Multi-Million Record Seller, Songwriter, Vocal Arranger, Recording Artist, and Founder Of "The FLEETWOODS"
Gretchen's music has the quality of standards. Her autobiographical lyrics and memorable melodies
express themselves softly, profoundly; documenting feelings and experiences from teen years through
love, loss, laughter and life thereafter. Her first song having logged over three million air plays in
the USA alone, Broadcast Music, Inc. has repeatedly honored Songwriter Gretchen Christopher and "Come
Softly To Me" as BMI Million Airs. Gretchen's latest CD - Suite
16 here
Order a personalized Gretchen's SWEET SIXTEEN 
"Good As Gold" The Artist and Her Music
Multi-million Seller Songwriter/Recording Artist Gretchen Christopher creates a rare rapport with audiences. As one listener said, "She wraps her warm voice around you and leads you down a goose pimple path."
Upon seeing Gretchen Christopher perform, Legendary Jazz Trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie said, "You sing like an angel."
Meeting Gretchen at the Grammy Awards, Winner Linda Ronstadt exclaimed, "I love your music!"
Audiences share her musical journey, from the 1959 Gold #1 Record and Best Selling Sheet Music "COME SOFTLY TO ME" ('n doo be doo, Dom dom) and Top 40 Hit "GRADUATION'S HERE" (both of which she co-wrote and sang lead on, with The Fleetwoods) to the inspiring and soul-bared lyrics, dynamic and haunting tunes she's writing today, worthy of Broadway.
Her first song having logged nearly three million air plays in the USA alone, Broadcast Music, Inc. has repeatedly honored Songwriter Gretchen Christopher and "Come Softly To Me" as BMI Million Airs.
Translated and recorded by over 100 different artists and being broadcast worldwide for decades of radio and television audiences, "Come Softly to Me" is also heard in movies:
- STAND BY ME
- CLEAN & SOBER
- CROSSING DELANCEY
- 28 DAYS
Besides numerous television performances, Gretchen appears in one movie, is portrayed in another, and her Fleetwoods hits are featured in the soundtracks of a dozen motion pictures, including:
- AMERICAN GRAFFITI
- RETURN TO MACON COUNTY
- AMERICAN HOT WAX
- NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VACATION
Her music is familiar to the youngest movie-goers, as well as the millions who bought her records and hear them broadcast today.
Cited as "Actress-Singer-Composer" with the ability to dramatize a song and move an audience beyond the mere recitation of lyrics and music, Gretchen Christopher received, in December 1992, the Southern California Motion Picture Council's highest honor, the Jeanie Golden Halo Eagle "Superstar" Award, for her contribution to the Entertainment Industry and Performing Arts.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
When she reprised her autobiographical show "Come Softly To Me, Gretchen Christopher" at Hollywood's Cinegrill in '93 and '94, the Music & Performing Arts Angels presented to her, for lifetime achievement, the Angel Victory Award, naming Gretchen Christopher "Inspirational star, singer, composer, artist, dancer, choreographer." The latest in a distinguished line of honorees, from Sammy Davis Jr. in 1979 to Debbie Reynolds in 1993.
Making her life and living in the arts, Gretchen danced, choreographed, and sang solo on television at age 17, founded The Fleetwoods at age 18, sang lead on more than 20 of their recordings, and wrote 11 of them. She's performed and led the vocal arranging on 15 albums, including 11 nationally charted hits ("MR. BLUE", "TRAGEDY", "GOODNIGHT MY LOVE", and "(He's) THE GREAT IMPOSTER", to name a few), spending a total of 110 weeks on Billboard's Hot 100.In 1988, delighting the audience by wearing the same gown she'd worn 28 years earlier when Dick Clark presented her with her first gold records, dancer trim, blonde and blue-eyed Gretchen accepted another Gold Record as The Fleetwoods were inducted into the NW MUSIC HALL OF FAME.
Gretchen Christopher performs "Come Softly To Me", "Mr. Blue", "Goodnight My Love" for THE FLEETWOODS induction to VOCAL GROUP HALL OF FAME, 2006, celebrated with Induction Ceremony, Concerts and Festivities November 6-9, 2008, in 6000 seat venue in Youngstown, OH. vocalgroup.org.
