Christene LeDoux

Infobox_Person | name = Christene LeDoux


image_size = 150px
other_names = Christine LeDoux
caption =
birth_date = birth date|1970|7|13|mf=y
birth_place = Torrington, Connecticut
occupation = Singer-songwriter

Christene Frances LeDoux (born July 13, 1970) is a singer-songwriter born in Torrington, Connecticut who tours internationally, particularly in the United Kingdom, and resides with her husband in Innsbruck, Austria. She is a cousin of the late singer-songwriter Chris LeDoux. Her music is commonly and self-described as folk/alt-country/Americana.

Biography

A Telluride Troubador Finalist, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Finalist, Rocky Mt. Folks Festival Finalist, Founder's Title Folk & Bluegrass Festival Finalist, USA Songwriting Award winner and Billboard Songwriting Award winner to name a few, LeDoux's down to earth approachability and heart-warming songs are quickly winning the hearts of both fan and industry alike.

Armed with a map, the road ahead, an acoustic guitar, infectious laughter and a gift for storytelling, having established a strong International presence, LeDoux travels the world compelled to deliver her songs and stories. All of which are true tales of family, strangers and those she has met along the way - as well as a candid glimpse at what her life on the road and all its adventures - is like.

Arthur Jefferson of 'San Francisco Art Magazine' put it best when he wrote, "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. 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."

Although reminiscent in some ways to folk icons Nanci Griffith, Patty Griffin and Kate Wolf and with a voice often compared to that of the late Eva Cassidy, it's not to be mistaken that LeDoux's voice, songs and show are all her own.

LeDoux has, as a many folk singers before her, lived hard and traveled far, earning each mile and tale as only a wandering minstrel can do.Living everywhere from California to Arizona, Alaska to Connecticut, Colorado to Tennessee, Texas to London, in her Ford truck & Airstream trailer and now the alps of Innsbruck, Austria - LeDoux is a gifted storyteller, mesmerizing singer and possesses some of the best songwriting out there.

"My mom calls it hunting and gathering. Traveling, living - hunting for experiences she calls them - collecting for the 'Spring. All this time, all those years moving around, constantly changing, doing jobs I wasn't even qualified for half the time then ultimately getting fired from them, many of them (laughing). I had no idea that's exactly what I was doing, hunting and gathering I mean. Hunting and gathering for what would later turn out to be a life as a traveling folk singer-songwriter and storyteller. Telling both my stories and the stories of the people I was meeting, that either didn't have an outlet to tell them or they just moved me in some way and I felt compelled to. Who would of thought all that hobo'ing would ultimately lead to not only a career but the love of my life, music ... next to my mom of course (smiling)."

LeDoux has done everything from writing sports in both California and Arizona to fueling airplanes at the Grand Canyon after her car broke down there on her way to training in Washington DC to work with children in Ghana, Africa. She did a brief stint in Alaska raising huskies, held a job at a lipstick holder builder factory in rural Connecticut, worked in Real Estate, as a waitress and as a mountain photographer in Vail, Colorado. In San Francisco, LeDoux started a dog-walking/training business, trained and worked as both a clown, children's party planner and caterer and as her music began to take hold, was hired for one of twelve auditioned spots to play the outdoor stages at Fisherman's Wharf and Ghiradelli Square. There she honed her skills and before she even had a CD to sell, managed to sell over 5000 home-burned demo CDs to both locals and tourists from around the world.Finding her calling as a songwriter at nearly 30, LeDoux finished what would be her last job before music was her job, a full-time live-in nanny.

For those that have crossed paths with LeDoux - they know calling Austin, Texas, London, England and Innsbruck, Austria home is exactly what you would expect from not only a self-confessed Tumbleweed but an often labeled perpetual wanderer. As one British reviewer wrote, "She delivers both stories and songs with such passion and conviction that you can't help but know she is onto something good. I was left in no doubt that to see LeDoux perform live is about more than just live music. It is about being given a unique opportunity to understand who the person behind that music is, and to share for a brief time, her life on the road and be a part of that journey."FACTS, Awards & more:

LeDoux receives airplay around the world, has sold over 11,000+ CDs total since the beginning, continues to pick up songwriting awards across the nation and has had music included in various television shows as well as independent movies.

She holds a strong International presence all over Europe, most notably Great Britain and in 2008, will embark on her first of many tours in Australia.

Awards/recongnitions; A Telluride Troubador Finalist, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Finalist, Rocky Mt. Folks Festival Finalist, Founder's Title Folk & Bluegrass Festival Finalist, USA Songwriting Award winner and Billboard Songwriting Award , Andelle Grand Prize winner overall & First Place in the Folk/country category, 3-time Tucson Folk Festival Finalist, Best Folk Acoustic Award 2003/MAMA*California, Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Contest Finalist and numerous web site related songwriting Awards.

LeDoux will be re-releasing not only 2004's "Live from Freiburg, Germany" - a house concert show & live CD recorded entirely by a fan but "Tumbleweed," a live album with collected performances from around the world.Her follow-up full-length "Dust & Branches ... songs from a wanderer" will be released in late Spring/Summer 2008 and is being recorded with Austin, Texas producer/engineer Mark Hallman (Ani DiFranco, Shawn Colvin & Eliza Gilkyson amongst others).

When not touring, recording and working on new songs, LeDoux spends her spare time freelancing for a variety of music and travel magazines - sitting in as a panelist at various Music Festivals including the prestigious Austin, Texas SXSW & more.

LeDoux is dedicated to supporting many organizations helping in the fight against aids, homelessness, domestic violence, child abuse, alcoholism, eating disorders, mental health issues, health care in America (or lack thereof) and more in the United States and Worldwide. Including; "New Songs for Peace" a United Nations Endorsed Project where her song, "The Entertainer" is being featured. LeDoux's song, "Sweet Patty" is being used to by ARYI (African Regional Youth Initiative) a collaboration of hundreds of youth and community-based projects and organizations in Africa working to fight HIV/AIDS. (most notably in children orphaned from the disease)

LeDoux is on the Executive Advisory Board for the Clear Channel's project, "Help Cure Breast Cancer."

Her song, "Dear Mr. President" is also included on the recently released Compilation CD, "Peace Talks" and is available for sale through her web site.LeDoux is featured alongside James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Dar Williams, Third Eye Blind amongst others with her song, "Guardian Angel" (written after witnessing a friend practicing bulimia) with Mpower. Mpower is sponsored by the National Mental Health Association.You can also purchase a CD to benefit both Missing Persons and Children's International (Back Home CD) through her web site.

Career

Discography

* "Accidentally Happy (album)", 2001
* "Little Lighthouse (album)", 2003
* "Live from Freiburg (album)", 2004
* "Dust & Branches... Songs from a Wanderer (album)", 2008 (announced)
* "Tumbleweed, the live album (album)", 2008 (announced)

External links

* [http://www.ChristeneLeDoux.com Official home page]
* [http://Myspace.com/ChristeneLeDoux Promotional MySpace page]

References

* Alan Cackett, "Rambling Girl". " [http://www.maverick-country.com/ Maverick] ", p 34-37, issue 67, September 2007.