A stunning force on the Boston music scene, Christie Leigh has
established an unshakeable career, not only with her musical talents
but also with her remarkable business skills.
Christie has won numerous awards for her songwriting, including
finalist in the Billboard World Song Contest, International Songwriting
Competition and American Idol Songwriter for her uplifting single
"When You Need a Moment". Her songs have already garnered
the attention of producers at Capitol Records and Artista, who
have considered Christie's work to be cut by their artists.
Live on stage, Christie shines with her powerful voice and poignant
storytelling. Whether performing solo or with her band, The Crooked
Hearts, Christie displays a natural talent as a performer. She
has played all over the country, at venues large and small, and
continues to tour and perform constantly.
In 2003, Christie founded CNC
Music Productions, a booking and promotions group that supports
independent artists. Working as the President of CNC Music Productions,
Christie Leigh currently manages a small group of dedicated staff
and has grown the company exponentially since its inception. CNC
is now responsible for booking and promoting events at several
venues in Boston and New York City, including Indie Rock Parade
at Harpers Ferry in Allston, Indie Underground at Baggot Inn in
NYC, On the Rocks Thursdays at The Draft in Allston, Midtown Lounge
Music Series at Kennedy's in Boston and 6B Open Mic Night in Boston.
In 2007, Christie Leigh signed on as Managing Partner of Big
Night Promotions, LLC and is broadening her range of capabilities
to also include promotions for spirits, beverages and consumer
goods.
Christie
Leigh has come a long way from Franklin, Massachusetts, where
the only thing to do as a teenager was play music around a firepit
in the woods or see a friend's band at the local VFW. She started
performing at the age of five, and credits her grandparents for
first giving her the confidence to step on to the stage. With
their encouragement, Christie performed in local theatre groups
and sang in the choir throughout her childhood, but it was her
father's rock and roll band that really inspired her. Christie
was the girl with her ear pressed to the door as they rehearsed
classic rock cover songs in the basement, her dad on keys and
accordion. It was during those early years she developed a love
of classic sounds like country, rock and blues.
Christie's
first taste of songwriting was purely fun, writing funny songs
to entertain her younger sister, Candice, who has cerebral palsy
and can't walk, read or write. The two sisters were inseparable
for most of their childhood and share an indescribeable bond.
Candice's abilities were very limited, but the one thing she enjoyed
more than anything was music. After spending many years confused
and angry about her sister's disability, Christie realized that
she needed to take advantage of all she was blessed with and live
like Candice would have if she could.
While
attending Emerson College, Christie moved to LA to do an internship
with a record label, where she started street performing to support
herself. It was on the Santa Monica Pier that Christie really
began to hone her chops as a performer. She started writing more
serious songs and recorded her first demo at Swinghouse Studios
in North Hollywood.
Upon
returning to Boston to graduate from Emerson , Christie started
performing with her band around Boston. In 2005, she released
her "Strange Little Story" EP and hit the road for an
impressive three week tour during which she played shows in New
York, Philadelphia, Nashville, Mobile, New Orleans, Charlottesville
and Pittsburgh.
Christie
has continued to tour and record, recently completing an EP, "When
You Need a Moment, which features the award-winning single by
the same name.
Christie
volunteers for United Cerebral Palsy of MetroBoston and hopes
someday to develop her own non-profit to help end the 3,000 person
waiting list of disabled citizens in Massachusetts without adequate
housing.