2007 Billboard Critics' Picks Gretchen's SWEET SIXTEEN (SUITE 16) - 2007 BILLBOARD CRITICS' PICKS: 10 BEST ALBUMS Fred Bronson, Billboard.com Chart Beat columnist (and author of The Billboard Book of #1 Hits, including Gretchen Christopher's first song, "Come Softly To Me") picks, among 10 BEST ALBUMS: Gretchen Christopher, SWEET SIXTEEN (SUITE 16), (Gold Cup), and writes, "The former Fleetwoods singer, born Feb. 29, celebrates her '16th birthday' by turning her life into a stunning suite of 16 songs."
Experience Music Project - EMP Grand Opening and Northwest Passage Exhibits: 2000 - 2010 Gold Records and 1st Tour Costume of Gretchen Christopher of The Fleetwoods on display, plus video narrated by Producer Bob Reisdorff.
THE FLEETWOODS elected to VOCAL GROUP HALL OF FAME, Class of 2006
Doo Wopp HALL OF FAME of America,
Induction of THE FLEETWOODS, March, 2006
Olympia High School Alumni HALL OF FAME,
Induction of THE FLEETWOODS, accepted by the trio's Founder, Female Lead Singer and BMI Million Airs
Songwriter GRETCHEN CHRISTOPHER, performing autobiographical solo CD's just-recorded Title Song, "Sweet
Sixteen." May 23, 2005.
Broadcast Music, Inc. - 1997 BMI MILLION AIRS AWARD
to SONGWRITERS Gretchen Christopher, Barbara Ellis, Gary Troxel and "Come Softly To Me" SPECIAL
CITATIONS OF ACHIEVEMENT: for over 2,000,000 USA Radio Broadcasts.
Music & Performing Arts Angels' top honor - 1994, THE ANGEL VICTORY AWARD
- to Gretchen Christopher - "Inspirational Star, Singer, Composer, Recording Artist, Dancer,
Choreographer."
Southern California Motion Picture Council's top honor 1992 Jeanie Golden Halo Eagle "SUPERSTAR
AWARD"
to "Gretchen Christopher, Actress, Singer, Composer, For your contributions to the Entertainment
Industry and Performing Arts."
Recipient, Certificate of Appreciation for Bob Hope USO Show, Las Vegas, 1990.
PRESENTER, Gretchen Christopher, Northwest Area Music Association NAMA Awards, 1988 & 89.
Northwest MUSIC HALL OF FAME,
INDUCTEES, 1988, including Jimi Hendrix, The Fabulous Wailers, Little Bill & The Blue Notes.
CITIZEN DIPLOMAT to the SOVIET UNION, 1985:
Gretchen Christopher, Ballet Dancer, Composer, Recording Artist,
toured Leningrad and Moscow to meet with Soviet counterparts and create a dialogue for peace. Gretchen
distributed 100 copies of The Fleetwoods' Greatest Hits, as gifts of peace, behind the Iron Curtain, One
of 77 Citizen Diplomats (including Mike Farrell, Shelley Fabares, Dennis Weaver, Patch Adams) People For
Planetary Peace / PROJECTS FOR PLANETARY PEACE.
COMPOSERS of music & lyrics
of song used in soundtracks of major MOTION PICTURES. Screen credits,
1980s to present.
ARTISTS of hits used on soundtracks in major MOTION PICTURES.
Screen credits, 1970s to present.
BMI MILLION AIRS Songwriters SPECIAL CITATIONS OF ACHIEVEMENT,
1978, for over 1,000,000 Radio Broadcasts of "Come Softly To Me" in the U.S. alone.
Recipients, BMI Songwriter Citations of Achievement,
(Broadcast Music, Inc.), in recognition of the great national popularity attained by "Come Softly To
Me."
MILLION SELLER SONGWRITERS of the 1st GOLD RECORD produced in the Northwest,
the Nation's #1 RECORD, and BEST SELLING SHEET MUSIC in U.S.A. & U.K., "Come Softly To Me".
THE FLEETWOODS' Founder, Female Lead Vocalist/Arranger/Songwriter and Choreographer, GRETCHEN
CHRISTOPHER contracted as MANAGER and SOLE AUTHORIZED CONTRACTOR of THE FLEETWOODS***
*** The only group to have two #1 Records in the USA in 1959 (by actual sales, as reported by top three
trade magazines, The Billboard, Music Reporter, and Cashbox, on whose cover The Fleetwoods
appeared).
