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Johnny Handle and Chris Hendry

Chris Hendry is a Scottish singer who learnt many of her songs first hand from such important source singers as Jeannie Robertson, Norman Kennedy and the Stewart family. As a teenager in the early 1960s  she became part of the Fife folk club scene, based at St. Andrews, and was recorded by Hamish Henderson for the School of Scottish Studies at Edinburgh. Later moving to North East England to study and teach, Chris joined the team of residents at the prestigious Folksong and Ballad Club Newcastle.

After working in the south of England, and performing regularly at Oxford and Bristol, she returned to Tyneside where she now lives with her husband, Johnny Handle. Regarded as one of the best singers in the region, Chris has a wide repertoire of material from the old ballads to farming and industrial songs.

Her strong voice has all the characteristics of the classic great singers, with a controlled use of decoration, breathing and volume. Since retiring from Sunderland University, there has been much opportunity to continue her interest in Scottish song collections and sing to a wider public. She is currently a tutor in singing skills as part of the Newcastle University Folk Degree Course.

Chris and Johnny appear together regularly both at home on Tyneside, and other parts of Britain. You can hear them in full and varied performance at their favourite week long festival at Whitby in Yorkshire during August. Their exciting blend of music and song appeals to all audiences, presenting a display of our rich heritage.
 

Tracks: Now Westlin Winds, The Last of the Clydesdales, Mary Hamilton, The Cardhu/Air for Christine, When I was Noo But Sweet Sixteen, Gan te the Kye, Lovin' Hannah, The Waikato Valley/Heather and Sweet Smoke/What a Bonny Ring, I am a Suffragette, The Deidly Wars, Bonny Laddie, Hieland Laddie, The Outlandish Knight, Mrs Rachel Hendry/Sunshine on the Dram/The Rolling Fields of Corn