Chris Volpe
Chris Volpe
Genres: forest sun radio, folk
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About Chris Volpe
San Francisco-based Americana artist is a self-taught guitar virtuoso and skilled songwriter. In addition to complex finger-picking styles akin to Leo Kottke and Paul Simon , Volpe's lyrics are nothing short of poetry. Witness an excerpt from "1849 Revisited": "For all along the river banks there lives/A residue collected in the weeds/It smells of tasteless regret: a faint glimpse/Of hearts that sold the life they own to lease". Volpe has also taught himself to play piano, banjo, bass and drums, among other instruments. Through his songs, Volpe tells haunting tales of American experiences--from giving up everything and everyone you know to move to New York City in "Jersey Sun", to feeling lost in this vast country in "Refugee Blues", the title track to Volpe's recently released self- published CD. All 15 songs were recorded live in one take--a stellarrecording feat--which only adds credence to Volpe's innate musical abilities. He won the studio time to record the CD when he was awarded "best song"at the West Coast Songwriting Association's (WCSA) contest in 2004. Volpe's top-quality songwriting and performing has also garnered him honorable mentions in the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Contest and Billboard Worldwide Song Contest. Most recently, "Refugee Blues" was selected Best Album/Folk-Singer-Songwriter in the 2006 Independent Music Awards, judged by Norah Jones, Melissa Etheridge, and Bill Wyman, among others. Volpe was also selected as a featured independent artist on National Public Radio's "Open Mic". He has opened for national touring artists suchas Susan Gibson and Leslie Helpert. Other venues played include Hotel Utah (San Francisco), the legendary CBGB's (NYC), Arlene's Grocery (NYC), Galaxy Hut (Arlington, VA), the Herndon Festival featuring Suzanne Vega (Herndon,VA), and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where he and his former band earned first place in the Battle of the Bands (2001).
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