*** First group in the world to have multiple #1 Records top The Billboard Hot 100 in a single year and,
according to The Billboard Book of #1 Records, the only group to achieve this in the first seven years
of Rock 'n' Roll history.
*** 2 Gold Records (now equivalent to Platinum), the first ever earned by an Artist on a Northwest
label: The Fleetwoods' "Come Softly To Me" and "Mr. Blue" on Dolton Records. One million sales each, in
year of release.
*** 11 Hit Singles, for a total of 110 weeks on The Billboard Hot 100 (nine Top 40, three of these Top
10, two #1).
*** 15 Albums & 6 CDs, 1959-1990s (not including EPs and foreign releases).
GRETCHEN'S LEADS and ORIGINALS*
(*MUSIC & LYRICS BY GRETCHEN CHRISTOPHER)Found on these LP's, Cassettes &/or CD's (among others):
GRETCHEN'S LEADS
* COME SOFTLY TO ME (#1 HIT SINGLE, GOLD RECORD)
Mr. Blue / Greatest Hits / Very Best Of (LP's)
Mr. Blue / Ten Best / Best of / Very Best Of /
Fleetwoods, Gretchen, Gary, Barbara (CD's)
* GRADUATION'S HERE (TOP 40, #39 HIT SINGLE)
Greatest Hits / Very Best Of (LP's)
Best Of / Very Best Of / 10 Best/
Fleetwoods, Gretchen, Gary, Barbara (CD's)
* BLUES GO AWAY (1ST SOLO CUT BY A FLEETWOOD)
Deep In A Dream (LP)
* PARADISE LOST
Deep In A Dream (LP)
* TIME OF LOVE
The Fleetwoods, Gretchen, Gary, Barbara (LP)
* I CARE SO MUCH (B SIDE OF GOLD #1 HIT SINGLE)
Mr. Blue (LP & CD); Very Best Of (CD)
* MY SISTERS LOVE
The Fleetwoods, Gretchen, Gary, Barbara (LP)
* RAINDROPS, TEARDROPS
Mr. Blue (LP & CD)
MAGIC STAR
Goodnight My Love (LP)
GRETCHEN'S LEADS
IMAGINATION
Buried Treasure (LP & C), Best Of (CD & C)
UNCHAINED MELODY
Mr. Blue (LP & CD); Very Best Of (CD)
ONE FOR MY BABY
The Fleetwoods, Gretchen, Gary, Barbara (LP)
MAN IN A RAINCOAT
Buried Treasure (LP & C)
WILL YOU LOVE ME TOMORROW
Buried Treasure (LP & C)
LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT
Before & After (LP)
SERENADE OF THE BELLS
Mr. Blue (LP & CD), Best Of (CD & C), The Fleetwoods, Gretchen, Gary, Barbara (CD)
OLDIES, GRETCHEN'S LEADS
LAH DEE DAH
Deep In A Dream (LP)
SO MUCH IN LOVE
Goodnight My Love (LP)
OVER THE MOUNTAIN
Sing The Best Goodies of the Oldies (LP's)
WE BELONG TOGETHER
Mr. Blue (LP & CD)
I LOOK AT YOU
Sing For Lovers At Night (LP)
EDDIE MY LOVE
Sing The Best Goodies of the Oldies (LP's)
TO KNOW HIM IS TO LOVE HIM
Sing The Best Goodies of the Oldies (LP's),
The Fleetwoods, Gretchen, Gary, Barbara (CD)
GRETCHEN"S SPLIT LEADS (&/or ORGIINALS *)
WHAT AM I GONNA DO WITH YOU?
