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Official Web Site of Gretchen Christopher,
BMI Million Airs Songwriter, Solo Artist, Dancer/Choreographer and
The Fleetwoods' Founder |
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A Note from Gretchen:
This Calendar reflects some of the fun parts of making my life and living in
the Arts, as both a Generative Artist and a Performing Artist, and occasionally
nourishing my soul as a member of a family or that larger family, the
Audience.
In a very few instances, I have listed an event to which I have been invited
but may not be present; yet I want to extend the invitation to you, to support the Arts, the
Entertainers, and those for whom I am sentimental. This may be as simple as
acknowledging, and celebrating in our hearts, the birth dates of some very special people.
With love to share,
Gretchen Christopher
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1 |
Fleetwoods Formal Wear, Wardrobe shopping, Darien, CT
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NEW YEAR'S DAY DINNER & PERFORMANCE: Gretchen Christopher & Cute Cousin Karen Cone from Connecticut. Private Party, Newburgh, NY
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2 |
Lunch meeting with Booking Agent, Publicist, and shop for Fleetwoods
Show Wardrobe (for Photo Session), New York City, NY
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3 |
Fleetwoods Photo Session, Southport, CT
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4 |
Select Publicity Photos and graphics. Send to booking agent. Fleetwoods Rehearsal w/Band, Recorded for agent.
Southport, CT
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5 |
Fly Westchester County Airport/White Plains, NY to Chicago/O'Hara to SeaTac, to Olympia, WA.
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25 |
Happy Birthday, to my First Love, Vos (Richard Vosburgh), from your First Love, Gretchen.
Fleetwoods Rehearsal, followed by Birthday Dinner Party at Kimari and family's new home, Olympia, WA
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28 |
Birthday Greetings (and a Song) to an amazing sister! "Survivor" Sonja Lee Christopher, celebrating in the Theatre District of London.
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8 |
Fleetwoods Rehearsal, Olympia, WA
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| 13 |
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AQUARIUS/PISCES PARTY, hosted by Heart Founding Guitarist Roger Fisher, celebrating with performances by the birthday honorees, Rog and Friends, including Elvis Impersonator Tracy Allen Moore, and Fleetwood Gretchen Christopher, ("Come Softly To Me" with Rog, and "Goodnight My Love" a cappella). Kinnelly Keys Recital Hall, Lynnwood, WA |
| see also: www.rogerfisher.com
&
www.gretchenchristopher.com
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| 14 |
Happy Valentine's Day! "Heart" Founding Guitarist Roger Fisher's Birthday.
Breakfast with Eva and Roger Fisher; discuss producing SWEET SIXTEEN album for Leap Year.
Pacific Northwest Ballet's "Balanchine Centenary", including the breathtaking "Agon" pas de deux, danced by Patricia Barker and Jeffrey Stanton. Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, Seattle, WA
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| 16 |
Happy Birthday, Broadcaster John Hendricks!
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| 20 |
Pisces Birthday of Original Fleetwood, Barbara Liane Ellis
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| 23 |
Pisces Birthday remembrance of Fleetwood Gretchen's Co-Songwriter, Lee J. Jackson, 1936-1999
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| 24 |
Pisces Birthday of Replacement Fleetwood, Gene Howard
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Pisces Birthday of Fleetwood Gretchen's Son, Christopher Gray Matzen
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Pisces Birthday of Fleetwood Gretchen's Dance Partner, Daniel Schwartz
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Pisces Birthday of Fellow Singer, Dick 'n' Dee Dee's Sandy St. John
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| 29 |
Pisces Birthday of TheFleetwoods.com original web site's Designer, Raenell Dawn, co-founder of the Honor Society of Leap Year Day Babies (where Gretchen is on the List of Famous Leapies!)
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Pisces Birthday of Founder & Original Fleetwood, Gretchen Diane Christopher
SWEET SIXTEEN Leap Day Birthday & Pisces Party for 40 celebrants, hosted by Helmers in their new Olympia home!
PERFORMANCES BY Leap Year Baby GRETCHEN CHRISTOPHER and Special Guests, THE FLEETWOODS;
flute & vocals, JOHN WORSLEY;
vocals, SUZANNE NICHOLS;
bass, DIN WILKE;
HEART'S founding guitarist ROGER FISHER;
keyboard, JULIE GOLDSTEIN;
and guitar & vocals, WALT PERRY
singalong, EVERYONE!
Debut recitation of Gretchen's lyrics "Sweet Sixteen", and, by request, she played and sang a half dozen autobiographical songs and announced commitment to Leap Year recording of solo CD, Gretchen's SWEET SIXTEEN !
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FLEETWOODS, FRIENDS & PISCES!
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Pisces Birthday remembrance of Fleetwood Barbara's husband Paul Loranger, 1943-2000
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Pisces Birthday of Pianist, Antonio Castillo de la Gala
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Pisces Birthday of former Disc Jockey, Ralph Koal
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Pisces Birthday of former Seattle Times Columnist, Don Duncan
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Pisces Birthday remembrance of Fleetwood Founder's Father, Ian Wesley Christopher, 1900-1997
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Pisces Birthday of Replacement Fleetwood, Cute Cousin Karen Cone from Connecticut
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALL YOU FELLOW PISCES!
