Biography
There are two artists called Chris Simmons. 1) is a UK based solo artist who has played with the likes of Jackson Browne, Squeeze, The Kooks and many more and has his long awaited debut record coming out in 2014, and the other (2) is a blues guitarist from Alabama who now resides in Texas. He has released two albums to his credit with the last album being released in 2011.
1) Recent years has seen Chris boast support slots, openers and tours with the likes of Jackson Browne, Passenger, Kate Nash, Seth Lakeman, and The Maccabees (to name a fraction)
The Occupant’ video was shot by Steve Glashier, whose own credits include fellow Brightonite, Fatboy Slim.
Dark and slightly moody, the sound of ‘The Occupant’ incites flecks of Turin Brakes, Fossil Collective and Scott Walker. Perhaps an unlikely concoction is his gift for fusing less obvious musical strains within the singer-songwriter framework. Chris cites film soundtracks and scores as keen points of reference, further affectations link back to names such as Elvis Costello, Simon and Garfunkel, and Crosby, Stills and Nash. At the same time, intonations of Britpop are hard to ignore; no surprises then that he can add Ocean Colour Scene and Suede to the list of artists he’s supported.
Mentioning Squeeze as an especial influence, Simmons has latterly found himself closely affiliated with Chris Difford, with whom he’s both written and performed. Perhaps also it’s no coincidence that his fondness of Crowded House found him travelling Australia and New Zealand last year, where his songwriting benefitted from new places and perspectives, and where he got a taste for the busking tradition so loved in the Antipodes. Closer to home, Chris has just returned from his European tour promoting his single ‘You Could Have It All’ which was released in Germany last week and featured on national radio and TV.
The Occupant Video Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fthmNpVnbRQ&feature=youtu.be
You Could Have It All Video Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cyuz8l31vKs&sns=em
“British, brooding and expansive songwriting.– Tom Robinson, BBC 6 Music
“Majestically dark with the medieval lyrical theme creating an atmosphere that truly draws you in, recalling Neil Finn in his ‘Private Universe’ pomp. You can’t also help but notice a McCartney influence in Simmons’s songwriting, which is attracting collaborations with Chris Difford (Squeeze) amongst others…” – Music Week
“A great songwriter with an incredibly distinctive voice.” - Jackson Browne
2) Chris Simmons (US) grew up in a little town in Alabama. He picked up the guitar at age 12 and before long, he knew that playing that guitar would always be his life. After joining his first band at age 15, he roamed the southeast playing southern rock and blues in dirty little bars and house parties and such… until moving on to log some miles with a nationally touring rock n roll group as a side man for awhile. He made Austin, Tx, his next home.
He spent 5 years living and learning in the heart of Texas Blues playing legendary venues such as "The Steamboat", "Antone's" and the "Saxon Pub". Now, again he makes his home in the backwoods of Lacey's Spring, Alabama. With some mileage on his feet and hands, his heart has pointed him back to the blues the likes of Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters and Freddie King…where it all began for him.
For the last couple of years Chris has been fortunate to play guitar for the legendary Leon Russell. Between the days and nights on the road, in his little studio by the edge of those Alabama woods, Chris recorded his version of what he hears when he gets the blues. "Old News To Me"- IIt's a little bit rock n roll and little bit a gospel, and a whole lotta blues.
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