Before & After (LP)
JIMMY BEWARE
Goodnight My Love (LP)
YOU WERE ON MY MIND
Folk Rock (LP)
POOR LITTLE GIRL
Deep In A Dream (LP)
A LOVER'S CONCERTO
Folk Rock (LP)
BABY DON'T GO
Folk Rock (LP)
THIS IS WHERE I SEE HER
Folk Rock (LP)
ALL I REALLY WANT TO DO
Folk Rock (LP)
CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN
Buried Treasure (LP & C); Best Of (CD)
* DAYS DWINDLE BY
Softly (LP)
* OH LORD, LET IT BE (B SIDE OF TOP 40 HIT SINGLE)
Mr. Blue (LP & CD)
* TURTLE DOVE (ORIGINAL ARRANGEMENT OF TRAD. SONG)
The Fleetwoods, Gretchen, Gary, Barbara (LP)
* COME SOFTLY TO ME (1963 SINGLE VERSION)
THE 2000's
Vocal Group Hall of Fame 10th Anniversary Induction Concerts
Gretchen Christopher, The Fleetwoods' Founder, Female Lead Vocalist & BMI Million Airs
Songwriter
6,000 seat Chevrolet Center,
Youngstown, OH
2nd Annual Cool Bobby B Doo Wop Grand Finale Concert,
Headlined by The Fleetwoods starring Gretchen Christopher
Alexis Park Hotel & Resort
Las Vegas, NV
Cool Bobby B Doo Wop Convention,
Headlined by The Fleetwoods starring Gretchen Christopher
(Dance, Meet 'n' Greet, Photo signing & CD release :
Gretchen's Sweet Sixteen - Suite 16)
Las Vegas, NV
Experience Music Project (EMP) Grand Opening Concert
Gretchen Christopher of The Fleetwoods
Mural Stage, Seattle Center
Seattle, WA
Pacific Showroom,
Gretchen Christopher, The Original Voice of The Fleetwoods
Skagit Valley Casino
Bow, WA.
ROCKRGRL Music Conference
Gretchen Christopher (panelist),
Washington Convention Center
Seattle, WA
Super Saturday,
(Washington's Largest 1-day festival)
Gretchen Christopher (3 decades of Jazz, dance + vocals)
The Evergreen state College
Olympia, WA
Nokie's Northwest Music Celebration,
Gretchen Christopher of The Fleetwoods
Veneta, OR
Issaquah Full Scale Pop Music Festival,
Gretchen Christopher of The Fleetwoods
Issaquah, WA
THE 1990's
Bumbershoot,
(5th largest urban arts festival in U.S.)
Mensa 50th Anniversary Concert
Featuring Gretchen Christopher
Wyndhams Theatre,
London, England, UK
British Mensa's 50th Anniversary Concert
Featuring Gretchen Christopher
Library Theatre,
Manchester, England, UK
Centre Stage, Cabaret
Gretchen Christopher
London, England, UK
Cinegrill,
"Come Softly To Me, Gretchen Christopher"
Hollywood, CA
Tropicana,
Gretchen Christopher of The Fleetwoods
Bob Hope Hollywood USO Show
Las Vegas, NV
Marina Del Rey Music Festival,
Headlined by The Fleetwoods featuring Gretchen Christopher
Marina Del Rey, CA
1980's
World's Fair, Expo '86,
Gretchen Christopher, A Musical Journey:
25 years of Original Music
Vancouver, BC, Canada
World's Fair, Expo '86,
The Fleetwoods (minus male member)
(intro. Cute Cousin Karen Cone of Connecticut)
Vancouver, BC, Canada
People for Planetary Peace Tour
Gretchen Christopher
Helsinki, Finland;
Leningrad, and Moscow, USSR
Southern California Exposition at Del Mar
Headlined by The Fleetwoods
Del Mar, CA
Capital Lakefair,
Headlined by The Fleetwoods
Olympia, WA
Bumbershoot,
(5th largest urban arts festival in U.S.)
Gretchen Christopher of The Fleetwoods
(25 years of Original Music)
Seattle, WA
King County Fair,
The Fleetwoods
Enumclaw, WA
Tropicana,
The Fleetwoods
Let The Good Times Roll
Las Vegas, NV
Americana Lake Geneva,
The Fleetwoods
Lake Geneva, WI
Lulu's Roadhouse,
(Canadas Largest Supper Club)
Headlined by The Fleetwoods
(drawing double the legal capacity)
Kitchener/Toronto, Ontario, CAN
Mean Fiddler,
Gretchen Christopher of The Fleetwoods
London, England, UK
Madison Square Garden
Richard Nader's original "Doo-Wopp at The Garden"
Featuring The Fleetwoods
New York, N.Y.
Seattle Center Coliseum
Northwest Rock Reunion
Headlined by The Fleetwoods (25th Anniversary)
Seattle, WA
St. Martin's Pavilion
Music, Arts & Dance Festival
Opened by Gretchen Christopher
Headlined by The Fleetwoods
Lacey, WA
Dallas Convention Center
Gretchen Christopher & The Fleetwoods
Dallas, TX
THE 1970's
Los Angeles Forum
The Fleetwoods
Los Angeles, CA
New York Academy of Music
The Fleetwoods
New York, N.Y.