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Pacific Northwest Ballet, The Romantics, Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, Seattle, WA
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Masterworks Choral Ensemble, Beethoven's Missa Solemnis; Concert & 2004 Salute to the Arts Award,
Washington Center for the Performing Arts, Olympia, WA
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| 12 |
Actress, Director, Musician, Arts Activist Helen Christopher Honored, one year ago today! Recipient of 2003 Salute to the Arts Award, "for your numerous and outstanding contributions to the Arts in the South Sound Area."
Former City Official Eldon Marshall wrote in a personal note of congratulations to Helen, dated 3/28/03, "I just want to express my thanks for your leadership in achieving the 'Performing Arts Center' for our community. If not for your efforts and persistence I doubt that we would have it today."
Worth repeating!
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Pacific Northwest Ballet, Carmina Burana, Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, Seattle, WA
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Arts Walk, Olympia, WA
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Happy Birthday, dear brother! World Class Sail Racer James Gray Christopher
Great Grand Master Laser Sailracing Champion of the United States, 2001-2002 and 2002-2003.
Congratulations, again!
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89th Birthday, Josie Wilson, Blue Horizon Records Label Founder, original Producer of The Ventures' music and Mother of The Ventures' Co-Founder Don Wilson.
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Photo Shoot - Gretchen Christopher, photographed by Ramona, for Sweet Sixteen CD and summer concerts' promotions.
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Gretchen Christopher interviewed by Lane Quigley for "Memory Lane Show" to be webcast on Rock-it Radio.
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Ist Wedding Anniversary of Concert Producer David Harris & Glenna Gibson.
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Gretchen Christopher sings for Birthday Luncheon celebrating Ellie Froney and Victoria MacDonald. By request,
"Autumn Gold",
"I Am An Angel", "Christmas is (Anytime I'm With) You", "Write Down", "Everything Good In My Life".
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A Fair To Remember, The Olympia Center, Olympia, WA
2PM Gretchen Christopher performs her Fleetwoods Hits and new songs from
her upcoming CD, celebrating 45 years of
her original music, lyrics and Olympia musical history. 45 years ago in May,
"Come Softly To Me" hit #1 for its fourth week
in a row, and continued on the Billboard Hot 100 for 16 weeks, becoming the
first Million Seller and Gold Record achieved
by an Artist on
a Northwest label (The Fleetwoods on Dolphin/Dolton Records, now exhibited at
Seattle's Experience Music
Project - EMP).The Olympia trio of teenagers repeated the feat with "Mr. Blue",
and became the first group in the the world
to have multiple Number One Records top Billboard in a single year (1959) and
were the only group to achieve this in the
first seven years of
Rock 'n' Roll history. The Fleetwoods' Founder, Female Lead Vocalist, Arranger
and BMI Million Airs
Songwriter, Gretchen will also sing and play original songs from her upcoming
solo CD, SWEET SIXTEEN, to be released
this summer.
For more information about this free event, A Fair To Remember, contact Kathy Thompson (360) 753-8019 |
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Pacific Northwest Ballet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, Seattle, WA
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“Concert for the Greenway”
Sponsored by: Issaquah Arts Commission & Issaquah Parks and Recreation
Issaquah Community Center Lawn
Saturday, June 12th 1:00 – 6:00pm
Noon - Grounds open
1:00pm - Opening Ceremony
1:10 – 2:00pm - Alex Starks Jazz Combo
(Issaquah High students)
2:15 – 3:15pm - Cascade Cut Up’s
(Bluegrass)
3:45 – 6:00pm - Primo Kim and Friends
With Special Guest Gretchen Christopher of The Fleetwoods
(Swing, Standards and Jazz)
The Downtown Issaquah Association is arranging for food and refreshments to be available on site.
Click on THIS WEB SITE to see all the events happening on June 12th.
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Happy Birthday, dear brother! William Ian Christopher
South Sound Sailing Society's Fleet Champion, for 9 consecutive years past, and new Commodore. Congratulations, ten fold!
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Remembering The Fleetwoods' Producer, Dolphin/Dolton Records President Robert Reisdorff, born 82 years ago this day, and who, two years ago, June 15th, passed away. He may be gone, but the beautiful, ground-breaking, now-classic music he produced lives on. We love you Bob!
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June 27, 2004
Gretchen Christopher
sings
ENCORE FOR LENORE
"Autumn Gold"
"What Time Is It?"
"Misty"
"I Am An Angel"
Celebration of Life
Lenore O'Connor Severson
1937 - 2004
2-6PM, Senior Activities Center, Renton, WA
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July 2nd through the 4th - America's Festival, Washington State Senior Games.
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Happy Birthday, America! and Gretchen's "Guardian Angel" Charles Dreyer!
