Biography

-2009-

Christine Santelli's newest release, the multi-layered Any Better Time, allows her darkly expressive voice to take center stage in the spotlight, blending elements of blues, soul, country and folk into thirteen heartfelt original compositions with profound lyrics and infectious melodies. Produced by VizzTone label mate Dave Gross, Any Better Time is a soulful, gritty, musical literature that speaks of the many years of touring, hard work and artistic growth that have led Christine Santelli to this very exciting point in her career.

A born music lover from Albany, New York, Christine Santelli began singing, playing, writing and performing at a very young age. Her talents led her to form her first professional band, Christine & the Dickens, while still in her teens; then came the touring. After performing extensively throughout the northeast with the Dickens, Christine Santelli moved the group to New York City. In 1994, Christine wrote and recorded her first CD, 24 Hours, and soon booked her first international tour in France. Recordings of these performances are now well known as Live in Paris, Christine's second release. The CD led to tours across South Africa, Spain and Russia. Subsequent recorded material surfacing from performances in Moscow was so strong that it was soon released as Moscow Live.

Back in New York, Christine was voted "Blues Artist of the Year (deserving wider recognition)" by Downbeat Magazine. After several more overseas tours, Christine completed the writing and recording of her fourth album, Season of a Child, produced by blues-rocker Popa Chubby. This album led to two Scandinavian tours along with major radio play and recognition. Soon, she found herself headlining major festivals and sharing stages with many well-known artists such as Kim Wilson and Eric Burdon.

After touring had settled down, at least for a little while, Christine found the time to write and record her fifth album, Christine Santelli. The record release was followed by tours throughout Norway and Switzerland, during which Christine performed two shows at the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival, where she shared the bill with revered blueswoman Bonnie Raitt and guitar legend Steve Cropper.

During this time Christine was also becoming a local hero in New York’s roots-music underground, booking a club and creating a long-running weekly singer-songwriter night in nearby Hoboken. Christine’s weekly showcases spawned and supported many future stars as well as countless musicians from touring bands coming through the city.

Christine's sixth CD, Tales From the Red Room, featuring her solo acoustic work, was welcomed with open arms by fans and critics alike. Singer Universe Magazine selected Christine as the "Best Vocalist of the Month" in late 2006 for her song One More Day. Most recently, Christine has toured in Switzerland and Germany, and now has completed her seventh CD, Any Better Time.

Today, Christine has a growing legion of devoted fans who can't get enough of the seemingly endless on-stage energy and powerful grit-and-soul vocal delivery of this petite powerhouse. From a career rooted in the blues to a never ending artistic journey that explores roots music at its finest, such is the tale of Christine Santelli.