Miami Beach Convention Hall/span>
The Fleetwoods
Miami Beach, FL
Oakland Coliseum
The Fleetwoods
Oakland, CA
Whisky A Go Go
Legendary Artists
The Fleetwoods
Hollywood, CA
Joe Nobriga's Showcase
Gretchen Christopher
San Francisco, CA
Cabaret Internationale
The Gretchen Christopher Matzen Show,
"Lady & Mr. Blue" starring Gretchen Christopher
The Matzen Dancers, and Special Guest Gary Troxel
(record breaking ticket sales @ $100 per couple)
Tumwater, WA
THE 1960's
Hollywood Bowl
The Fleetwoods
Hollywood, CA (& other prestigious concert stages across U.S.)
The Horn,
Gretchen Christopher
Santa Monica, CA
Shelly's Manne Hole,
Gretchen Christopher
Hollywood, CA
THE 1959
Hawaii Shower of Stars
The Fleetwoods
Honolulu, HI
Miami Beach Exhibition Hall
The Fleetwoods
Miami Beach, FL
Hollywood Bowl
The Fleetwoods
Hollywood, CA (& other prestigious concert stages across U.S.)
THE 1958
The Colony
Gretchen Christopher
Seattle, WA
THE BEST OF THE FLEETWOODS
Kicking off the '90's CD, THE BEST OF THE FLEETWOODS, Gretchen reprised the classics in her concert by the same name. She then introduced one of her new up-tempo tunes and wowed the audience with her dancing and an energy only hinted at in the trio's recordings. Result: Two encores, a standing ovation, and an invitation to headline, with her own songs, the Bob Hope USO Show for the "Chosin Few" (2000+) at the Tropicana in Las Vegas (for survivors of the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir).
Solo, Gretchen has performed her new music and world-renowned hits in London, Manchester, Paris, Moscow, Helsinki, Brussels, Edinburgh, and from Mexico City to the Worlds Fair in Vancouver, British Columbia. She's sung and danced across Europe and was featured in "Celebrity Corner" on the HAL Scandinavian Symphony Cruise and First Caribbean Cruise of the New Millennium.
Gretchen Christopher A resident of her birthplace, Olympia, Washington, "the hippest town in the West" (TIME Magazine, re: Ladyfest), Gretchen Christopher is featured in the documentary film "Go With The Flow". She paved the way for many artists. Her trio, The Fleetwoods, were the first Northwest label artists to achieve national #1 Hits and earn Gold Records for millions of sales (now equivalent to Platinum).
Gretchen's classes in Jazz Dance were part of the nucleus around which The Evergreen State College (TESC) formed its Leisure Education Program, to which she added Disco, A Cappella Doo-Wop Singing, Ballet, and Swing, during her three decades of teaching while performing. From the mid-Seventies, on into the new millennium, Gretchen and her dancers provided the first and continuing entertainment for TESC Super Saturday, the biggest 1-day festival in Washington. In 1978, appointed to St. Martins College Adjunct Faculty as Sr. Lecturer 1 in the Discipline of Fine Arts (equivalent to Ph.D.) Christopher introduced Jazz Dance into the curriculum and numbered monks among her students.
Voices of Washington
In 2000, acknowledged for a lifetime of achievements, Gretchen Christopher and Washington Governor Albert Rosellini were among those honored as "Voices of Washington."Gretchen Christopher continues to be a woman of many "firsts", bridging two centuries. In Seattle, she performed for the June 25, 2000, Grand Opening Concert of the Experience Music Project (EMP), which is exhibiting her first Fleetwoods tour costume and Gold Records, the first earned by a Northwest artist.
Her performances of Jazz, Gospel, and Fleetwoods hits followed, in July, at (Ventures Guitarist) Nokie's First Northwest Music Celebration, In August, Gretchen Christopher and the Coasters opened Issaquah's First Full Scale Music Festival, and in November, Gretchen served as Panelist for the first ROCKRGRL Music Convention 2000.
