Biography
GRETCHEN CHRISTOPHER
~ "Good As Gold" ~
The Artist and Her Music
She polished her performing at the HOLLYWOOD BOWL, L.A. FORUM, OAKLAND COLISEUM, N.Y. ACADEMY OF MUSIC, MADISON SQUARE GARDEN. When she reprised her autobiographical musical, one-woman show "COME SOFTLY TO ME, GRETCHEN CHRISTOPHER", at Hollywood's CINEGRILL in 1993 and '94, the MUSIC & PERFORMING ARTS ANGELS presented, for lifetime achievement, the ANGEL VICTORY AWARD, naming Gretchen Christopher "Inspirational Star, Singer, Composer, Dancer, Choreographer, Recording Artist." The latest in a distinguished line of honorees, from Sammy Davis Jr. in 1979 to Debbie Reynolds in 1993.
Making her life and living in the arts, Gretchen danced, choreographed and sang solo on television, professionally, at age 17, founded The Fleetwoods at age 18, sang lead on more than 20 of their recordings and wrote 11 of them, including Billboard #1 Hit "Come Softly To Me" and Top 40 Hit "Graduation's Here". She's performed and led the vocal arranging on 15 albums, including 11 nationally charted hit singles.
For her 16th album, her first solo CD, she dons the hat of Producer, as well as Artist, Songwriter, and Vocal Arranger, performing all the parts, when needed, but mostly keeping it sweet, simple, sincere and solo, earning rave reviews!
GRETCHEN'S SWEET SIXTEEN (SUITE 16) is among the 2007 BILLBOARD CRITICS' PICKS for 10 BEST ALBUMS of the year.
Worldwide success began with her self-penned #1 Hit "COME SOFTLY TO ME" and Top 40 Hit "GRADUATION'S HERE". With another chart-topper, "MR. BLUE", Gretchen's trio The Fleetwoods became the first group in the world to have two #1 Records top The Billboard Hot 100 in a single year (1959). Top 10 Hit "TRAGEDY" and a string of Top 40 hits followed (including "GOODNIGHT MY LOVE" and "(He's) THE GREAT IMPOSTOR", spending a total of 110 weeks on Billboard's Hot 100.
In 1988, delighting the audience by wearing the same gown she'd worn 29 years earlier when Dick Clark presented her with her first GOLD RECORDS, dancer-trim, blonde, blue-eyed Gretchen accepted another Gold Record as The Fleetwoods were inducted into the NORTHWEST MUSIC HALL OF FAME.
~ MORE HONORS & CREATIVITY IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM ~
2005, amidst recording new songs for her autobiographical solo CD, Gretchen flies back from Dallas to perform the title song, "Sweet Sixteen", as she and The Fleetwoods are inducted into the OHS ALUMNI HALL OF FAME, in Olympia, Washington.
2006, The Fleetwoods are inducted into the DOO WOPP HALL OF FAME OF AMERICA, Symphony Hall, Boston.
2007, Christopher's solo CD, GRETCHEN'S SWEET SIXTEEN! (SUITE 16) is among the BILLBOARD CRITICS' PICKS for 10 BEST ALBUMS of the year.
2008 celebrates THE FLEETWOODS' induction into the VOCAL GROUP HALL OF FAME, to which they were elected in 2006.
~ PERFORMANCES ~
Multi-Million-Seller Songwriter/Recording Artist Gretchen Christopher creates a rare rapport with audiences. "She wraps her warm voice around you and leads you down a goose pimple path."
Legendary Jazz Trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie pronounced Gretchen's singing, "like an angel."
Meeting Gretchen Christopher at the Grammy Awards, Winner Linda Ronstadt exclaimed, "I love your music!"
Gretchen Christopher's music has the quality of standards. Her autobiographical lyrics and memorable melodies express themselves softly, profoundly; documenting feelings and experiences from teen years through love, loss, laughter and life thereafter.
Audiences share her musical journey, from the 1959 Million-Seller, Gold #1 Record and Best Selling Sheet Music in USA & UK, "COME SOFTLY TO ME" ('n doo be doo, Dom dom) and Top 40 Hit "GRADUATION'S HERE" (both of which Gretchen co-wrote and sang lead on, with The Fleetwoods) to the inspiring and soul-bared lyrics, dynamic and haunting tunes she's writing today, worthy of Broadway.
