Editing Chris Isaak (section)

==Early life and education==
Isaak was born in [[Stockton, California]],<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" /> to Dorothy (''née'' Vignolo; 1931–2021) and Joseph "Joe" Isaak (1929–2012), a [[forklift]] driver;<ref name= "isaaklife" /> respectively of Italian and German ancestry.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper=St. Petersburg Times (Florida) | date=November 9, 1999 | page=1D | last=Vivinetto | first=Gina | title=Chris Isaak's wicked games | id={{ProQuest|263394598}}}}</ref>

Attending [[Stagg High School (Stockton, California)|Amos Alonzo Stagg High School]] in Stockton, Isaak was class president and the class of 1974 [[valedictorian]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=December 9, 2015 |title=Chris Isaak performs at Golden State |url=https://www.thecalifornian.com/story/entertainment/2015/12/09/chris-isaak-performs-golden-state/77045700/ |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=Salinas Californian |language=en-US}}</ref> He subsequently attended a local college, [[San Joaquin Delta College|San Joaquin Delta Community College]], before transferring to the [[University of the Pacific (United States)|University of the Pacific]]. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in English and communications arts in 1981 and participated in a Japanese exchange program.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Goldberg |first=Michael |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/chris-isaak-19910418?page=5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005125042/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/chris-isaak-19910418?page=5 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 5, 2015 |title=Interview: Chris Isaak |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=April 18, 1991 |access-date=March 12, 2016}}</ref>

After graduating from college, Isaak put together his first band, Silvertone, a rockabilly group with  [[James Calvin Wilsey]] (guitar), Jamie Ayres (bass), and John Silvers (drums).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldberg |first=Michael |date=2019-01-28 |title=The 'King of Slow': Remembering Guitarist James Calvin Wilsey |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/king-of-slow-guitarist-james-calvin-wilsey-784335/ |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref>  Ayres and Silvers were later replaced by [[Rowland Salley]] (bass), and Kenney Dale Johnson (drums).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fox |first=Hilary |last2=Rupal |first2=Reetu |date=2012-01-27 |title=AP Interview: Chris Isaak makes Memphis album |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/ap-interview-chris-isaak-makes-memphis-album/ |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref> The name was borrowed from the guitar brand popularized in the 1950s. The group remained with Isaak as his permanent backing band.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Whiting |first=Sam |date=2010-12-09 |title=Chris Isaak's drummer, Kenney Dale Johnson |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Chris-Isaak-s-drummer-Kenney-Dale-Johnson-2453948.php |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20211019204333/https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Chris-Isaak-s-drummer-Kenney-Dale-Johnson-2453948.php |archive-date=2021-10-19 |access-date=2025-03-18 |work=SFGATE |language=en-US}}</ref>