' is a song that always gets a good reaction; every line in the song is actually the name of a country song."

While Chappelle has been compared to Stephen Lynch and Adam Sandler, he's a far cry from Weird Al Yankovic; Chappelle wrote the music to each song on the CD other than "I'm From Delaware." Delaware musicians such as Peter Scobell and Marc Moss accompanied him in the studio.

"I've Been Everywhere" was written by Australian songwriter Geoff Mack in 1959 and referenced his home country; Hank Snow had a country hit with an American version in 1962. It was later covered by Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and others. Chappelle said a light bulb went off when he heard Cash's version in a popular television commercial. Now a Maryland radio station has requested that Chappelle write and record a yet another version. "I just finished it a few days ago," he said, adding that "I'm From Maryland, Man" has a verse which rhymes 'Ocean City sand' with 'Shorebirds fan.'

He's also added a new verse to "I'm From Delaware."

"I guess I could always stretch it out until it's 'Stairway to Blue Hens' or something," Chappelle said.

11/30/2007 - The News Journal (Wilmington, DE)

Singer and songwriter Todd Chappelle, whose material can best be described as acoustic comedy, will celebrate the release his new CD, “I’m From Delaware,” at a release party at 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 1, at the Iguana Grill in Milton.

Chappelle is currently performing at venues around the state, promoting his latest release, which contains the regional hit “I’m From Delaware,” a parody of the 1962 Hank Snow No. 1 country hit, “I’ve Been Everywhere.”

“I’ve always loved the original song, and when over the summer I saw a television commercial for a hotel chain that featured Johnny Cash’s version, a light went off in my head,” Chappelle said. “My wife Anne and I started putting together lists of places we had been in Delaware, and then lists of bars and then lists of things that were uniquely Delaware, like the Blue Rocks, Apple Scrapple, Punkin Chunkin, and black-and-white license plates; the song almost wrote itself. “The song took about two months from original idea to the final recording, so things moved pretty fast for us.”

After Chappelle posted “I’m From Delaware” on his MySpace page, the song began popping up on Delaware radio stations from Wilmington to Lewes, with Chappelle often invited to make a guest appearance and perform the song live. Noting towns from Dagsboro to Claymont, “I’m From Delaware” is a musical tour of the First State.

“It’s really been amazing how many people have heard the song over the internet - either by MySpace or by email, and how much they are really into the song,” Chappelle said. “And they are very happy to let me know if I’ve inadvertently missed their town. The cool thing about ‘I’m From Delaware’ is that whenever we play it live, it’s never the same twice. The song really lends itself to having fun with it.”

Born to parents who are from Delaware, Chappelle was born in a small town in the state of New York, where he lived until graduating high school. Then Chappelle attended and graduated from the University of Delaware and then spent the remainder of the 1990s performing cover songs in bars, coffeehouses and anyplace else in Delaware and southeast Pennsylvania that would have him.

Chappelle was also a member of the popular 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s cover band, Legends, which toured consistently throughout Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland for several years before disbanding in 2005. It was at this point that Chappelle began writing and assembling a repertoire of comedy songs meant for adult audiences without being overly offensive.

Chappelle’s music is often compared to other national musical comedians such as Stephen Lynch, Rodney Carrington and Adam Sandler. To coincide with the release of “I’m From Delaware,” Chappelle will perform a live show featuring the title track and the follow-up single, “Country Song Titles” at the CD release party.

The CD can be purchased either at the show or online at www.cdbaby.com. To preview “I’m From Delaware,” “Country Song Titles,” and other tracks from “I’m From Delaware,” visit www.myspace.com/toddchappelle.

11/28/2007 - Cape Gazette (Sussex County, DE)

A local troubador’s Johnny Cash parody becomes a sensation.

By now, any Delawarean with Internet access has received a mass email with the song “I’m from Delaware” attached. Between family, friends and coworkers, some have received the ditty two and three times.

Sung to the melody of the “I’ve Been Everywhere”—the famously catchy tune covered by Johnny Cash and others—the Delaware version inventories local towns while celebrating local events and places, such as The Deer Park, Green Room, Punkin’ Chunkin’, Dover Downs and Charcoal Pit.

But those aren’t the lyrics that will stick like Gorilla Glue to your mind. Instead, you’ll be singing, “I’m from Delaware, man, I’m from Delaware. Traffic’s bad out there, man. I ain’t going nowhere. I like polluted air, man. I’m from Delaware.”

The song has catapulted Todd Chappelle, 38, into the local limelight. Chappelle, a Wilmington accountant and part-time musician, and his wife, Anne, wrote the lyrics. Chappelle sings vocals and rhythm guitar, and Peter Scobell plays lead.

DT: What gave you the idea?

TC: A TV commercial for a hotel chain that uses the Johnny Cash version. I’ve always loved that song. A light went off in my head: “I’ve been everywhere. I’m from Delaware.” My wife and I sat down at the table with a map of Delaware and made lists of places we could fit into a song. We started thinking of Delaware culture. Then we started thinking of the bars we went to. By the time we were done, we had four verses.

