Biography
New York multi-instrumentalist Chris Rael conceived Church of Betty as a vehicle for blending American pop with Indian classical traditions. His deepening fascination with global sounds took him to the Far East in 1988, where he captured field recordings across India and Nepal that later surfaced in the group’s earliest work. After the 1989 debut album West of the East appeared on his own Fang Records label, the project also absorbed pronounced Himalayan folk influences. Fang quickly became a leading downtown N.Y.C. imprint, issuing early releases by the Mommyheads, 101 Crustaceans, and Oren Bloedow.
In 1991 Rael traveled once more to India, studying Hindustani classical singing with scholar Dr. B.V. Patekar and sitar with Ravindra Goswami. Two years later he returned to the United States, reconstituted Church of Betty, and enlisted bassist Joe Quigley together with drummer Jonathan Feinberg to record the 1993 album Kashi; the following year brought In Search of Spiritual Junkfood. Rael subsequently joined forces with members of the rock band Hunk to form the trio the Hand, then collaborated with ghazal singer Najma on the 1996 album Forbidden Kiss, which presented westernized interpretations of material by Hindi film composer S.D. Burman. Church of Betty reconvened for the 1998 release Comedy of Animals, followed a year later by Fruit on the Vine.
In 1991 Rael traveled once more to India, studying Hindustani classical singing with scholar Dr. B.V. Patekar and sitar with Ravindra Goswami. Two years later he returned to the United States, reconstituted Church of Betty, and enlisted bassist Joe Quigley together with drummer Jonathan Feinberg to record the 1993 album Kashi; the following year brought In Search of Spiritual Junkfood. Rael subsequently joined forces with members of the rock band Hunk to form the trio the Hand, then collaborated with ghazal singer Najma on the 1996 album Forbidden Kiss, which presented westernized interpretations of material by Hindi film composer S.D. Burman. Church of Betty reconvened for the 1998 release Comedy of Animals, followed a year later by Fruit on the Vine.
Albums
