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A recent Grand Prize & First Place (folk/country category) winner in the Andelle Songwriting Contest, and a four-time Tucson Folk Festival songwriting finalist, Christene LeDoux is quickly garnering the kind of attention reserved for veterans. In 2002, she sold more than 5,000 5-song EP's from her live performances alone.
Her Debut full-length CD, “little lighthouse” released in 2003, sold out in less than 5 months. She is now in her second pressing and currently at work on her sophomore album, “Dust & Branches, songs from a wanderer” with guest artists, Danny Click (Jimmy LaFave), Nina Gerber, (Kate Wolf) Jill Knight and Ukelele Dick amongst others.
“Christine is a Storyteller. Regardless if she is using a guitar to carry her voice, she is first a storyteller. Her stories coupled by her melody is enchanting, inviting, and most of all, personal. She is a folk singer/storyteller that includes us with each tale. As we listen we are invited to join in the memories, the pictures, and the stories. The pictures unfold from her words, her music, and most of all her. Her clearly designed craft is fashioned like a home maid quilt, each stitch echoes her life, and each fabric forms a beautiful realistic mosaic of her art and her adventures. She is a singer, a storyteller, but most of all a gift giver. Her stories and her songs are her greatest gift,” says Kevin Cordi, Nationally Known Professional Storyteller.
An independent musician, Christene handles all her booking and management under her own label, “little pumpkin music.” Prior to finding her calling as a songwriter/story-teller, Christene moved around the United States, living in Arizona, Alaska, Colorado & Connecticut. Taking any job she could find, Christene did everything from building lipstick holders, fueling airplanes at the Grand Canyon, to working in real estate, photographing skiers and a brief glimpse into the life of huskies in Alaska.
Finding her voice in 1998 in San Francisco, CA, Christene wrote her first song. As her talent developed, she continued to work as a full-time nanny. In 2001, she decided to end her five-year nanny job and focus on her musical path. LeDoux spent her nights burning CD's while spending her days performing at San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. Sometimes singing over six hours at a time, braving the City by the Bay's notorious moody weather, she sold her music sampler and built a 4,000+ name mailing list, with fans reigning from around the world. In her “spare time”, Christene owned & operated a dog walking business, worked as a clown and children's party planner & caterer, all the while, traveling the United States & Europe performing in Clubs and Café's, house concerts and participating as an invited guest at various music festivals & Conferences.
Driven by her insatiable wanderlust, in 2003, Christene made the road her home full-time. Camping at campgrounds, taking cover in a motel room or pitching a sleeping bag on the couches of friend's, family & fans. Spending as much as 3 months at a time out on each tour, Christene self-books solo shows across the United States and Europe, with 50+ performances a tour.
With her gift for storytelling, both during and in between her songs, Christene has won the hearts of such noteables as Harold Dow of CBS' 48 HOURS, Bill Spooner of The Tubes & Gary Talley of The Box Tops as well as people she's met while touring around the country...
You can expect to see a lot more of Christene LeDoux in 2003, all over the United States & Europe, as she now makes songwriting and touring & recording her full-time “day job.” Christene is not based in any one place but currently, collects her mail in Northern California. |
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“Good Times”, Santa Cruz, CA – Amanda Martinez, July 2003: The door guy is begrudgingly passing out Kleenex and the bartender is being heavy-handed with the sweet-and-sour mix. Yes, the melancholic/ruminative folk of another angelic-voiced soul is mingling with the rustic, cabin ambiance of Henfling's Tavern. Christene LeDoux asks simply that you surrender your heart and drink up the home-made nostalgia she's serving up by the pint. Her unassuming and deliberate, melodic whisper will massage your weary temples while her words reassuringly permit and encourage your sadness, promising bittersweet enlightenment to those brave enough to succumb.”
"Good Times", Santa Cruz, CA - Amanda Martinez, August 2003 (reviewing a sold-out show at Henflings, Santa Cruz, CA):
"You've got to get comfortable before baring your soul, so LeDoux took off her shoes before she sang a single note. Perched on a small stool with her beloved autographed guitar, LeDoux embarked on a lengthy set of road songs. Stories about her family, travels, remnants of old lovers, and a motley list of jobs, most of which she was fired from, consumed the subject matter of songs. LeDoux's vocals began with a low, emotive whisper and swelled to a rich, lugubrious wail while her melodies, catchy and repetitive swung over simple, but satisfying guitar accompaniment. Keeping her eyes firmly closed during all songs, LeDoux revealed her personality to the audience during interstitial conversation. The attentive audience remained respectively hushed throughout, asking politely that talkers "speak less," closing outside doors carelessly left ajar, and giving the eye to rowdy inebriates who obliviously strutted into the Tavern turned concert space. Every bar act should be so lucky."
“Sing out” Summer 2003 Vol. 47 #2: After listening to a couple of songs on Little Lighthouse on thing is clear: Christie LeDoux has a great voice. While songs like “Daddy's Café” may sound like typical singer-songwriter fare, the emotion-filled vocals make the lyrics seem more real. Also, don't miss LeDoux's folky
version of Fleetwood Mac's “Landslide.” –RL
Kevin Cordi, Nationally Known Professional Storyteller, West Hills College, June 2003 -
“Christine is a Storyteller. Regardless if she is using a guitar to carry her voice, she is first a storyteller. Her stories coupled by her melody is enchanting, inviting, and most of all, personal. She is a folk singer/storyteller that includes us with each tale. As we listen we are invited to join in the memories, the pictures, and the stories. The pictures unfold from her words, her music, and most of all her. Her clearly designed craft is fashioned like a home maid quilt, each stitch echoes her life, and each fabric forms a beautiful realistic mosaic of her art and her adventures. She is a singer, a storyteller, but most of all a gift giver. Her stories and her songs are her greatest gift.”
“San Francisco Art Magazine” - Arthur Jefferson, reviewing a 11/07/01 show at Los Angeles', “The Mint”: The lyrics of Christene Ledoux are so clear and vivid that with each note and tone she emits, a detailed form seems to take shape in our minds. To call Ledoux a storyteller is to understate her skills. She is an artist creating exquisite imagery through song. Her entire performance was pure art, her voice of angelic purity. Playing songs that included "The Entertainer" and "Half Moon Bay", she also demonstrated her virtuosity that makes her such a superlative entertainer. Ledoux may be new to the music industry but her talents would make you believe otherwise. Her performance of "Daddy's Café" is a prime example. Through every song the crowd was entranced, the aura of their love and appreciation a palpable presence in the club. This is what the experience of music is all about.
Harold Dow(CBS 48 HOURS news anchor) 12/2000
“Wow!...you're going far...great music Christene”. |
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Location:
Modesto CA, USA
Christene Christene LeDoux Website
me@ChristeneLeDoux.com
Regular Tour Area:
All over the United States, upcoming 2004 UK & Europe |
