Things to Know about The Better Halves
The Better Halves are an Austin, TX husband-wife musical duo specializing in making listeners smile.
With training at Berklee College of Music and GIT in Hollywood, Jimmy Joe is a skilled guitarist. Country, bluegrass, folk, jazz, Latin and classical styles create a widely appealing repertoire. He has a talent for crafting story songs, and one of his car songs was featured on NPR's “Car Talk” and Kerrville Folk Festival’s Newfolk Contest Regional Performance.
Chrissie joins him with sweet vocal harmonies and rhythm guitar. Her whimsical, melodic songwriting earned her the chance to perform on Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion".
Their first CD, Tête-à-Tête, released in early 2011, placed on the folk music charts all over the world. Their sophomore CD, All Over the Map, was released January of 2015 and also placed on the Folk DJ Chart. In January of 2016, they released their first children's CD under the moniker "Mr. Bus Driver Man Sir and Her."
Together they write funny, touching duets with clever lyrics and real boy-girl banter. They also play rousing Chet Atkins influenced instrumentals, including a piece played 4 hands on 1 guitar, which always bring down showers of applause! Their songs uplift and entertain all ages, and they perform in settings from weddings to schools to festivals. They have been a staple at one of Austin’s largest farmers markets for over a decade, where they touch hearts and get toes tapping with their upbeat, fun and inspiring music!
Chrissie is also a skilled acupuncturist and Jimmy Joe is a school bus driver who writes stories about life on the school bus at his blog, schoolbusnews.com.
We've had the honor of playing some great venues and events.
* * * Accolades * * *
Jimmy Joe Natoli *Finalist at Hallettsville Songwriter Serenade Competition 2011, 2012
*His song "Uncle Joe" featured on NPR's Cartalk 2007
*Kerrville Folk Festival Regional Ballad Tree Performer 2006
Chrissie Natoli *Honorable Mention Woody Guthrie Songwriting Contest 2010
*Honorable Mention in ASG song contest 2010
*A Prairie Home Companion Duet Contest Finalist with Avenue Elle
The Better Halves *Nominated for Best Vocal Duo of 2011 for the Texas Music Awards
* * * * * * *
Besides playing music, Chrissie is a skilled and compassionate
acupuncturist with an office in South Austin. She helps HAAM clients, offering reasonably priced treatments for everyone, but especially fellow musicians.
Jimmy Joe also gives guitar lessons to all ages and levels. He loves cars and fixes lots of them, so he is often inspired to write about them. He drives a school bus in his spare time and blogs about humorous and insightful adventures with the kids at schoolbusnews.com.
Joy ... Hope ....Music ...
The Better Halves
