Awards & Distinctions
Awards & Distinctions of Gretchen Christopher & The Fleetwoods
Gretchen Christopher performs "Come Softly To Me", "Mr. Blue", "Goodnight My Love" for THE FLEETWOODS induction to VOCAL GROUP HALL OF FAME, 2006, celebrated with Induction Ceremony, Concerts and Festivities November 6-9, 2008, in 6000 seat venue in Youngstown, OH.
See vocalgroup.org/inductees/the-fleetwoods/.
2007 Billboard Critics' Picks Gretchen's SWEET SIXTEEN (SUITE 16)
2007 BILLBOARD CRITICS' PICKS: 10 BEST ALBUMS
Fred Bronson, Billboard.com Chart Beat columnist (and author of The Billboard Book of #1 Hits, including Gretchen Christopher's first song, "Come Softly To Me") picks, among 10 BEST ALBUMS: Gretchen Christopher, SWEET SIXTEEN (SUITE 16), (Gold Cup), and writes, "The former Fleetwoods singer, born Feb. 29, celebrates her '16th birthday' by turning her life into a stunning suite of 16 songs."
For more Reviews of Gretchen's SWEET SIXTEEN (SUITE 16), click: www.thefleetwoods.com/reviews.htm
For Sound Clips and more information, click:
www.thefleetwoods.com/sweet16CD.html
Experience Music Project - EMP Grand Opening and Northwest Passage Exhibits: 2000 - 2010
Gold Records and 1st Tour Costume of Gretchen Christopher of The Fleetwoods on display, plus video narrated by Producer Bob Reisdorff.
THE FLEETWOODS elected to VOCAL GROUP HALL OF FAME, Class of 2006
Doo Wopp HALL OF FAME of America,
Induction of THE FLEETWOODS, March, 2006
Olympia High School Alumni HALL OF FAME,
Induction of THE FLEETWOODS, accepted by the trio's Founder, Female Lead Singer and BMI Million Airs Songwriter GRETCHEN CHRISTOPHER, performing autobiographical solo CD's just-recorded Title Song, "Sweet Sixteen." May 23, 2005.
Broadcast Music, Inc. - 1997 BMI MILLION AIRS AWARD
to SONGWRITERS Gretchen Christopher, Barbara Ellis, Gary Troxel and "Come Softly To Me"
SPECIAL CITATIONS OF ACHIEVEMENT: for over 2,000,000 USA Radio Broadcasts.
Music & Performing Arts Angels' top honor - 1994, THE ANGEL VICTORY AWARD
- to Gretchen Christopher -
"Inspirational Star, Singer, Composer, Recording Artist, Dancer, Choreographer."
Southern California Motion Picture Council's top honor 1992 Jeanie Golden Halo Eagle "SUPERSTAR AWARD"
to "Gretchen Christopher, Actress, Singer, Composer, For your contributions to the Entertainment Industry and Performing Arts."
Recipient, Certificate of Appreciation for Bob Hope USO Show, Las Vegas, 1990.
PRESENTER, Gretchen Christopher, Northwest Area Music Association NAMA Awards, 1988 & 89.
Northwest MUSIC HALL OF FAME, The Fleetwoods, among the five premier INDUCTEES, 1988, including Jimi Hendrix, The Fabulous Wailers, Little Bill & The Blue Notes.
CITIZEN DIPLOMAT to the SOVIET UNION, 1985:
Gretchen Christopher, Ballet Dancer, Composer, Recording Artist,
toured Leningrad and Moscow to meet with Soviet counterparts and create a dialogue for peace. Gretchen distributed 100 copies of The Fleetwoods' Greatest Hits, as gifts of peace, behind the Iron Curtain, One of 77 Citizen Diplomats (including Mike Farrell, Shelley Fabares, Dennis Weaver, Patch Adams) People For Planetary Peace / PROJECTS FOR PLANETARY PEACE.
COMPOSERS of music & lyrics of song used in soundtracks of major MOTION PICTURES. Screen credits,
1980s to present.
ARTISTS of hits used on soundtracks in major MOTION PICTURES. Screen credits, 1970s to present.
BMI MILLION AIRS Songwriters SPECIAL CITATIONS OF ACHIEVEMENT, 1978, for over 1,000,000 Radio Broadcasts of "Come Softly To Me" in the U.S. alone.
Recipients, BMI Songwriter Citations of Achievement, 1959
(Broadcast Music, Inc.), in recognition of the great national popularity attained by "Come Softly To Me."
MILLION SELLER SONGWRITERS of the 1st GOLD RECORD produced in the Northwest, the Nation's #1 RECORD, and BEST SELLING SHEET MUSIC in U.S.A. & U.K., "Come Softly To Me".
THE FLEETWOODS' Founder, Female Lead Vocalist/Arranger/Songwriter and Choreographer,
GRETCHEN CHRISTOPHER contracted as MANAGER and SOLE AUTHORIZED CONTRACTOR of
THE FLEETWOODS***
*** The only group to have two #1 Records in the USA in 1959 (by actual sales, as reported by top three trade magazines, The Billboard, Music Reporter, and Cashbox, on whose cover The Fleetwoods appeared).
*** First group in the world to have multiple #1 Records top The Billboard Hot 100 in a single year and, according to The Billboard Book of #1 Records, the only group to achieve this in the first seven years of Rock 'n' Roll history.
*** 2 Gold Records (now equivalent to Platinum), the first ever earned by an Artist on a Northwest label:
The Fleetwoods' "Come Softly To Me" and "Mr. Blue" on Dolton Records. One million sales each, in year of release.
*** 11 Hit Singles, for a total of 110 weeks on The Billboard Hot 100 (nine Top 40, three of these Top 10, two #1).
*** 15 Albums & 6 CDs, 1959-1990s (not including EPs and foreign releases).
