Christopher Rees (born 2 May 1973,
Llanelli
; ) is a market town and community (Wales), community in Carmarthenshire and the Preserved counties of Wales, preserved county of Dyfed, Wales. It is on the estuary of the River Loughor and is the largest town in the Principal areas of Wales, ...
, South Wales, UK) is a musician, singer-songwriter, music producer.
Career
Rees started his music career by touring the United States in 1994, having developed his guitar playing and songwriting talents at
Cardiff University
Cardiff University () is a public research university in Cardiff, Wales. It was established in 1883 as the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire and became a founding college of the University of Wales in 1893. It was renamed Unive ...
.
Rees released the 'Kiss Me Kill Me' EP via FFvinyl in 2001, receiving a Welsh Music Award nomination for 'Best Male Solo Act' two years running in 2002 and 2003. He supported former
Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground were an American rock band formed in New York City in 1964. Its classic lineup consisted of singer and guitarist Lou Reed, Welsh multi-instrumentalist John Cale, guitarist Sterling Morrison, and percussionist Moe Tuc ...
singer
John Cale
John Davies Cale (born 9 March 1942) is a Welsh musician, composer, and record producer who was a founding member of the American rock band the Velvet Underground. Over his six-decade career, Cale has worked in various styles across rock, dr ...
during a 2001 UK tour.
He established the Red Eye Music label with fellow musician Dave Stapleton in 2003 and released his debut album 'The Sweetest Ache' in October 2004. The album received widespread critical acclaim for its musical ambition and dramatic intensity.
In Oct 2004 he became the first act ever to perform at
The Houses Of Parliament, Port Cullis House as part of
Fergal Sharkey's Live Music Forum. The Sweetest Ache also earned him the title of Best Male Solo Artist at The Welsh Music Awards 2004.
His second album Alone on a Mountain Top (The Ty Bach Twt Sessions) was released in June 2005. It had support from
MOJO
Mojo may refer to:
* Mojo (African-American culture), a magical charm bag used in Hoodoo
Arts, entertainment and media Film and television
* ''Mojo'' (2017 film), a 2017 Indian Kannada drama film written and directed by Sreesha Belakvaadi
* '' ...
,
UNCUT and
Janice Long
Janice Berry (née Chegwin; 5 April 1955 – 25 December 2021), known professionally by her first married name Janice Long, was an English broadcaster who was best known for her work in British music radio. The first female presenter to have a ...
on
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It is the List of most-listened-to radio programs, most popular station in the United Kingdom with over 14 million weekly listeners. Since launching in 1967, the sta ...
as well as opening the doors to international touring. The album was distributed throughout Canada, Benelux and New Zealand where Rees toured.
The third album by Christopher Rees 'Cautionary Tales' was released on 3 September 2007. The album garnered critical acclaim throughout the UK and Europe, radio play on BBC Radio 2 (
Janice Long
Janice Berry (née Chegwin; 5 April 1955 – 25 December 2021), known professionally by her first married name Janice Long, was an English broadcaster who was best known for her work in British music radio. The first female presenter to have a ...
,
Steve Lamacq
Stephen Paul Lamacq (born 16 October 1964), sometimes known by his nickname Lammo (given to him by John Peel), is an English disc jockey, currently working with BBC Radio 6 Music.
Lamacq was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire ( ...
,
Bob Harris). The single Bottom Dollar (Featuring
Victoria Williams
Victoria Williams (born December 23, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter and musician, originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, United States, although she has resided in Southern California throughout her musical career. Diagnosed with multi ...
) hit Number 2 in the MOJO Playlist in October 2007 (Issue 167).
It also opened the door to some wider touring activities including appearances at
The Green Man Festival,
End of the Road Festival and supports slots with
Richard Hawley
Richard Willis Hawley (born 17 January 1967) is an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer. After his first band Treebound Story (formed while he was still at school) broke up, Hawley found success as a member of Britpop band Long ...
and Texas Country singer
Billy Joe Shaver
Billy Joe Shaver (August 16, 1939 – October 28, 2020) was an American singer and songwriter.
