After 11 Billboard hits and 15 Fleetwoods albums, I'm finally finishing the liner notes, CD cover and graphics plus writing and recording one last song for my first solo CD, GRETCHEN'S SWEET SIXTEEN! (SUITE 16). It's a concept album, an autobiographical collection of 16 sweet, soulful, insightful songs (including new recordings of the first songs I co-wrote and recorded as The Fleetwoods, Number One Record "Come Softly To Me" and Top 40 Hit "Graduation's Here") - the sound track of our lives! I like to think of it as a real grass roots operation, with some wonderful fans having come forward to lend a hand in various ways.

For instance, I'm just discovering how to use MySpace, thanks to Doug Wong. He set this up for us. And his own blog is remarkable. It's attached, if you click on his symbol [Chinese character, the first "friend" to register on my site -- the second is Darrell French (his whole family are fans/friends) -- and YOU are welcome to register, too!].

Doug, who owns Canada Disc & Tape (www.CanDisc.com) took an amazing road trip in April. I just read the part about Martha Reeves taking him to a Mowtown Reunion party! Though it's been years since we've performed together; Martha and I'd been corresponding about our various music concerns, and Doug's blog and photos bring her to life wonderfully! (Maybe he'll share the story of how we met in July and those photos, too.)

Now, back to the graphics for the album cover and liner notes (Barbara's written a touching one) for Gretchen's SWEET SIXTEEN! (SUITE 16). The parenthetical title (SUITE 16) is a reference to chamber music -- both string quartets and jam sessions -- classical and jazz (not to mention Broadway show tunes) that influenced much of my writing, including the counterpoint in our early hits.

Oh, you can hear sound clips at http://www.TheFleetwoods.com/sweet16CD.html (Doug can you make this into a live link for us? : ) Or just go to www.GretchenChristopher.com (read the Bio if you like), click on the blue banner that says "Click here to order and hear Gretchen's new album" -- and then scroll down on the order page to the music clips, and enjoy! I'd love to hear from you!