“BIG CHICK” Bigger Than Life
These are the words that come to mind when I think about my mentor and friend, the man who taught me about working hard, and helped me on my career path:
Strong.
Funny.
Firm.
Competitive.
Outgoing.
Most people recognized him back in the day–At 6′8″ nearly 400 pounds, and with his distinctive Santa Claus beard, Charles”Big Chick” Huntsberry became something of a celebrity in his own right. Prince’s former bodyguard had a cameo appearance in the film Purple Rain, and served as his lead bodyguard until 1985.
Hard to believe it has been 17 years since his passing. He was only 49.
I first met Big Chick when my buddy Brown Mark invited me along to a few band rehearsals. Big Chick had been in Law Enforcement in Tennessee at one time, and worked for the band AC/DC. After meeting Chick, I was inspired to do this type of work, and thankfully, Brown Mark put in a good word for me. I was a big guy, but both guys pretty much laughed when I naively stated “I want to be a bodyguard, too.” I spent the next 6 months working out like crazy –yes, I was under the assumption you just needed to be big to be a bodyguard (see What It Means To Be Professional) to learn the truth about this career!) Big Chick thought I had the right personality and attitude for the job, and saw the work I’d put into getting physically fit. He gave me my first job as a bodyguard.
He then taught me there was a lot more to the work than being a big man.
Big Chick and I spent a lot of time together on the road in the mid-1980s, working on the Purple Rain tour. He was a funny, funny guy who loved to laugh, loved to cuss, and was constantly busting me with practical jokes. I remember the one time I got him pretty good, though. I went to his room and knocked on his closed and locked hotel door…well, what he didn’t know was that I had my stun gun on the metal door handle, and hit the juice, so when he tried to open it to let me in, he got a little jolt. He yelped, then tried it again. Another jolt. “What’s wrong?” I asked, “I keep getting shocked when I touch the M.F. door,” he replied. (Insert any number of colorful expletives) I told him it was probably a malfunction with the electronic card reader, and to try again. Well, I zapped him a coupla times, then put away my stun gun.
WELL one of my road brothers squealed on me and Big Chick got wind of how I’d messed with him. I was put back on luggage detail for a few weeks–the crummiest, lowest task to deal with on tour. He was the boss, though, and he had the last laugh!
Big Chick had the most sinister laugh–he’d stick his tongue out the side of his mouth, and laugh that evil little laugh–and you’d just KNOW you were in for some trouble. Because he was such a big man, he’d often split his pants–and he’d get so mad!! Meanwhile, we’d all nearly cry from laughing–which would just make him more angry.
One of the funniest things I can recall is when Big Chick decided to design uniforms for all of the bodyguards in the entourage. I still cringe when I think about it. He designed suits that were double-breasted, purple satin with white belts. We looked like little school patrol boys. All the guys argued and complained and told him we really didn’t want to wear those uniforms. He insisted we put them on. So, we’re all standing there, when Prince comes in to rehearsal. He takes one look at all of us and FALLS out laughing…if I remember correctly, he said Big Chick and all of us looked like “Friar Tuck and his Merry Men.” We never had to wear those again. I did feel kind of bad for Chick though–he had the best of intentions and was so earnest in his attempt to get the guys looking sharp.
I miss Big Chick, he was a good man to work with and really made those days on the road fun. We worked hard, but we sure laughed hard and played hard, too. He once told Gilbert and I “you two are like my sons–and I didn’t used to like black people.” Given that he was a good ‘ole boy from Tennessee, I took that as a big compliment.
I guess you could say we both taught each other something important.
August 3rd, 2007 at 1:52 am
Very interesting and funny! Thank you for the good laugh!
August 3rd, 2007 at 5:09 am
Thanks for sharing these nice stories, they are very amusing and shows the human realities behind the public persona.
August 3rd, 2007 at 9:23 am
I always wondered what happened to big Chick, I thought Prince fired him or something. I love to hear about good practical jokes, one you could play on Prince would be to get a guitar made like the old one he has & you & a couple more guys pretend to be shooting dice back stage or during rehearsal & as soon as Prince gets close enough to see the guitar pretend to get into an argument & tell one of the guys I know I owe you the money but Prince would kill me if I gave you his guitar. I’d destroy it first before I ever gave it to you, & then smash the guitar.
August 3rd, 2007 at 7:48 pm
Hucky,
I thought I’d let ya know that dad’s name was Charles “Big Chick” Huntsberry.
Just to set the record straight – he’s always liked “black” people. (see your last paragraph). He always taught us that we all bleed red. We’re from Ohio – not Tennessee. We lived in Tennessee for a year. Loved the story. Tried to call you a few weeks ago, but you didn’t answer. Sorry we couldn’t hook up. We’ll have to get together before the snow flies!