DT: You could have had more verses.

TC: Since I first wrote the song, I wrote another verse. I started getting emails from people, “Hey, you missed my town.” I have a live version with the extra verse that I’m putting on my CD.

DT: How many towns did you mention?

TC: In the original song, there are 46 towns. I’ve been to more than half of them. There’s a few deep in Sussex County where I don’t think I’ve been. I added 19 more.

DT: So, you’re famous now.

TC: Well, in Delaware. I mailed it out to a few people and said, “Go ahead and forward it.” I’m thrilled and I’m honored that people like it.

DT: What’s the best part?

TC: It’s touched a nerve with so many people. It’s gone a lot further than I would have thought.

To hear the song and learn about buying the CD, visit www.myspace.com/toddchappelle. — Pam George
February 2008

- Delaware Today Magazine

At first glance, Todd Chappelle may just seem like a friendly, run-of-the-mill accountant in Wilmington. But behind this happy-go-lucky, hard-working family man is also a musician who, thanks to today’s technology, is able to give Delawareans a sense of pride… or at least a reason to chuckle.

While sitting in his home, Chappelle heard a commercial play on the television that parodied “I’ve Been Everywhere” — a fast-paced, country music hit written in 1959 by Geoff Mack and made popular by Johnny Cash in 1996. Within minutes, Chappelle began brainstorming his own version, tweaking the title around to “I’m From Delaware.”

He shared his idea with his wife, Anne, and sat down with her, carefully studying a map of the state. “We started making a list of towns, bars we went to, and places that had the Delaware culture.”

With prior residence in New Castle County, where he attended the University of Delaware, and family located in Middletown and Rehoboth, Chappelle has developed a strong local connection throughout Delaware. “I’ve really spent my time up and down the state,” he said. “We tried to think of everything we could.”

Once he was satisfied with his new song, Chappelle sent a copy to a small group of family and friends. “After Labor Day,” he said, “I e-mailed it to a dozen friends, or so, just to get some feedback.” He planned to include the song on his second album, set to come out later this fall.

Recipients began taking notice to Chappelle’s work rather quickly. “A lot of people were liking it,” he said. “Within a couple of weeks, it started getting e-mailed back to me. People didn’t realize I was the one who started it.”

Most of his inspiration is attributed to musical-comedian Stephen Lynch. “He’s been my hero,” said Chappelle. “I wanted to be a sort of PG-13 version of what he does, to make it easier to get work.”

Chappelle’s songs have been compared to styles of comedy-musicians Rodney Carrington and humorous actor/musicians such as Adam Sandler and Rick Moranis. Defining his genre as “moderately funny acoustic comedy,” he notes that he doesn’t want to set the bar too high. Although accepted among those who heard his first album, none of Chappelle’s songs have received as much attention as “I’m from Delaware.”

“I’m finding out that there are a whole lot of transplanted people all over the country,” Chappelle said. High-school classmates now located in Florida have even received news of the Delaware song. Likewise, Delaware, especially the southern coastal region, has increased over the years its numbers of second-home owners and summer-goers from out-of-state areas, and they’re embracing the tune with open arms, too.

It’s virtually impossible to describe the success of Chappelle’s First State jingle without stepping back to take a look at the way online file-sharing and Internet media has changed the way people communicate.

“I had just sent it to a few friends,” he said, “not intending for it to go all over the place. I’m happy it has. It’s got my name out there.”

Indeed it has. Simply by personalizing his MySpace Web site, Chappelle could upload his song, and have fans and listeners tuning in from all over the world.

When not preoccupied with his job in Wilmington, Chappelle is trying to manage performances and gigs both there and in Delaware’s beach communities – something that he is happy to be back doing. The popularity of his catchy new tune has even landed him airtime on local radio stations, Cat Country 97.5 out of Salisbury, and Eagle 97.7, based out of Milford.

Chappelle’s fan base has grown ever since he started his page. “It’s really unbelievable,” he said. “I didn’t expect the kind of reaction it’s received. I’m honored that people like it and they’re passing it around.”

Most of the responses he receives, in fact, come from Sussex County. “There are a lot of Sussex County references throughout the song,” he noted. Some towns have even contacted radio stations, advising that they weren’t included. “I tried not to miss anyone,” Chappelle said, “but I could only get so many in.”

Prior to the release of the new CD, he said he plans to include another verse, which will incorporate some smaller towns in Sussex County and lower Kent County that were not included in the original version. He has also been asked by Cat Country 97.5 to create an “I’m From Maryland” song.

“I’m not as familiar with Maryland as I am with Delaware,” he said, “but I’m going to start asking around. I might get a Maryland song up here in a matter of time.”

For booking information, contact Todd Chappelle at (302) 893-5813.

09/28/2007 - Coastal Point (Sussex County, DE)