About Chris Guenther
Country/Americana
Southwest Washington's native son Chris Guenther has shared the stage with nationally reknowned acts including Merle Haggard and the Strangers, Mark Chesnutt, Darryl Worley, Lila McCann, Lacy J. Dalton and The New Christy Minstrels building a strong legion of followers. He has continued to strengthen his reputation as a versatile act, performing for rodeos, livestock shows, county fairs, festivals, casinos, colleges, corporate events, as well as major concert venues throughout the Pacific Northwest. He is a BMI songwriter and a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and bandleader with four successful independent album releases under his belt. Turning professional in his teens, Guenther began singing publicly at livestock shows and county fairs. Soon after, he began to cut his teeth in the South Puget Sound club scene, cultivating a distinctive sound by blending is favorite styles, California Country/Rock, Texas Honky Tonk and Western Swing, and Blues influenced Rockabilly stylings from Memphis.
In 2001 Guenther formed his owned indie label and launched his recording career with his debut release "Honky Tonk Livin". After producing his sophomore CD Destinations Unknown in February 2005, Red Arrow Records, an independent label from Olympia, Washington signed Guenther. 'Destinations Unknown' received critical acclaim internationally. The album was distributed to European country radio, charting on the European Country Music Association's top 100 for three weeks and staying on the International Country Chart for more than ten consecutive weeks. Guenther released his third studio project "Ten Sides" in July 2006. Like its predecessor, European country radio embraced its arrival, charting in the top ten in the U.K., Denmark, the Netherlands, France, and Germany. Guenther's long awaited 4th album, The Crossing was released in October 2010.
Locally, Guenther has received fan loyalty and appreciation, being voted Lewis County's best band and musician by the Chronicle 2007-2011. He has also been nominated in King 5 News' Evening Magazine's "Best of the Northwest". He has been a consistent performer four nights a week in the downtown Chehalis, Washington music scene for the past five years. But, making music in a region that is otherwise musically depressed and underrated, Guenther recognizes the importance of working a day job. He is an agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, leaning upon his strong rural upbringing. Like his artistic debts, Chris LeDoux and George Strait, Guenther is as authentic as they come - he writes and sings songs from his experiences and the experiences of those close to him. While commercially successful acts produced in major markets continue to sound the same, Guenther prides himself on his original sound - raw, real, and visceral country music.
- Facebook:
- http://www.facebook.com/chrisguenthermusic/
- Website:
- http://www.chrisguenther.net
