Multi-Million Selling Recording Artist, Songwriter, Vocal Arranger and Founder of The FLEETWOODS
Gretchen’s music has the quality of the Great American Songbook. 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 Selling 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 goosepimple 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-baring 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 appeared 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, in December 1992 Gretchen Christopher received 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 her with a lifetime achievement honor, the Angel Victory Award, citing her as "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 has 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, a trim, blonde and blue-eyed Gretchen accepted another gold record as The Fleetwoods were inducted into the Northwest Area Music Assocciation Hall oF Fame.
Gretchen Christopher performs "Come Softly To Me," "Mr. Blue" and "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 6,000 seat venue in Youngstown, Ohio. vocalgroup.org.
2007 Billboard Critics' Picks Gretchen's Sweet Sixteen (Suite 16) - 2007 Billboard critics' Picks: top 10 albums of the year. Fred Bronson, Billboard.com Chart Beat columnist (and author of The Billboard Book of Number One Hits, including Gretchen Christopher's first song, "Come Softly to Me") selects his top 10 favorite albums of the year, including Gretchen Christopher's 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 touring costume of Gretchen Christopher on display, with video narrated by producer Bob Reisdorff.
THE FLEETWOODS elected to VOCAL GROUP HALL OF FAME, Class of 2006
Doo Wop 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 newly-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 motionn 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.
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 first gold record produced in the Northwest,
the nation's #1 record, and best selling sheet musicC in U.S.A. & U.K., "Come Softly to Me."
THE FLEETWOODS' founder, female lead vocalist/arranger/songwriter and choreographer, Gretchen
Chistopher contracted as manager and sole authorize contractor of THE FLEETWOODS
The only group to have two #1 records in the U.S.A. in 1959 (by actual sales, as reported by top three
trade magazines, Billboard, Music Reporter and Cashbox. The Fleetwoods were featured on the cover of an issue of Cashbox.
Two 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.
Eleven Hit Singles, for a total of 110 weeks on The Billboard Hot 100 (nine top 40, three of these top
10, two #1).
fifteen albums & 6 CDs, 1959-1990s (not including EPs and foreign releases).
GRETCHEN'S LEADS and ORIGINALS
Music and lyrics by Gretchen ChristopherFound on these LPs, Cassettes and/or CDs (among others):
GRETCHEN'S LEADS
Come Softly to Me (#1 hit single, gold record)
Mr. Blue / Greatest Hits / Very Best Of (LPs)
Mr. Blue / Ten Best / Best of / Very Best Of /
Fleetwoods, Gretchen, Gary, Barbara (CDs)
Greduation's Here (Top 40, #39 hit single)
Greatest Hits / Very Best Of (LPs)
Best Of / Very Best Of / ten Best/
Fleetwoods, Gretchen, Gary, Barbara (CDs)
Blues Go Away (First solo cut by a Fleetwod)
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 Sister's Love
The Fleetwoods, Gretchen, Gary, Barbara (LP)
Raindrops, Teardorps, Teardrops
Mr. Blue (LP & CD)
Magic Star
Goodnight My Love (LP)
GRETCHEN'S LEADS
Imagination
Buried Treasure (LP & C), Best Of (CD & Casette)
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 & Cassette)
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 & Casette), 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 (LPs)
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 (LPs)
To Know Him Him is to Love Him
Sing The Best Goodies of the Oldies (LPs),
The Fleetwoods, Gretchen, Gary, Barbara (CD)
GRETCHEN'S SPLIT LEADS (and/or originals)
What Am I going to 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)
Clime Every Mountain
Buried Treasure (LP & Casette); 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 traditional
song)
The Fleetwoods, Gretchen, Gary, Barbara (LP)
Come Softly to Me (1963 single version)
THE 2000s
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, Ohio
Second Annual Cool Bobby B Doo Wop Grand Finale
Concert,
Headlined by The Fleetwoods starring Gretchen Christopher
Alexis Park Hotel & Resort
Las Vegas, Nevada
Cool Bobby B Doo Wop Convention,
Headlined by The Fleetwoods starring Gretchen Christopher
Dance, Meet 'n' Greet, Photo signing & CD release of
Gretchen's Sweet Sixteen (Suite 16)
Las Vegas, Nevada
Experience Music Project (EMP) Grand Opening Concert
Gretchen Christopher of The Fleetwoods
Mural Stage, Seattle Center
Seattle, Wash.
Pacific Showroom,
Gretchen Christopher, The Original Voice of The Fleetwoods
Skagit Valley Casino
Bow, Wash.
ROCKRGRL Music Conference
Gretchen Christopher (panelist),
Washington Convention Center
Seattle, Wash.
Super Saturday,
(Washington's Largest one-day festival)
Gretchen Christopher (Three decades of jazz, dance + vocals)
The Evergreen State College
Olympia, Wash.
Nokie's Northwest Music Celebration,
Gretchen Christopher of The Fleetwoods
Veneta, Oregon
Issaquah Full Scale Pop Music Festival,
Gretchen Christopher of The Fleetwoods
Issaquah, Wash.
THE 1990s
Bumbershoot,
(Fifth largest urban arts festival in U.S.)
Mensa 50th Anniversary Concert
Featuring Gretchen Christopher
Wyndhams Theatre,
London, England, U.K.
