Channing's first experience with the world began acoustically prior to his birth, as he listened to his mother playing the piano and organ at home and at churches. As his mother Barabara played Strauss, Chopin, Porter, Gershwin, Joplin and church hymns, … she wished for her unborn child that his future would be a musical journey, a life with music as his passion.

Her wish came true.

Experimenting at the piano while still in diapers, he quickly began teaching himself pieces by ear, heard from the radio and melodies his mother played as she practiced and performed for the family and friends.

He began his official study of the piano and organ at five and quickly followed with learning to play the clarinet, saxophone and various percussion instruments from drums to mallets. He loved singing in chorus' and found music to be a natural gift, one that flowed easily from his mind to the sound reaching his ears.

Fostering this was an educational environment from the second grade through the twelfth, in performing arts magnet schools, in Fresno, California. There, he played in jazz bands, orchestras, concert bands, marching bands and latin-jazz/salsa groups. He made his first paid club performance at the "Wild Blue" in Fresno, at age 13. His first dollar still framed.