Billy Joe was a prominent figure in the outlaw country genre. He is considered one of the great American songwriters of his generation. He has recei ...
.
Rees appeared at music festivals such as
North By North East
North by Northeast (or NXNE) is an annual music and arts festival held each June in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The festival's main focus is live music, particularly emerging talent. Acts that have had break out appearances at NXNE at small venues ...
in Toronto, Canada and
South By South West Music Festival in Austin, Texas.
Rees released his fourth album 'Devil's Bridge' on 11 May 2009. He was invited to tour nationwide with performers including
Kristin Hersh
Martha Kristin Hersh (born August 7, 1966) is an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter known for her solo work and with her rock bands Throwing Muses and 50 Foot Wave, 50FootWave. She has released eleven solo albums. Her guitar work and comp ...
(
Throwing Muses
Throwing Muses are an American alternative rock band formed in 1981 in Newport, Rhode Island, United States, that toured and recorded extensively until 1997, when its members began concentrating more on other projects.
The group was original ...
),
The Handsome Family
The Handsome Family is an American music duo consisting of husband and wife Brett and Rennie Sparks formed in Chicago, Illinois, and as of 2001 based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They are perhaps best known for their song " Far from Any Road" fro ...
,
Chuck Prophet
Charles William Prophet (born June 28, 1963) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and record producer. A Californian, Prophet first achieved notice in the American psychedelic/desert rock group Green on Red, with whom he toured and reco ...
,
Steve Earle
Stephen Fain Earle (; born January 17, 1955) is an American country, rock, and folk singer-songwriter. He began his career as a songwriter in Nashville and released his first EP in 1982.
Earle's breakthrough album was his 1986 debut album '' ...
,
Cherryholmes
Cherryholmes was an American Bluegrass band from Los Angeles, California. The band was made up of six members of the Cherryholmes family: father Jere (Pop), mother Sandy Lee, daughters Cia Leigh, and Molly Kate, and sons B.J. and Skip.
Histo ...
and
The Sadies
The Sadies are a Canadian rock and roll / country and western band from Toronto, Ontario. The band consists of Travis Good, Sean Dean and Mike Belitsky. Dallas Good, a founding member, died in 2022. Dallas and Travis are the sons of Margaret a ...
.
Rees released his 5th album 'Heart on Fire' in May 2011. The album was partly recorded in Austin, Texas with The South Austin Horns.
Rees released his 6th album, 'Stand Fast' on 18 February 2013. The album features the song 'Alright Squires' – a tribute to Welsh singer
Dorothy Squires
Dorothy Squires (born Edna May Squires, 25 March 1915 – 14 April 1998) was a Welsh singer. Her early successes were achieved with " The Gypsy", " A Tree in the Meadow" and " I'm Walking Behind You" by her partner Billy Reid, and " Say It w ...
.
His 7th album 'The Nashville Songs' was released 30 June 2017.
Discography
Singles
*"Kiss Me Kill Me EP" (2001)
*"Bottom Dollar" (2007)
*"What Walks Outside My Window" (2009)
*"Sparks Flying" (2011)
Albums
*''The Sweetest Ache'' (2004)
*''Alone on a Mountain Top (The Tŷ Bach Twt Sessions)'' (2005)
*''Cautionary Tales'' (2007)
*''Devil's Bridge'' (2009)
*''Heart on Fire'' (2011)
*''Stand Fast'' (2013)
*''The Nashville Songs'' (2017)
Awards
*2004 – Best Male Solo Artist – Welsh Music Awards
*2011 – MOJO Honours List – New Voice Award (Shortlist)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rees, Christopher
1973 births
Living people
21st-century Welsh male singers
Welsh male singer-songwriters
Welsh singer-songwriters
Welsh guitarists
People from Llanelli
Musicians from Cardiff
Alumni of Cardiff University
21st-century British guitarists
British male singer-songwriters