(Note to Herman – Prince didn’t fire dad).
Take care,
Tina
August 6th, 2007 at 5:24 am
nice post,i miss big chick 2
August 6th, 2007 at 8:39 am
thank for the laugh
August 7th, 2007 at 11:09 pm
that was a good story i rarely read so yeah,but it was fun to read that the pic is intimidating lol i would be scared to mess with big chick
August 14th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Tina thanks for responding to this article. Tina I never
intended any disrespect, Gilbert and I obviously didn’t think Chick was racist.
I think he would say things just to pull my leg or for shock value. As far as
Tennessee he’d always
talked about it as if he’d lived there for some time, I was going from what he
was telling me about his past. When doing my stories I do my best to get all
the facts right, but some of these over 20 years ago, so please forgive me if I don’t get everything spot on. Your dad
was a great guy, and I’m glad I got to spend some time with him.
August 14th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
wow he was so young when he passed… do you mind posting the reason behind his early passing?
he sounds like a true warrior, i bet he is upstairs guarding the big guy now!
David
August 15th, 2007 at 2:07 am
Heart failure
October 3rd, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Great story, I really enjoyed it………..Thanks
October 11th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
I think we can admit that Prince is a great musician, but was he a great person… kinda like Chick?
Was he respected because of respecting others, dig?
What of the interaction with Morris Day? Who waz tha coolest brotha? P or D?
October 18th, 2007 at 5:17 am
hi im looking for work anyone can help me ???
October 25th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
I am [soon-to-be] a 35-year old black guy and I landed in the space, seeking information about Chuck “Big Chick” Huntsberry. Prince is my favorite singer and almost everytime I watch the movie, Purple Rain, I am intrigued to seek more of the Prince & Associates story. I didn’t know of his passing away and am deeply sorry to hear of such. As well, I didn’t realize he was no longer of the Prince entourage (as of 1985). I am interested in learning more of what brought that about… and is the Gilbert aforementioned G. Davidson (former president of Paisley Park)? In such a small article, much was learned. I’ve always been impressed by his stature in the movie. Haha, me and Prince are equal in size.
November 19th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
I’m just returning to say that I noticed the credit to Hucky in the closing credits on Sign “O” the Times for tour security.
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:23 am
I work his brother Terry at Argosy Casino. he talks about him all the time.
February 2nd, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Big Chick loved the lord and was a good friend to me.We went in and out of different prisons teaching the inmates about the lord.Big Chick was a soldier for christ.
February 5th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
I met Big Chick in September of 1984 when I was working on the house sound crew at Bogart’s in Cincinnati. Warner Brothers had arrange a pre-tour gig and had it billed as “Red Hot & Blue”. I got to Bogart’s at 7am on the day of the show, to set some extra snakes for all of the miking that was anticipated. I met Big Chic after noon when the band and their personal gear showed up. He came out onto the house floor to meet with the crew. The man was simply intimidating by sight alone. I don’t remember him saying much to us. He mainly wanted to know who were where and what we would be doing. When Warner Brothers sound folks showed up, they took over the operation. I wound up being asked to protect Prince’s ladder on stage right. Prince climbed this to get on top of the PA speaker stack. It was a wild night and I was impressed with the whole operation.
March 9th, 2009 at 8:23 am
[...] Mark-Prince’s bass player-was one of my best friends. I went to a lot of rehearsals and met Big Chick who was Prince’s bodyguard at the time, he and I became friends. He asked me “ever think about being a bodyguard?” [...]
March 12th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Charles “Big Chick” was my best friend. We grew up in Ohio. I think about him all the time and still LMAO at my memories of him. He has a beautiful family. ‘Miss him much.
I do believe we will see him again…..soon.
Jeff Fenholt
May 30th, 2009 at 3:52 am
I saw Big Chick when he was in Sydney Australia in 1989 with Jeff Fenholt.He was preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and telling stories of being bodyguard to Prince and other rockers.He got saved or born again when his little grandchild died and Big Chick said “if You are real GOD then bring my grandson back”. The Lord did Chick’s wish and that’s how Big Chick had his life changed.He was a real man as he kept his word to God and went preaching THE KINGDOM OF GOD and he is with THE LORD today.
January 23rd, 2010 at 8:03 pm
i met chick in the 80s at cletus’s house and he was one of the nicest men i ever met! my sister was best friends with one of his daughters and i just want to say hello from Pataskala.
February 5th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
I met Chick & his family back in the 70’s.I went to church with his family & then met Chick. Tina, I remember what a golden heart he had. Hope your doing well
Rick