Hey Music Family!

Did March feel like it was 3 months long and April feel like 3 days long for anyone else? Thank goodness the sun is out now, but the rain had benefits for sure!

Those rainy months were the perfect time to “woodshed” our music. We sang and played and practiced and then we did it all over again, and the payoff is huge!

John has an impressive discipline of practice and has inspired me and honestly challenged me to play thru our set of songs in order and refine everything from there.

It’s an amazing experience to be so in synch with each other and to get our groove on together!

Now the engines are ready to take off this month with a live performance at The Hotel Café!

Come join us Sunday May 28th at 7pm.

“Love, Love, Love. All you need is love. Love is all you need.”
– John Lennon

Remember the days when you would countdown to Christmas or summer vacation? We are doing the same here! We keep pinching ourselves! We can’t believe we get to make this music together and bring all this love through our music to you! We’ve been running our set every night this week and are so in sync with each other; sometimes, I get emotional realizing what a gift it all is!

Like John Lennon says, Love is all you need!

Will you join us this Sunday at Hotel Cafe?

We will sing our hearts out, in real life, just for you!

We want to love you up!

Sunday Feb 12th at 8pm!

Get your advance tickets here!

All my love and see you soon!!! Christine

P.S.  Tickets are also available at the door.

Doors open at 6:30pm
Ages: 21+

The Hotel Café
1623 Cahuenga Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 9002

Hello, my dear Music Family!

Where did January go? I had such big plans for writing you the first week, but as I was recovering from holiday travel, it was full speed ahead into the new year! (I flew home on Southwest, so you can imagine lol!)

On Jan. 2nd, I had a little biopsy on my right-hand pinky finger. We had been following a spot under the nail for quite a while and finally decided to check it out, especially because of my mom’s history. Well, the good news is it was completely normal! What a relief! I didn’t quite realize it would be such a big deal, or I’d have my finger all bandaged or would need to keep my hand up for two days. I also found it impossible to do things like wash dishes with basically one hand. The worst part was I wasn’t allowed to play piano! So, I played with my left hand ha-ha!! John was over the entire day after the biopsy, keeping me company, so of course, we started writing a whole new batch of songs!

We’ve been burning the midnight oil all month, on a hot streak of creativity, and we have 10 new songs!

These songs will be a bit of a surprise and secret for now. There’s a theme and concept, and we delve into a slightly new style. More will be revealed soon!

Along with songwriting, we’ve been rehearsing our set for the Hotel Café, Sunday, Feb 12th, at 8 pm! We are so excited to play live music for you! We are very serious, of course, but have a great time playing together. It’s so much fun and gratifying!

We can’t wait to share a beautiful evening with you!

Purchase tickets in advance!

Lots of love, and see you soon! Christine

P.S. I played with 9 fingers for a couple of weeks, but now I’m back to playing piano with all 10! 🙂

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Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Spotify and Apple Music.

Dear Music Family,

I can’t believe Christmas is only a few days way! Wow! The last month went so fast, but John and I got a Christmas song, written, recorded, and put out just for you!  We started writing “I Don’t Make Wishes for Christmas” on November 11^th, and I know the date well because it was the first time we’d seen each other for a couple of weeks after we both tested Covid positive! That was a big doozy, right on the heels of our show.

So…backing up a little, our show on October 24th was fabulous!  It was everything I dreamed it would be.  We saw your wonderful faces there, soaking it all in and cheering us on!  John texted me and said he would come “scoop” me up and take me to the club, and we just had the best time and experience ever!

We were so happy to share our songs with you and finally get them out into the world.  And that was the comment I received most, from so many people, that it was so good to see us so happy, I guess it was just radiating off us!

Here is just one of the lovely messages I received that night…

“Christine! The show was wonderful.  The songs were evocative and beautiful.  You and John sound gorgeous together.  Song writing together, what a gift!”

I want to share a big thank you with you all, although a little belated, honestly, I started the new semester at AMDA (teaching voice) the day after the show and 3 days later Covid hit!   So, that really took us out, at least until November 11^th when we got busy on the Christmas song.