Always a trouper, the Original Voice of The Fleetwoods, Gretchen Christopher did appear at the Skagit Valley Casino's new Pacific Showroom, despite its being the day after the 6.8 Nisqually Earthquake, February 28, 2001 (bringing to mind her inspirational performances at Hollywood's Cinegrill, after the devastating Northridge Quake).
Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America, Gretchen rededicated her October 13, 2001, booking into a two-hour solo concert of original music, "Come Softly To Me for Peace on Earth", 100% of the proceeds going to benefit survivors of the 9/11 tragedies. Gretchen continues to compose original music and lyrics which, in solo concerts, have brought standing ovations.
The Fleetwoods Founder Bio
A Leap Year Day Baby, born February 29th, to musical parents, Helen and Ian Christopher, in Olympia, Washington, Gretchen Diane Christopher committed her life to the arts before her fifth birthday. She wrote a high school paper entitled "Give Me Professional Entertainment!" and made her professional debut singing solo, choreographing, and dancing for television.
A few months later, Gretchen composed "Come Softly" at the piano at Olympia High School. For the Senior Class Talent Assembly, she sang and combined it in counterpoint with the street corner humming and harmony of two classmates, creating what would become the magic of "Come Softly To Me" and the trio "The Fleetwoods."
Gretchen recorded the song and the trio at home and took the tape to Seattle Record Promoter Bob Reisdorff. He listened, said, "It'll sell a million!" and formed Dolphin (soon changed to Dolton) Records. "Come Softly To Me" became the #1 Record, Best Selling Sheet Music in the U.S. and Britain, a worldwide hit, and the first Gold Record (million-seller) produced on a Northwest label. Co-written by former-fellow-cheerleaders Gretchen and Barbara for their Senior Class Party, "Graduation's Here," was the second Top 40 Hit (#1 Hit "Come Softly To Me" being the first) on which Gretchen sang lead, with Barbara adding kid-glove harmony, and Gary a doo-wop scat back-up.
When not singing melody, Gretchen led the vocal arranging, harmonizing, and creating the dynamic fills and answer lines that earmarked the "Fleetwoods Sound" -- with the third member following her in close harmony. Such was the case with their third release, "Mr. Blue", which also turned to Gold.
The Fleetwoods became the only group in the world to have two #1 Hits top Billboard in 1959. According to Jerry Osborne's Ask Mr. Music column (6/12/06), "From 1940 through 1969, The Fleetwoods are the only mixed-gender trio to have more than one No 1 hit."
After eleven hit singles on Billboards Hot 100, including nine Top 40, three Top Ten and two Number One Hits, The Fleetwoods chose retirement, and Gretchen continued to write and perform, keeping The Fleetwoods name and music alive. Following the success of her solo concerts, in 1982 the other group members asked Gretchen to reorganize The Fleetwoods and train a replacement for Barbara Ellis, the female member who retired.
Gretchen Christopher was contracted to serve as Manager, with "the sole authority to bind the Original and Replacement Fleetwoods by contract for any performance commitment as manager deems appropriate to carry out the business of The Fleetwoods."
Serving as choreographer, scriptwriter, graphic designer, publicist, and P.R. person, Gretchen expanded the trio's performance repertoire, from just the usually-requested top three songs to a fully choreographed 20-song, one-hour show, complete with dialogue and costume changes. As Manager, she negotiated bookings for the group, from Southern Cal Expo at Del Mar to Madison Square Garden in New York, from Americana Lake Geneva to the Tropicana in Las Vegas, resulting in the most active period of performing since The Fleetwoods first hit.
Near the end of 1983, Gary Troxel, the male member of the group gave his written resignation and relinquished his right to perform as The Fleetwoods. Gretchen Christopher became the only remaining Original still performing. The sole authority to contract for and carry out the business of the Fleetwoods, Gretchen auditioned and trained Replacements on both coasts, and continued to keep the name and music alive, interspersing group bookings between solo performances, as she does to this day.
THE FLEETWOODS starring GRETCHEN CHRISTOPHER headlined in Las Vegas, November 2007, kicking off the release of GRETCHEN'S SWEET SIXTEEN (SUITE 16), her autobiographical concept album in which The Fleetwoods are included on one track. Just a month later, they learned that GRETCHEN'S SWEET SIXTEEN (SUITE 16) is among the 2007 BILLBOARD CRITICS' PICKS for 10 BEST ALBUMS of the year!