Canadian singer/songwriter Phil Christie has been blazing a trail in Los Angeles ever since he moved there in the late 90’s. His new CD Summerstown is earning rave reviews among contemporary folk and A/C fans, with legendary Producer Milt Okun calling the disc “exceptional… it’s one I wish I’d produced.” Christie's live concert appearances include the 2004 South Florida Folk Festival and the 2002 Kerrville Folk Festival. He recently wrote and performed the song “Skeleton” for the motion picture soundtrack Jacks or Better, starring Jack Wallace (Boogie Nights), and was tapped to recreate John Denver’s vocals for the 2000 CBS TV movie “Take Me Home: The John Denver Story.” Visit his web site at www.philchristie.com for more information.
Biography
PHIL CHRISTIE
Biography
“All we can ask from an artist is for him or her to tell us the truth. Listening to Christie is like sneaking a peak into his personal diary – there’s honesty in every note, every riff, and every word.” So says Dreamworks SKG writer/producer Phil Swann (John Berry, Kristin Garner) after handling the production chores for Phil Christie’s new studio release Summerstown.
Recorded in Nashville at County Q Productions in January 2002, Summerstown features 11 newly penned Christie compositions. The album includes stellar performances by world class musicians such as keyboardist Dane Bryant (Clint Black) and guitarist George Marinelli (Bruce Hornsby and The Range, Bonnie Raitt). “I’m very excited about this album” says Christie. “My goal as both a singer and songwriter is to communicate the truth and to express an idea as honestly as I can, whether it is a personal experience or not. If a song moves the listener in some way, or speaks for them, then I know I’ve accomplished my mission.”
Growing up in Toronto, Canada, Christie set his sights on a career in music due to the influence of legendary singer/songwriters Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Diamond, John Denver, and James Taylor. After honing his skills at Toronto’s Guitar Academy and the University of Toronto, Christie’s passion for a career in music took a giant step forward with the release of his debut single “Anytime Now.” The song was soon playlisted on more than 160 radio stations across Canada and enjoyed an eight week run on RPM’s Adult Contemporary charts.
The original song was soon followed by “I Can’t Hold On,” a single that was equally well received and remains in gold rotation at radio stations across Canada. Another top of the charts hit, “Hurricane,” was released in 1991.
In 1995, Christie followed the path blazed by many other artists, and made his way to Los Angeles. Since his arrival, he has steadily built his own loyal following of fans, performing his songs at clubs and concert venues throughout California and Colorado.
In November 1999, Christie was tapped to recreate John Denver’s vocals for the CBS TV movie Take Me Home: The John Denver Story. Christie landed the part on the personal recommendation of Denver’s longtime producer Milt Okun. A compilation of Christie’s early recordings, entitled Beginnings, was released in 1999. In the fall of 2000, Christie composed and recorded the song “Skeleton” for the soundtrack of the theatrical motion picture Jacks or Better starring Jack Wallace (Boogie Nights) and Meshach Taylor (Designing Women).
Given the number of industry leaders who are beginning to recognize his distinct talent, a new phase in Christie’s career seems close at hand. To borrow from the title of his first release, it could be “anytime now.”