“I Don’t Make Wishes for Christmas” was truly a labor of love and we both feel so proud of us!  I’m getting such great response too!  I sent it to my dad and Laura, and she said it reminded her so much of how she and my dad feel about each other, and she was saying, “I would love for you to sing it at our anniversary!” (Which I can’t believe is 9 years already on December 28^th).  Wow!

I also shared it with a family of a young 4-year-old piano student.  His mom said he loved it, he said he loved our voices, and he loved the music, so I feel it really is appealing to a wide range of ages!

We wanted to create something about joy and love, reminiscent of the vintage feeling we get from Christmas songs we heard growing up, from Andy Williams and Jackie Gleason’s “Music for Lovers Only” to Vince Guaraldi.

So please enjoy, share it and know we love you so much and we can’t wait to sing for you again IRL!  You’re going to get the chance because we are going to be, in the new year, at The Hotel Café, Feb 12^th, celebrating the power of love and music.  Put Feb. 12^th 8pm in your calendar, it’s just right around the corner as well!

Here’s a link to purchase tickets in advance!

I know the holidays aren’t easy for everyone, and I’ve had my share of spending time alone, especially during the pandemic, but even more reason to savor the time we do have together now.  So, please enjoy your holiday time together, snuggle up, have some hot cocoa and hold the ones you love close.

(When you hear our song, you’ll hear lots of fun lyrics reflecting that and I hope will make you smile. 😊)

Lots of love and big kisses and hugs!
Christine

P.S. Visit our website. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Spotify and Apple Music.

We are only five days away from bringing you all the love – LIVE!  This Sunday, Oct. 23rd at 8 pm we’ll be rocking out the Hotel Café! 

We want to see You there!

Get your advance tickets here; let’s sell out this show!

We are so excited to invite you to this show!  I can’t believe it’s been almost three years…my last show at the Hotel Café was slated for March 2020, but we all know the world had other plans. Everything stopped, or so it seemed at first. Through the unprecedented pandemic, John was my person, my anchor through the uncertainty.

I could never have imagined we would experience the hot streak of creativity that has led us to form our duo, The Greatest Lovers.

Our new music as The Greatest Lovers sprang forth organically. There was no plan to become a group, let alone make music together this way, but over time and space, the music showed up for us as we showed up for each other.

Songwriting is always such a spiritual experience, and this was no different. Though we would connect via John sending over lyric ideas, and I’d reply, and vice versa, the melding of musical minds reached a point of not even being able to discern who wrote what or which of us found each line of melodies and harmonies.

It was all such a pure and healing experience we now have the privilege of sharing with you this Sunday, October 23^rd, at 8 pm!

Having this moment at the Hotel Café is also just such a full return to love and life with the power of music.

John has said this is some of the most meaningful music he’s ever been a part of, and I find myself repeating that sentiment to myself often. It’s a strengthening reminder when the stress of putting on a show and setting things up like this gets overwhelming or when the nerves behind sharing our souls creep in as the big night draws closer. It helps me remember the power and meaning behind this music and what a gift it is. Music is so powerful to touch and heal our souls, and that’s what we all need right now.

It may sound corny or uncool sometimes to be so seen and let love reveal our depths while being genuinely open to the experience of being fully loved. When all is said and done, life is too short to miss an opportunity like this, and I’m so happy to share this exciting moment of music and love with you. I can’t wait to connect with you in that hallowed room at the Hotel Café and let you encounter the same spiritual healing we have working together.

Now for the surprise!… 

We are releasing our debut single, “I Like the Sound of This” to give you a little taste and wet your earbuds for Sunday!  And…drumroll…build the anticipation for more new music and an upcoming video! Stay tuned for more excitement coming your way!

“I Like the Sound of This” reaches into our jazz roots and captures a romantic day spent at the beach, listening to the beautiful sounds of life and love.

Click here to listen to “I Like the Sound of This”

Click here to get your tickets to Hotel Café!

