Dennis Chambers took up the drums at age four, and by age six he was already playing in night clubs. It was these night clubs that provided Chambers with his training, and, after high school, he joined George Clinton's P-Funk All-Stars. He was with P-Funk from 1978 - 1985, when he moved on to do session work in New York and was the house drummer for the Sugar Hill Record Company.

After a stint with Special EFX, Chambers joined both the David Sanborn Band and the John Scofield Band, and performed with them until 1989. Since that time, Chambers has performed in numerous other bands, including the Mike Stern/Bob Berg Band, Michael Brecker Band, Steely Dan, George Duke/Stanley Clarke's Band, and the Jim Beard Band. Recently, he has been touring with John McLaughlin in the trio Free Spirits.

Dennis Chambers has made several albums of his own and also recorded with a diversity of artists, including: Niacin, George Clinton's P-Funk All-Stars, Steve Khan, John McLaughlin, Leni Stern, Tom Coster, Bill Evans, The Brecker Brothers, Steely Dan, John Scofield, Kevin Eubanks, Bob Berg, Stanley Clarke, Common Ground, and many, many others. He has also released two drum instruction videos, In The Pocket and Serious Moves