Distinguished by smooth harmonies and counterpoint, Gretchen's first song hit worldwide and has logged nearly three million radio air plays in the USA; so Broadcast Music, Inc. has repeatedly honored Songwriter Gretchen Christopher and "Come Softly To Me" as BMI MILLION AIRS.
~ SCREEN PERFORMANCES ~
Gretchen's songs, voice and Fleetwoods hits are heard on the soundtracks of a dozen motion pics, including AMERICAN GRAFFITI; 28 DAYS; STAND BY ME; CROSSING DELANCEY; RETURN TO MACON COUNTY; CLEAN AND SOBER; AMERICAN HOT WAX; DINER; and more - not all are listed at http://www.thefleetwoods.com/screenwork.html
THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MOTION PICTURE COUNCIL, in December 1992, honored Gretchen Christopher with their top award, the Jeanie Golden Halo Eagle (dubbed the SUPER STAR AWARD) for her contribution to the Entertainment Industry. They cite Gretchen Christopher as "ACTRESS-SINGER-COMPOSER" with the ability to dramatize a song and move an audience beyond the mere recitation of lyrics and music.
Portrayed in one movie and appearing in another, Gretchen's voice and hits are heard on the soundtracks of a dozen motion pictures and countless television shows.
Favorite live television performances include the iconic: DICK CLARK SHOW, ALAN FREED SHOW, AMERICAN BANDSTAND and (simply because of its iconic nature) THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW.
Gretchen says, "As people discover that I'm celebrating my leap year birthday and first-love-revisited, with the album GRETCHEN'S SWEET SIXTEEN, I'd love to appear on OPRAH, THE TONIGHT SHOW and talk shows for which I was considered too young, when we had our first hits. Now I'm a teenager (born February 29th) and youth is in," she laughs, "it's a win-win!"
Instrumentation
Gretchen Christopher, BMI Million Airs Songwriter:
Vocals, Piano/Keyboard/Tracks;
solo, with House Band, or the following:
Phil Lawson or Paul Bidne: Guitar.
Chuck Deardorff or Steve Allen: Bass.
John Worsley or Steve Munger: Flute, Sax, Harmonies.
Karen Cone or Elsa Dorian: Keyboard, Percussion, Vocal Harmonies.
(Personnel subject to change; harmonies also available on tracks, if preferred.)
Discography
Solo CD (SUITE 16), released autumn 2007, is one of the BILLBOARD CRITICS' PICKS FOR 10 BEST ALBUMS of the year and is receiving radio airplay and streaming, including "Autumn Gold", "Graduation's Here", "Blues Go Away", "Sweet Sixteen" along with extensive interviews (HEAR INTERVIEWS at www.GretchenChristopher.com) including:
Daddy Dave's Hollywood Diner, 50s on 5, XM Satellite Radio;
Kelly Watts' Class Reunion "Celebrity Interview Series";
Bob Morgan Show live from Las Vegas;
Matt the Cat, "Night Prowl", 50s on 5, XM Satellite Radio;
Norm N. Nite, "Remember Then", live from The Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame", Sirius Radio;
Marty Natchez & Bill Pearson, "Song Encyclopedia";
Dick Pust, PD, KGY 1240 AM, one of the nation's longest licensed stations, has been playing the entire album, in rotation for the past year.
GRETCHEN'S SWEET SIXTEEN!(SUITE 16)
Label: Gold Cup Music (GCM-CD 1601)
Artist/Songwriter: Gretchen Christopher
9/28/07
1. "Autumn Gold"
2. "Come Softly" (a cappella)
3. "Time of Love"
4. "Everything I Wanna Be"
5. "Before You Go"
6. "Write Down"
7. "Graduation's Here"
8. "The Hardest Promise I'll Keep"
9. "Gotta Take That Ride"
10. "Come Softly To Me"
11. "Blues Go Away"
12. "What Good Is Pride?"