The Hotel Café
1623 Cahuenga Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
Ages: 21 and up

We can’t wait to see you and sing our hearts out for you!

Lots of love,
John and Christine

Dear Music Fam,

I have exciting news to share with you! I’ve been hinting at this for a long time…All my creativity and manifesting is coming to fruition! It’s the perfect time for a big reveal, and I know you’ll love what’s on the horizon!

In a season of planting, growing, and shifting to the next season of life, I found myself asking about the greatest lovers throughout history. Did they somehow feel more than we do now? What was behind the spark connecting their souls that made the tales of their love worth retelling years, decades, even centuries later?

Love, true love, certainly does live forever, but what is it about their love that transcends time and space?

As the whole world experienced a season of withdrawal, closure, and waiting, something blossomed within me and is now coming to fruition for myself and the new things happening!

Manifestation, whether through mantras, rituals, prayers, or other spiritual means, is how we communicate with ourselves and connect to something higher. Perhaps this is the gateway to love. I can say from the fruit of my manifestation labor that the time is near to reap what has been sown, and I’m grateful that it is good, great. Perhaps the greatest!

It certainly has been for me and John, through the happenstance of our paths crossing, at just the right time!  The pieces fell into place, but there was even more in store for us two songbirds!  Little did we know that something deeper would emerge from such a spiritual and emotional connection.

Singing together, and supporting each other’s projects has been a thrill, but we never expected the wellspring of “heal your soul” music that was rippling beneath the surface within both of us!

It began with a push and pull, like a current. The inspiration would arise in one or the other, but then so would our walls to protect vulnerability.

But just like water wears away at rocky coastlines, so did the walls come down to create our love-inspired songs!

The music flowed between us, making it hard to distinguish John’s voice from mine!

We melded together so seamlessly; it can be hard to describe the feeling of being swept away into a divine flow of creativity until you’ve experienced it. Thankfully, we captured these waves of love and healing and channeled them into our music. The floodgates opened, and we found not only greater love for each other but also The Greatest Lovers.

Our new group makes love-inspired songs, allowing us to share the glow of love with you!

To do one better, we’re also playing a live music performance Sunday, October 23^rd at the Hotel Café in Hollywood.  Keep an eye out for more info on our social media channels, our new website, and more for exclusive updates, news, and maybe even a giveaway!

Get your Tickets for the Hotel Café here!   

As John said, “We about to heal your soul with this one.”  It certainly healed ours after such tumultuous times. Come join us in the love and excitement. We hope to see you at the Hotel Café!

Read our bio and story here on our new website!

Watch our fun video below and subscribe to our YouTube Channel!

My Dear Music Family,

I thought I’d pop my head out of my isolation bubble to connect, catch up, and tell you how much I miss you all and love you.

What a crazy year this has been!  Life has changed so much over the past 9-10 months with so many ups and downs and waves of emotion until I finally settled in, best I could and embraced our new reality, including lots of zoom sessions with students, family and friends.

One of the benefits is being able to spend more time with family I normally don’t get to see as often, like my dad and his wife Laura. They started attending our “Zoom Church” Sunday Service (The Methodist Church in the Pacific Palisades) and I love sharing this with them. It’s been such a huge comfort and support for me during this time. My family has become even closer during this lockdown, their encouraging words a healing balm when I’ve been feeling down.  It’s so good to see the faces of my church family (and their pets!) each week.  A time where we can all lift each other up.

John and I have been recording “church songs” for the service, and it’s been not only fun but a good musical work out!

Here’s our song for Christmas Eve. It’s a Spiritual recorded by Odetta in the 60s, and we found it so haunting and beautiful.

Professionally, I’ve grown in ways I didn’t think was possible.  For decades, I have been trying to “succeed” at being a professional Musician. Being forced to quarantine and stop the freelance life has made me think about what “success” truly is.  It’s less about fame and fortune and more about igniting the light within me.

I’ve been given myself the time to thoroughly follow my joy and put my full attention on songwriting.  In this dark time, I’ve found a silver lining and am I grateful!

