Christy Zarlengo was born in Durham, N.C. and raised from the age of 2 in Denver, Colorado. Her father, Mario, was an accomplished amateur classical pianist, and Christy discovered his piano, and her voice, at age 5. Her favorite thing was just to sit and play & sing songs by ear.

Christy wrote her first songs, “The Pom Pom Funny Song,” and “Easter Bunny,” at around age 7, and found that songwriting was always her strongest interest.

At age 11, Christy began formal piano lessons, and studied for 7 years with Denver jazz pianist & vocalist Doris Merritt.

In 1993, Christy came to Boston to attend the Berklee College of Music, where she studied voice, piano and songwriting. She became active in Boston’s thriving folk and acoustic scene between 1995-1999. She released her debut CD,“ Blue Felt Sky” under the artist name “Chris Arlen” in 1998. “Blue Felt Sky” includes songs “Backdoor Tears,” which won the 1998 Austin Songwriter Award for Best New Folk Song, and “Beautiful Woman's Life,” released in Japan on “Lightcast,” a compilation of American songwriters. After signing a record deal with Ocean Records, a label which later folded, Christy took a five-year hiatus from writing to focus on her studies in jazz piano.

During those five years, Christy did lots of living and learning, until 6 new songs bubbled to the surface which would be the basis of Christy’s latest effort, “Apron Strings (& Other Things).” The CD features eight of Christy’s original songs, plus arrangements of “Round Midnight,” and “It Might As Well Be Spring.”

Christy currently spends her time teaching early childhood music classes, playing piano and singing at a local bistro, playing in a local wedding band, and getting the word out about “Apron Strings.”