'Whatever
else I have done, I always come back to music' says Chris, who has
of necessity done a number of other jobs and worked in the theatre,
journalism and 'any other damn job that will pay the rent.'
He lives in Somerset where he enjoys spending as much time as possible
outdoors, looking after animals and creating a garden with 'anything
you can eat; it's better to grow food, for yourself and whatever flies
by.'
In
the 1970's Chris made two records for Billy Gaff and David Geffen
and these albums have now achieved cult status. In the 1980s Chris
worked as a lyricist with Franck Langolf and contributed to two Stones
albums (Dirty Work and Steel Wheels).
It
was as recently as 1994 with the release of 'Atcha' (Rock the Zydeco
in the USA) that Chris established
his musical identity and plotted a course that he is still pursuing.
That course combines CJ's interest in Zydeco, Cajun and Country with
the underlying strands of R'n'B, Rock and World music. Constant touring
has enabled Chris to hone his skills as frontman and vocalist. In
his band he also plays guitar and washboard.
In
1996 Chris recorded an acoustic album with long term associates Ben
Waters and Charlie Hart and there followed the current album 'Channel
Fever' with full line-up.
Chris
still has current acoustic projects and in 2002 toured the UK with
fiddle player Robin Mckidd playing clubs and theatres.
Recently Chris, Charlie Hart and Ben Waters appeared on BBC Radio
3 'the Andy Kershaw show' and Radio 4's Ned Sherrin arts programme
'Loose Ends.'