Chas was born in Toronto into a very artistic family. With artist Douglas Elliott and soprano Elizabeth Elliott as parents, music was always a priority. Teachers include Thomas Monohan, Franco Petracchi, Warren Benfield and Eugene Levinson. Before joining the Toronto Symphony Orchestra Bass Section in 1989, Chas had been Principal Bass of the Canadian Opera Company, National Ballet, Mainly Mozart and Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestras.

Very active in the Toronto recording scene, he has played on many feature films, television series and specials including "Agnes of God", "Moonstruck", "Crash" "Road to Avonlea", "Robocop" and "The Arrow" to name only a few. Chas has also played on many artists' recordings from The Scorpions, Hagood Hardy, Holly Cole, Rankin Family, Classical Kids, Moe Koffman, Rob McConnell, Louis Quilico, to the Glenn Gould Wagner Siegfried Idyll.

After a hiatus of nearly twenty years, Chas has returned to the electric bass to pursue some musical dreams. And not a moment too soon. Cooking, home renovating, Macintosh computers and low frequency generator for PorkBelly Futures are all a big part of his life.

Chas is married to artist Alexandra Gifford and they have two wonderful sons.