The pandemic has given me the best gift ever, a big hot streak of creativity and songwriting!

Along with my amazing writing partner, John Bigham, we’ve written 15 songs so far. It has been a saving grace for me.  We have been demoing the songs and doing pre-production.

This is literally a dream come true!  More on all of this at a later date, but I am so excited about this music!  We can’t wait to share it with the world!

The pandemic has also given me the time and inclination to finally get set up to learn pro-tools and get my recording chops together.  Phew!  The learning curve is a little steep, but I’m patient with myself.  Thankfully John has been using pro-tools for years and can do the heavy lifting there.

This holiday season may your heart be comforted by the love of those around you (literally and virtually).

Wishing you radiant health and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I’ve been so happy to teach a few piano and voice lessons online during this time.  It feels lovely to be of service.  At first, the technology felt daunting, but now I’m getting the hang of it, and lessons are going quite well. My students vary from a 90-year-old, isolated in his care home, to a teenager in performing arts school, to a Disney Executive!  Read about their experiences here and find out how much lessons have helped them. We need music in our lives now more than ever.  If you’d like to try it, I’d love to work with you!  To talk with me about lessons, send me an email to get started.

Dear Music Family,

This is a time of great change. A time for slowing down and finding new ways to connect as we continue to shelter-in. Here in Los Angeles, I’ve been adjusting to a new life for sure. Something that happened only two weeks ago now feels like a lifetime.  Including my upcoming show that was scheduled for this Sunday, March 29th.  Even when we try to hold on, gripping onto the old and familiar, the new is coming.  Whoa! Scary? Yes! Anxious? Sometimes! And also…. exciting in some ways.

For me, it’s been exciting to learn new technology as I continue to teach my students online via Zoom and Facetime. Globally, we are being asked to rise up, and while I have a bit of a learning curve in getting acquainted with all of the apps I am now using, I see the gift in it. It’s definitely upping my game! Being virtual means, I can teach anyone, and everyone interested in learning!

Wanna join me? Leave a comment below and let’s talk about lessons!  ☺️

See what Ruth has to say below about her virtual lessons 😉

“Having the availability to Christine online during this quarantine has made life easier. Plus, it’s fun! Another bright side to my being able to get my coaching online, via Zoom or FaceTime, is it has allowed my family to be able to hear my voice’s progression and to see the process of rehearsing to final product the recital. Also, my husband loves to hear me sing”. -Ruth Stone-Holt

I’ve also spent a big part of my time talking with my fellow musicians and friends in the music industry.  While Congress has been working on a relief package for those displaced by Covid19, many who are self-employed, freelance musicians need access to these relief funds as well.

People need music now more than ever.  Here’s how you can help…

If you haven’t already done it, please contact your representatives about including freelance musicians in the COVID relief bill. You can complete this form, put in your zip, and it will write and send the letters for you!   It only takes 2 minutes. (We all THANK YOU!)

Small independent businesses are also being impacted, and they need our help. One of the dearest to my heart is The Hotel Café. The first show I saw there was back in the nineties! I’ve probably seen hundreds of shows of friends and different artists over the years. It was a dream for me to play there one day. I will never forget being able to launch my album “Been a Long Time” at The Hotel Café. It breaks my heart to read on Instagram today they are going through hard times.

If you were thinking of coming to our show this Sunday, would you consider donating to The Hotel Café Covid-19 Relief Fund instead?

100% of the donations will go towards their staff as supplemental income as we all try to get through these times. It’s heartbreaking to think The Hotel Café might not be here when this is all over.

Donate to The Hotel Café Covid-19 Relief Fund

Last but not least, I’ve been spending time telling friends and family how much I love them. I am practicing self-care and transparency in ways I’ve never done before.

Included on my list of to-dos:

• showing up kinder for myself
• less doing and more being
• going easy on myself without any expectations

It’s a time where emotions surface to be healed. I am grateful for my music being a vehicle of healing. What are you thankful for? Leave a comment below.  I’d love to hear ways you’ve been taking care of your heart.

Until next time,

Love
Christine