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Happy 95th Birthday, Helen Gray Christopher, Recipient of the 2003 Salute to the Arts Award -- and Beautiful Matriarch!
Richard Vosburgh wrote to Helen, 4/12/03, "To say that you deserve all
the honor that has come to you goes without
saying, but I'm happy it's being said. Success and dignity so seldom accompany
each other that your dignity masked your
success for
too great a while.
"Your contributions to the arts are eclipsed only by the raising of your family.
They say an educated woman educates a
family. Your children are the living messages you have sent into time. Passed
from generation to generation, that message
is heard likean echo from an unknown place.
"Wherever you sit becomes the head of the table."
Family Gathering to Celebrate Helen's life (hopefully, while she is still with
us). Friends and acquaintances invited to write or
email your communications and appreciation to Helen@GretchenChristopher.com or
P.O. Box 11311, Olympia, WA 98508-1311
Olympia, WA. Thank you for your prayers and good wishes! |
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GRETCHEN'S "SWEET SIXTEEN" CONCERT to benefit WOLFHAVEN, INTERNATIONAL, Tenino, WA
7PM, BMI Million Airs Songwriter Gretchen Christopher sings and plays her original songs, including #1 Hit "Come Softly To Me", Top 40 Hit "Graduation's Here" and her newest, from the solo CD, SWEET SIXTEEN. Flute and back-up vocals, John Worsley. One hour concert.
See www.wolfhaven.org
for directions and details.
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Leo Luncheon honoring July 30th Birthday of Helen (Mrs. Ian Christopher, 2003 Salute to the Arts Award Recipient and mother of The Fleetwoods' Founder),
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Birthday of Gina (Mrs. Christopher Matzen, daughter-in-law of The Fleetwoods' Founder)
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Birthday of Eva (Mrs. Roger Fisher, wife of Heart's Founding Guitarist)
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August 14th and 15th
GRETCHEN'S "SWEET SIXTEEN" CONCERT
(Postponed to 2005; see www.pnwbands.com/mm2k4.html)
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Tug Boat Race Party, Potluck & Jam with Gretchen Christopher! By Invitation, at The Firs on Budd Inlet, culminating Olympia Harbor Days, Olympia, WA
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Be sure to pick up the September issue of NORTHWEST JAZZ PROFILE MAGAZINE for an Interview with
Gretchen Christopher.
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2nd BIRTHDAY OF "TWIN" COUSINS, Kamiel Matzen Helmer & Avery Autumn Matzen, born the very same morning -- September 23, 2002 -- to "Grammy" Gretchen's daughter and son (and their spouses : )
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PACIFIC NORTHWEST BALLET, Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, Seattle, WA
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VOCAL COACHING, Individual or Vocal Group, by appointment, call Gold Cup Music (360) 866-7866.
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Make A Difference Day
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Birthday of Fleetwoods Founder's Daughter, Kimari Anne Matzen Helmer.
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PACIFIC NORTHWEST BALLET, Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, Seattle, WA
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Happy Thanksgiving! So much to be thankful for: including reunions with family, former in-laws, now friends!
Love is forever,
it just takes different forms!
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Happy Birthday, Gary Robert Troxel, an Original Fleetwood. We who are left to carry on appreciate your contribution to the original sound and especially your unforgettable "Umn Dooby Doo, Dom Dom" back-up, which Gretchen arranged in counterpoint to include you in the song, "Come Softly To Me," and musical history!
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"Happy Birthday, Dick Clark!"
from Gretchen Christopher
November 30th! Another year older?
Don't be "Mr. Blue"
Dick Clark, you're loved the whole world over.
These greetings attest it's true.
How many teens might have lost their way
Had Bandstand not been born?
"Lovers By Night, Strangers By Day,"
All of us would mourn.
Another man spinning hits in your place
May help them climb the roster,
But millions of us who know your face
Say, "He's The Great Imposter."
"Outside My Window," you may "Runaround"
Or retreat to your Caribbean pleasures.
Wherever you go, good wishes abound;
You're one of our national treasures.
"Goodnight My Love," you're "The Last One To Know"
"You Mean Everything To Me"
Since the first time we Fleetwoods were on your show
And sang "Come Softly To Me."
Some feel each birthday's a "Tragedy"
("Graduation's Here" and gone)
But with you, dear Dick, we're eternally young;
The music plays on and on!
- by Gretchen Christopher copyright 1992, All Rights Reserved - |
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Parade of Lighted Ships, viewed from The Firs on Budd Inlet, and Parade of Lights Party,
featuring Gretchen Christopher's song, "Christmas Is (Anytime I'm With) You".
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Parade of Lighted Ships & Parade of Lights Party .
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Wishing you Warm & Wonder-filled Holidays blessed with Health & Happiness and
a New Year of Working & Playing together
in Peace, throughout the World!
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Order autographed SWEET SIXTEEN! (SUITE 16)
CD here |
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Order autographed
"Mr. BLUE" CD here! |
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Treble clef image courtesy of
Lisabeth's Music Images at
http://www.gymell.com/doc/musicimages.shtml |
