NORWOOD -- When former Norwood resident Christie Leigh was laid off from her marketing job at Frito-Lay, she let the chips fall where they may and started a music career.

Leigh had always been a star vocalist, playing the leading roles in several theater productions. But after losing her job, Leigh decided to seize the opportunity and she picked up a guitar.

In 1999 at age 21, a terrified Leigh took her guitar to Perk’s Coffeehouse on Washington Street for her first public performance with the instrument.

"It was open mic night, and I literally only knew how to play one really easy Jewel song," Leigh said yesterday. "I guess I’ve come a long way."

Tomorrow, Leigh will be back at Perk’s, but this time with the confidence and assuredness of knowing she is an established singer/songwriter with a debut album under her belt as well as tours of the New England, the southern United States and California.

She released her debut album "Strange Little Story" last year and expects to release her second, tentatively titled "When You Need a Moment," later this year. Leigh describes her music as pop rock with a tinge of blues thrown in, along the lines of a Sheryl Crow.

"Once I picked up the guitar, I started writing songs -- it came naturally to me," Leigh said from Brighton-based CNC Music Productions, which she runs with her husband. Music has always come naturally for Leigh, who grew up listening to her dad’s Westwood-based band, The Golden Relics.

By age 6, Leigh was performing on stage, doing solos in her choral groups as well as theater productions. She joined a band at age 19, but never picked up a guitar until 21 when she launched her career in earnest.

Leigh calls her songwriting process organic, saying she has created songs about everything from her disabled sister to traffic. The key for her, she said, is being in the right mind-set.

"When you’re really happy and things are going smoothly, it’s hard to write songs -- you get writer’s block," said Leigh.

Tomorrow’s show, free and open to the public, will also be recorded for a live disc Leigh is hoping to release soon.

"Last time I played there, it was a really great show and somebody said to me, ’You should have recorded that live,’" said Leigh.

She said after playing larger clubs, including Boston’s Harper’s Ferry and the Middle East, Leigh is looking forward to playing a more intimate venue.

"I feel really comfortable there," said Leigh. Tomorrow’s show starts at 8 p.m. with John Gerard opening.

Leigh will go on at roughly 9 p.m. Perk’s is located at 685 Washington St.


Daily News Transcript - January 30, 2006




Sun Chronicle - December 29, 2005

Louder Magazine - August, 2003