13. "Standing At My Window"
14. "Everything Good In My Life"
15. "What Time Is It?"
16. "Sweet Sixteen"
Selections from her 11 Hit Singles and 15 Albums as The Fleetwoods (titles listed below) have received ongoing airplay for five decades, on virtually every pop music station in the USA plus worldwide, 1959 to the present (2008), as reported by BMI, including nearly 3 million US broadcasts of "Come Softly To Me" alone.
1959-1963
Billboard Hit Singles
Artist: The Fleetwoods (Gretchen Christopher, Lead Female Vocalist, Songwriter &/or Vocal Arranger)
Label: Dolphin/Dolton Records
#1 (Million-Seller Gold Records and BMI Million Airs, nearing 3 million US air plays, each)
"Come Softly To Me"
"Mr. Blue"
Top 10
"Tragedy"
Top 30
(He's) The Great Impostor"
"Runaraound"
"Outside My Window"
Top 40 "
"Graduation's Here"
"Goodnight My Love"
"Lovers By Night, Strangers By Day"
Hot 100
"You Mean Everything To Me"
"The Last One To Know"
LONG PLAYING ALBUMS (LP):
Dolton Records, unless otherwise indicated
BLP-2001/ BST-8001 MR. BLUE
10/59
1. Confidential
2. The Three Caballeros
3. Raindrops, Teardrops
4. You Mean Everything To Me
5. Oh Lord Let It Be
6. Come Softly To Me
7. Serenade of the Bells
8. Unchained Melody
9. We Belong Together
10. Come Go With Me
11. I Care So Much
12. Mr. Blue
BLP-2002/ BST-8002 THE FLEETWOODS:
Gretchen, Gary and Barbara
9/1/60
1. Bye Bye Blackbird
2. Truly Do
3. Skylark
4. My Sister’s Love
5. I Believe
6. Runaround
7. Happy, Happy Birthday Baby
8. One For My Baby
9. Once In A While
10. Turtle Dove
11. Time Of Love
12. Outside My Window
BLP-2005/BST-8005 SOFTLY
4/61
1. Little White Cloud That Cried
2. Tragedy
3. Dormilona
4. I’m So Alone
5. Nancy
6. Days Dwindle By
7. Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring
8. Little Miss Sad One
9. I Love You So
10. Love Drop
11. The Last One To Know
12. Love Alone
BLP-2007/BST-8007 DEEP IN A DREAM
7/17/61
1. Lavender Blue
2. Poor Little Girl
3. Daddy’s Home
4. A Teenager In Love
5. Paradise Lost
6. Hey, Little Tear
7. Little Girl Blue
8. (He’s) The Great Imposter
9. Lah-Dee-Dah
10. Blues Go Away
11. Lonely Cup Of Coffee
12. One Little Star
BLP-2011/BST-8011 The Fleetwoods
SING THE BEST GOODIES OF THE OLDIES
11/61
1. Over the Mountain Across the Sea
2. A Thousand Miles Away
3. Poor Little Fool
4. Tears On My Pillow
5. In the Still Of The Nite
6. To Know Him Is To Love Him
7. Eddie My Love
8. Earth Angel
9. Venus
10. Happy, Happy Birthday Baby
11. Donna
12. Bazoom (I Need Your Lovin’)
BLP-2018/BST-8018 The Fleetwoods
GREATEST HITS
8/62
Debuted on Billboard Top LPs 12/29/62
On the chart for 6 weeks through 2/2/63
Peak position: 71
1. Mr. Blue
2. You Mean Everything To Me
3. Outside My Window
4. Confidential
5. Truly Do
6. Tragedy
7. Come Softly To Me
8. (He’s ) The Great Impostor
9. The Last One To Know
10. Poor Little Girl
11. Graduation’s Here
12. Runaround
BLP-2020/BST-8020 The Fleetwoods
SING FOR LOVERS BY NIGHT
1/63
1. Loving You
2. My Special Lover
3. Bonsoir Dame
4. Goodnight My Love
5. Lovers’ Lullaby
