Chelsea Crites chimes in for Christmas
For Port Colborne country singer Chelsea Crites, Christmas means thinking of a grandmother she has no memory of.
She died shortly after Crites was born in 1994, and all she has are the stories handed down from family members. And they’ve all led to her first Christmas album, Dear Santa.
“My family had made the promise to keep her memory alive, so it really does feel like I’ve known her my whole life,” says Crites. “One solid detail I remember being told was her extreme love for Christmas. It was a time when the whole family got together no matter where they were and what was in their way.
“She always made it a point to have every person of the family together.”
Crites hopes to carry on the tradition with a CD release show at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in Niagara Falls Saturday. In addition to family and friends, the all- ages show will feature multi- Niagara Music Award winner Cory Cruise and act as a Christmas fundraiser for Women’s Place of South Niagara.
“There is something for every- one on this project — upbeat, midtempo, cheerful and heartfelt. I just wanted the listeners to feel something, just like it made me feel while singing the material.
“I wanted to celebrate this release with everyone possible while helping the community.”
Entering local singing competitions since she was seven, Crites has been one of the busiest and high- profile singers in the region for the past decade. In addition to opening for Jason McCoy, she has shared the stage with Dallas Smith, Aaron Pritchett and Niagara’s Tim Hicks. In May, she headlined at Hamilton Place.
“Every year, it seems I get to achieve another milestone I never thought was possible,” she says. “Starting out as a little girl with a dream and a karaoke machine and school talent shows has turned into some amazing shows.”
Attendees are encouraged to bring a non- perishable food item or new unwrapped toy to benefit Women’s Place.