Christie LEIGH s
Story
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Christie Leigh Bellany grew up in a small Massachusetts town, singing and writing songs when she was just a young girl. She created her first group "The McBells" when she was just five years old, singing songs with her cousin and sister, for anyone who would listen. It was around that time that her dad's band The Golden Relics started practicing in her family's basement. Christie was the girl with her ear to the door, finding a love for classic rock.
She joined her first band "Heckling Nun" at 19, and managed to get them on the main stage at a local music festival opening for Faith no More in front of 10,000 people. While the band was a great experience, the boys wouldn't allow her to sing the songs she wanted, so she eventually picked up a guitar and decided to try writing. She recorded her first demo - a cassette tape named "Clumsy Fingers and Careless Endings" - in 1996.
At 21, Christie Leigh bought a beat up van, threw a bed in the back, and headed across country to California with her cassette in hand. While there, she started street performing on the 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Beach boardwalk. It was during those times that Christie really cemented her skill for performing. While in LA, she saved up enough money to make another demo - a CD called "Fallen in Again" at Hollywood Studios.
Deep Down Damned, 2013
Live at Perk's, 2006
Strange Little Story, 2004
Live at the Viper Room, 1999
East Coast Girl, 2000
Fallen in Again, 1998
Clumsy Fingers & Careless Endings, 1996
Discography
Returning to Boston with her new demo, Christie started performing and selling her CDs at all the local music venues like Harper's Ferry, The Paradise and the legendary Kendall Cafe. She continued street performing in Harvard Square, on Boston Common and in subway stations. While performing at a local coffeehouse, Christie met the legendary Andy Buzzi, who convinced her to record some of her songs at Bristol Studios in Rhode Island. Her original recording of "East Coast Girl" went on to become a fan favorite.
In 2000, Christie met producer Nate Christy and together they formed her band "Christie Leigh and the Crooked Hearts". They started performing and touring all over New England. She was lucky enough to score a gig at Indian Ranch in Webster, MA opening for country legend Buddy Jewell. Those early shows gave her the funding to produce her "Strange Little Story" EP. Christie continued playing and touring for the next ten years.
In 2013, a generous donor helped Christie fund her first full-length album, recording and producing "Deep Down Damned" with Yan Perchuk in Nashville, Tennessee. The album is Christie's most polished body of work, complete with blazing country guitars, rocking drums and layered harmonies. Christie won several awards for tracks "Deep Down Damned" and "When You Need a Moment".
Christie toured for over a year after releasing "Deep Down Damned" and in 2014 she took a break to raise her son and focus on her writing. Today, she is living in Greater Boston and performing locally, while writing and licensing her music.
Awards
Great American Song Contest
Outstanding Achievement Award, 2013
Lilith Fair "Our Stage" Competition
Top 20 Finalist, 2010
Billboard World Song Contest
Honorable Mention
2007
American Idol Songwriter Contest
Runner Up, 2007
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