About Kerry
One of a Kind
How Kerry got Here
Kerry Christensen, one of the world's best Alpine yodelers, was raised on a potato farm in Grace, Idaho and had to wander quite a distance to discover his passion - yodeling! A performer from the tender age of three, he has sung everything from western ballads to barbershop music. It was during his travels to Austria in 1976 however, that he discovered the folk music that would be his life. Armed with recordings of the great yodelers, Kerry returned from Europe, determined to master this ancient art--and he did. While driving the family tractor around and around the potato fields, he practiced 14-15 hours a day. He drove his father crazy and was banished to practicing in the garage--to no avail, as yodeling carries very well. (Remember, it was used to communicate between hillside farms.)
Kerry's first yodeling performance was in 1977, at a major university orientation assembly. His yodeling brought 15,000 or so students to their feet for a standing ovation. Then his career really soared when Disney World in Orlando, Florida hired him to work at the German Pavilion of the Epcot Center in 1984 . He was the Disney World Yodeler from 1984 to1990 and the leader of the night band for the last four of those years.
Kerry Christensen Yodel Master is a professional yodeler offering musical performances for various venues and events, including concerts, festivals, and private events. The business aims to promote upcoming performances, provide information about the yodeler, and sell recordings. Kerry Christensen has a fascinating history in the yodeling career.
Career Highlights
Disney World Solo Yodeler
1984 - 1990
Germanfest, Milwaukee WI
1998 - 2007
Branson Silver Dollar City Intl. Folk Festival
2005 - 2006
Dollywood Tennessee Festival of Nations
2007
International Western Music Association
Yodeling Award Winner
1995
Yodeling Award Winners
What They're Saying
Kerry and his passion for the Zither
Here I am playing my favorite instrument the Austrian Zither. I became interested in this beautiful yet challenging instrument while I was doing my yodeling shows at Epcot Center in Florida. I simply fell in love with it's rich mellow sound. It is so different from any other stringed instrument in that it is the only instrument that I know where you perform three tasks with the right hand. You play bass strings with the fourth and fifth fingers. Your play chords and arpeggios with the second and third fingers and you play the melody with the thumb all on the right hand while you fret the melody with the left hand that is played by the thumb on the right hand. Truly a marvelous instrument.
The Alphorn in Kerry's Hands
An alphorn is crafted from a spruce tree which has been gently curved at the base by the weight of the winter snows from the time it was a young sapling. The tree is cut off at the base, air-dried for a year, sawed in half lengthwise, hollowed out, glued back together, wrapped with split cane for strength, and varnished. Finally the bell is beautifully painted with the Swiss flag and alpine flowers.
Kerry's Gallery
