Chris Mann

Born in 1982 in Wichita, KS, Chris started performing at age 15 when he played the lead in Grease. From that point, he studied classical voice, wrote his own pop/R&B/jazz songs, and performed musical theater at every turn. Before he finished high school, he was cast in several productions with one of the most acclaimed musical theater companies in America. But while he studied the classical works of Schubert and Poulenc and performed those of Stephen Schwartz and Meredith Willson, he was dreaming of being the next Stevie Wonder or Frank Sinatra.

This dream and desire continued through Chris' college years, and in May of 2004, Chris graduated magna cum laude from the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University with a degree in Classical Vocal Performance. While at Vanderbilt, he won three first place titles from the National Association of Teachers of Singing (southern region of the U.S.), and he was cast in the premier of Dominick Argento's opera, Casanova's Homecoming, in Lucca, Italy. Again other musical genres tempted him, and as musical director of Vanderbilt's a cappella group the "Dodecaphonics," he became increasingly fascinated by the grooves and delivery of R&B.

Chris' passion is the elevation of "the voice" to be the premier instrument in his unique pop sound. Such venues as the famed Bluebird Cafe in Nashville have become his opera house. He has created quite a buzz as an accomplished pop singer/songwriter in Nashville, performing often and doing session work as a lead and background vocalist. Chris has not wanted to give anything up---thus the exciting, unique style that bursts from his first CD, volume one. His powerful melodies, evocative lyrics, and practical humor flirt with an appreciative broad-based audience that is rapidly growing.

Although he's been offered work on Broadway as well as being strongly encouraged to follow an operatic career, he's chosen to pursue recording and performing the pop music he loves to write.