Join us to welcome Chris Haddox back to the Giffin Stage!
Chris Haddox was born in Logan, WV in 1960. His first exposure to the type of music that he would eventually come around to write and play came from his dad. His dad was always singing songs that seemed strange to Chris…but, as it turns out they were old folk songs that he had heard growing up in rural WV in the 30’s. Chris’ other early musical influence was his uncle Jim—a fantastic country blues singer and picker. Chris’ first formal music lessons came on the piano at age 6 and he continued those until age 18. He wrote his first song in the second grade—stealing a few lines from a poem that a fellow classmate wrote about missing his father. As a teen Chris was influenced by John Prine, Neil Young, John Denver, Kenny Rankin and folks like that. In his first year of college Chris met a guy who played the Dobro and who introduced him to the music of Tony Rice. For the next several years he devoted most of his musical time to bluegrass flatpicking. While in graduate school Chris happened upon an album of recordings by the Delmore Brothers from the late 20s and early 30s….his life was forever changed by that experience. Chris quit college and moved to Nashville—determined to make a life as a songwriter. Well…that didn’t quite pan out as expected, despite three healthy stints in Music City. He left Nashville for the last time in the late 80s and have continued to write/perform original songs in the folk/traditional/oldtime, and country veins. Like most writers, Chris tries to find new ways to address old topics…some songs are funny, some sad, but they are all honest…even the ones that are full of lies.
If any of this strikes your fancy, come on out for a listen