6. If You Were The Only Girl In the World
7. Pledging My Love
8. The Twelfth of Never
9. I Look At You
10. Lovers By Night, Strangers By Day
11. Soft Eyes
12. Let It Be Me
BLP-2025/BST-8025 GOODNIGHT MY LOVE
7/63
1. Goodnight My Love
2. Jimmy San
3. The End Of the World
4. Sure Is Lonesome Downtown
5. Magic Star
6. I Just Can’t Live Without You
7. Every Little Beat
8. Sad Little Girl
9. So Much In Love
10. It’s Your Birthday
11. Figurines
12. Jimmy Beware
13. Hurt Him
BLP-2030/BST-8030 BEFORE AND AFTER
1/65
1. Softly As I Leave You
2. Mr. Sandman
3. Go Away, Little Girl
4. Little Things Mean A Lot
5. Before And After (Losing You)
6. Almost There
7. Since I Don’t Have You
8. This Is My Prayer (Non L’ete Per Amani)
9. Footsteps
10. Lonely Is As Lonely Does
11. What Am I Gonna Do With You
12. I’ll Be There
BLP-20339/BST-8039 FOLK ROCK
11/65
1. A Lover’s Concerto
2. All I Really Want To Do
3. You Can’t Grow Peaches On A Cherry Tree
4. It Ain’t Me Babe
5. Run, Don’t Walk
6. For Lovin’ Me
7. You’ve Got Your Troubles
8. Not The Lovin’ Kind
9. You Were On My Mind
10. We’ll Sing In the Sunshine
11. Baby Don’t Go
12. This Is Where I See Her
Label: Sunset
SUM-1131/SUS-5131 IN A MELLOW MOOD
9/66
1. The Last One To Know
2. Love Alone
3. Little Miss Sad One
4. Days Dwindle By
5. Hurt Him
6. Figurines
7. Jimmy Beware
8. Dormilona
9. I Just Can’t Live Without You
10. Love Drop
Label: Deja Vu The Fleetwoods (& other artists)
102 THE BEST OF THE ROCK & ROLL REVIVAL
Vol. 2 ("Mr. Blue" recorded live at
NY Academy of Music, 6/4 or 6/5/71)
1972
United Artists
UA-LA-334-E THE VERY BEST OF THE FLEETWOODS
12/74
(NOTE: Goldmine Record Album Price Guide
4th ed. lists this as 1975 release;
also Rockin’ Records 1995-1996
– a Jerry Osborne work – says
Fleetwoods UA albums are 1975)
1. Come Softly To Me
2. (He’s) The Great Impostor
3. Graduation’s Here
4. We Belong Together
5. Mr. Blue
6. Tragedy
7. Runaround
8. Goodnight My Love
9. Confidential
10. Outside My Window
Liberty The Fleetwoods
LN-10159 GREATEST HITS
(reissue of Dolton-2018, 8018, minus 2 songs)
1/82
1. Mr. Blue
2. Outside My Window
3. Confidential
4. Truly Do
5. Tragedy
6. Come Softly To Me
7. (He’s ) The Great Impostor
8. The Last One To Know
9. Graduation’s Here
10. Runaround
Liberty The Fleetwoods
LN-10160 SING THE BEST GOODIES OF THE OLDIES
(reissue of Dolton-2011, 8011, minus 2 songs)
1/82
1. A Thousand Miles Away
2. Poor Little Fool
3. Tears On My Pillow
4. In the Still of the Night
5. To Know Him Is to Love Him
6. Eddie My Love
7. Earth Angel
8. Venus
9. Happy, Happy Birthday Baby
10. Donna
Liberty
LN-10199 BURIED TREASURE
3/11/83
1. Who’s Gonna Teach You About Love
2. My Love, My Love
3. Get Behind Me Devil
4. Ask Him If He’s Got a Friend For Me
5. Will You Love Me Tomorrow
6. Man In a Raincoat
7. Let Her Go
8. Imagination
9. Surfer’s Playmate
10. Climb Ev’ry Mountain
EXTENDED-PLAY RECORD (EP):
Dolton BEP 502 THE FLEETWOODS
9/1/60
1. Runaround
2. Mr. Blue
3. Outside My Window
4. Come Softly to Me
Links
| http://www.GretchenChristopher.com |