Singer.
Songwriter. Guitarist.
Recording Artist. Performer. Promoter
“Christopher Dale is infectious and virtuoso. He rocks, he croons, he blows bubbles, he opens a vein and lets it bleed!
~ Mike Sager, Esquire Magazine
Spawning from San Diego’s premier singer/songwriter venue Java Joe’s with the likes of Jewel and Jason Mraz and described as McCartney & John Mayer meet Neil Young & Tom Petty at a Jimmy Buffet concert, Christopher Dale mixes his many influences together to form one uniquely catchy artist. Whether he’s performing solo or with his band, Dale intoxicates listeners with his honesty, heart and fun-loving energy. Coupled with a commanding stage presence, humorous banter and the devotion to entertain, each C. Dale live performance creates a memory that sticks to you, like Super Glue!
Early Days
Before launching his solo career under the moniker of Scorch, Dale fronted the San Diego rock band Grays Well, a two-time San Diego Music Award nominee for Best Rock Group. In spite of the band’s success, in 1999, he departed in pursuit of greater musical diversity. He would go on to incorporate the many styles of music that had influenced him at such a young age into his first solo album “Pop With A Twist,” which was released in March of 2001. “Pop With A Twist” earned Scorch a SDMA nomination for Best Pop Album later that year. He received another nomination in 2002 for Best Acoustic. As a performer at the 2001 Suzuki Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, he was featured by both ESPN and NBC in their broadcasts of the event.
2002 also saw the creation of Distant Cousins, a collaborative acoustic side-project featuring Dale, longtime music peer Zach Goode (Ghoulspoon/Devided By Zero) and R&B Soulster Joey Bowen. By combining their 3 distinctively different songwriting styles, voices and personalities, Distant Cousins seemed to effortlessly connect with audiences through an eclectic blend of well-crafted songs, magical harmonies, and playful banter.
Jingle it
Leaving the ashes of Scorch behind in 2004, Christopher Dale went on to release “Pick Me Up” & the self-titled “Christopher Dale” (2005), each adding another SDMA nomination to his resume. As a result of consistent critical acclaim and a constant performance schedule, Mr. Dale was approached by a San Diego-based ad agency to sing in radio commercials for such companies as Ikea, Sparklett’s, Nissan and Henry’s Market Place. This prompted Chris to start his own jingle-based company, Marketable Melodies, for which he has written, produced and recorded spots for Hooters, Custom Logos, Torrey Pines Bank, J & W Lumber and the video game “Putt Nutz”.
If that wasn’t enough, C. Dale’s side-project collaboration with San Diego power pop, alternative rock favorites “Momma”, has added yet another genre to the repertoire of one of music’s most diverse artists, as well as a 2007 San Diego Music Award nomination for “Best Recording”, with the summer CD release of the self-titled SUPERDOO
Forging ahead as an artist
After a 3-year recording hiatus, Chris was back in the studio. Reuniting with Dan De La Isla, producer/engineer of his first two efforts as Scorch nearly a decade earlier, this would be Dale’s first time recording with his current band mates of the last 5 years, guitar player Matt Silvia and drummer/percussionist Bill Coomes. The musical chemistry and natural born harmonies proved a celebrated match for the batch of songs that would become the CD release “songs i know the words to” as demonstrated by a nomination for “Best Pop Album” at the 2011 San Diego Music Awards.
2013 showed no signs of slowing down C. Dale, as his friends call him. With a heavy performance schedule, new batch of songs & recording sessions set for the Fall, he quickly acknowledged the honor of his 10th career San Diego Music Awards nomination, with a nod for “Best Singer/Songwriter”, then it was back to the business of music.
Collaborations and the Road
In the fall of 2014, Mr. Dale released a limited edition EP, “Middle Of Nowhere” and continued to tour through the mid-west, east coast and Mexico.
2015 has become a year of collaborations for Christopher Dale. Acoustic Duo shows with talented Tennessee percussionist Melanie Howe aka “The Djembabe”, as well as recording projects with world-class, finger-style guitarist Jim Earp, young Austin phenom Jackie Venson and a CD release, Wood & Strings, with 2-time SDMA Winner, violinist Elise Ohki. In 2017, Chris spent over half the year, on the road, touring through 30 US states, Mexico & Canada.
2018 marked the release of Dale’s single, Smile, which he used to promote a campaign in support of the international children’s charity Smile Train, which has provided over a million new smiles to kids who required corrective, cleft-palate surgery. In 2020, C. Dale released the EP “Where The Road Turns To Sand”.
Community, Kids and Playing it Forward
Chris maintains his ties to San Diego as he tours nationally. Realizing the important role music played in his own childhood, Dale strives to reach local children and share with them the same gift. When he’s not on the road, he periodically visits local elementary schools to play his acoustic guitar and sing in the classroom. The desire to help kids and to support his community also keeps him involved with various charitable events, many of which have benefited The Storefront, a San Diego Youth and Community Services outreach program that serves as an emergency homeless shelter for 12 – 17 year old youths.
With respect to such honors as singing the National Anthem for the Independence Day celebration at Dodger Stadium, performing at the American Music Awards after-party and garnering 11 San Diego Music Award nominations, it is Dale’s lasting connection with the audience that best defines him as an artist. One female fan from Ohio went as far as riding a unicycle two miles, in rush hour traffic, to the station of the #1 morning radio show and hijacked an hour of live airtime plugging the music of her favorite singer/songwriter. Watch out for the Unicycle Radio Promotional Tour coming to a city near YOU!
Interview with Christopher Dale
Christopher Dale chats with Making Music Magazine’s Chuck Schiele about the auspices of being a songwriter.
Check out Christopher Dale
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