Hupp began taking drum lessons as a pre-teen and aspired to be a jazz drummer. He majored in music at Essex Community College. In his search for likeminded local musicians, he was in and out of some loosely formed jam groups. In 1985 he joined the band Earthy Virtues, playing covers of Grateful Dead, Steely Dan, etc. The band later changed named to Miles Beyond.
Through the mid-‘80s Hupp worked with bands Slippery When Wet, and Advantage.
In 1990 he joined southern rock band Great Train Robbery, ultimately playing over 800 shows with them at many venues throughout the east coast. Carl’s drums can be heard on their song “From the Mirror” on the best of CD “Great Train Robbery 1984-1992.
After leaving GTR Carl formed the jazz fusion trio XYZ in 1993. The group featured Jeff Avery (guitar ex-GTR), Angelo Cammarata (bass), adding guitarist Ben Sherman in late ’93. The group did studio recordings that wound up being released as Sherman’s first ‘solo’ CD “First Light.”
Concurrently with XYZ, Carl worked with The Killing Floor (1993), Steam (1995-96), and KGB (1996-97).
In 1996 Carl joined southern rock band Poison Whiskey with whom he stayed through 2002.
Photos courtesy of Carl Hupp
Around 2000 Carl decided he was not progressing toward his goal of playing jazz, so he began work on his solo side project that was to become the long-awaited double CD “Hyper Statute” released in 2004. The album featured sessions by many of the area’s top musicians. Notably Stanley Whitaker (guitar -Happy the Man…), and special guest Tony Levin (King Crimson) played stick bass. Hupp’s live band featured Jeff Avery (guitar), John Aversa (bass), Kurt Froberg (keyboards), Dave Fairall (sax), and Clyde Johnson (percussion).
Additionally, Carl played for ‘00s bands Walter Jay & Texas Flood, The Drunken Uncles, and solo projects.
2004(CD) Longpoint 010262 Hyper Statue
2006(CD) Longpoint 010262-2 Live at Orion
2017(CD) Longpoint Transient View
2020(CD) Longpoint This World
