Marty Chilla is a founding member of The Sugar Beets. His musical journey began with piano lessons at the age of seven in his hometown of North Bend, Oregon. At 12 he found his true calling with the guitar and began studying with Bill Harkleroad (aka Zoot Horn Rolo of Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band.) While attending the University of Oregon in the late 1980's, Marty met a fellow musician named John Shenon and they began performing as "The John and Marty Experience." In the fall of 1989 John Shenon greeted and recruited a violin player named Tanya Bunson who was passing by a bench in front of the University of Oregon dorm where John and Marty had been jamming together. This connection set in motion the creation of The Sugar Beets and it was soon after that other members from the dorms began to join in. For over three and a half decades Marty has continued to play music with The Sugar Beets and many other bands as well as teaching guitar to aspiring musicians of all ages.