British Mensa's 50th Anniversary Concert
Featuring Gretchen Christopher
Library Theatre,
Manchester, England, U.K.
Centre Stage, Cabaret
Gretchen Christopher
London, England, U.K.
Cinegrill,
Come Softly to Me, Gretchen Christopher>
Hollywood, Calif.
Tropicana,
Gretchen Christopher of The Fleetwoods
Bob Hope Hollywood USO Show
Las Vegas, Nevada
Marina Del Rey Music Festival,
Headlined by The Fleetwoods featuring Gretchen Christopher
Marina Del Rey, Calif.
1980s
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, Calif.
Capital Lakefair,
Headlined by The Fleetwoods
Olympia, Wash.
Bumbershoot,
(Fifth largest urban arts festival in U.S.)
Gretchen Christopher of The Fleetwoods
(25 Years of Original Music)
Seattle, Wash.
King County Fair,
The Fleetwoods
Enumclaw, Wash.
Tropicana,
The Fleetwoods
Let The Good Times Roll
Las Vegas, Nevada
Americana Lake Geneva,
The Fleetwoods
Lake Geneva, Wisc.
Lulu's Roadhouse,
(Canada's Largest Supper Club)
Headlined by The Fleetwoods
(drawing double the legal capacity)
Kitchener/Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Mean Fiddler,
Gretchen Christopher of The Fleetwoods
London, England, U.K.
Madison Square Garden
Richard Nader's original Doo Wop at the Garden
Featuring The Fleetwoods
New York, N.Y.
Seattle Center Coliseum
Northwest Rock Reunion
Headlined by The Fleetwoods (25th Anniversary)
Seattle, Wash.
St. Martin's Pavilion
Music, Arts & Dance Festival
Opened by Gretchen Christopher
Headlined by The Fleetwoods
Lacey, Wash.
Dallas Convention Center
Gretchen Christopher & The Fleetwoods
Dallas, Texas
THE 1970s
Los Angeles Forum
The Fleetwoods
Los Angeles, Calif.
New York Academy of Music
The Fleetwoods
New York, N.Y.
Miami Beach Convention Hall
The Fleetwoods
Miami Beach, Fla.
Oakland Coliseum
The Fleetwoods
Oakland, Calif.
Whisky A Go Go
Legendary Artists
The Fleetwoods
Hollywood, Calif.
Joe Nobriga's Showcase
Gretchen Christopher
San Francisco, Calif.
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 at $100 per couple)
Tumwater, Wash.
THE 1960s
Hollywood Bowl
The Fleetwoods
Hollywood, Calif. (And other prestigious concert stages across U.S.)
The Horn,
Gretchen Christopher
Santa Monica, Calif.
Shelly's Manne-Hole,
Gretchen Christopher
Hollywood, Calif.
1959
Hawaii Shower of Stars
The Fleetwoods
Honolulu, Hawaii
Miami Beach Exhibition Hall
The Fleetwoods
Miami Beach, Fla.
Hollywood Bowl
The Fleetwoods
Hollywood, Calif. (And other prestigious concert stages across U.S.)
1958
The Colony
Gretchen Christopher
Seattle, Wash.
THE BEST OF THE FLEETWOODS
Kicking off the '90s with the CD The Best of The Fleetwoods, Gretchen reprised the group's classic songs in her concert of the same name. She 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).
Gretchen has performed her new music and world-renowned hits in London, Manchester, Paris, Moscow, Helsinki, Brussels, Edinburgh, Mexico City and at the World's 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 still lives in the town of her birth, Olympia, Washington, which Time Magazine has called "the hippest town in the West." She paved the way for many artists from the Northwest. The Fleetwoods were the first artists in the area 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-'70s, on into the new millennium, Gretchen and her dancers provided the first and continuing entertainment for TESC Super Saturday, the biggest one-day festival in Washington. In 1978, she was appointed to Saint Martin’s College Adjunct Faculty as Senior Lecturer One in the Discipline of Fine Arts (equivalent to Ph.D). Gretchen 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), featuring an exhibit of her first Fleetwoods tour costume as well as her 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.
Always a trouper, Gretchen appeared at the Skagit Valley Casino's new Pacific Showroom, despite it being the day after the 6.8 Nisqually Earthquake on 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 transformed her October 13, 2001, booking into a two-hour solo concert of original music, "Come Softly to Me for Peace on Earth," with 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 29, 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 with her trio at home and took the tape to Seattle record promoter Bob Reisdorff. He listened and said, "It'll sell a million!" He then formed Dolphin (soon changed to Dolton) Records. "Come Softly to Me" became a #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," the follow up to "Come Softly to Me," became their second top 40 hit on which Gretchen sang lead, with Barbara adding kid-glove harmony, and Gary a doo-wop scat back-up.
In addition to singing melody, Gretchen led the vocal arranging and harmonizing, creating the dynamic fills and answer lines that earmarked The Fleetwoods sound -- with the third member following her in close harmony. This was also true of the trio's third release, "Mr. Blue," which also earned gold record status.
The Fleetwoods became the only group in the world to have two #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 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 #1 hit."
After 11 hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including nine top 40, three top ten and two #1 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.
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 performances 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.
In November 2007, THE FLEETWOODS starring GRETCHEN CHRISTOPHER headlined in Las Vegas, 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) was listed among the 2007 BILLBOARD CRITICS' PICKS as one of the top 10 best albums of the year!