Sometimes you find talented people in the place you least expect. For me recently, that place was Twitter. Due to a misspelling in a Twitter name, Chris Mann inadvertently gave me a shoutout that was meant for one of his friends. When I replied to let him know about the mistake, I discovered that not only is he a talented musician/song writer, he’s also a Wichita native.

A few days ago, I had the pleasure of talking to Chris on the phone as he drove through the desert on his way to a bachelor party in Phoenix. This is a man who deserves to blow off a little steam. In the span of one month, he started recording background vocals for season 2 of “Glee,” shot a video, performed live in L.A., and flew to Boston, where he put the finishing touches on his second album, tentatively titled Who I Am.

The album, written in London in a mere 10 days and produced by Grammy winner Martin Terefe, showcases what Chris calls his “passion for different styles of music.” He says it definitely has an “old-school George Michael-meets-Duffy vibe.” As a big fan of both George and Duffy, I’m pretty giddy to hear how he combines the two. No official release date has been given for the 14-song album, but Chris is hoping for late summer to early fall.

Though his busy career has him jetsetting across the globe, Chris endearingly calls Wichita “Tah-Town” and still considers it the one place he can get some true rest and relaxation. His parents and older sister, Becky, still live here, along with the three Springer Spaniels they have between them. When I asked Chris what he liked to do when he comes back to visit he immediately said, “Bella Luna. As long as I eat there 5-6 times while I’m home, I’m good.” He also likes Oeno Wine Bar and said he was impressed with the recent revitalization of Old Town in general.

So, how did a Kansas boy make it to California and go on tour with R&B poet/songwriter India.Arie?  Growing up in Wichita, Chris showed an early interest in music and performed with Music Theatre Of Wichita. After he graduated from Southeast High, Chris made the decision to study classical music at WSU, defying the Mann family KU legacy, which stretches back to both grandparents.

Later, while studying opera at Vanderbilt University, he was cast in an Italian opera. Performing in Italy would be a defining moment in his life, for it was there he realized he’d lost his passion for opera and was being called in a new direction. In an eerie twist of fate, the woman he lived with in Italy, an avid Tarot card reader, revealed to him she also felt he should follow his heart back to the United States. Since then he’s lived in Nashville, New York and Los Angeles, building a pretty impressive portfolio along the way.

In addition to the India.Arie tour, Chris has toured with Tony-winning actress Idina Menzel, who makes a guest appearance on “Glee” this season. Chris also provided backup vocals for Avatar and is featured on the upcoming Letters To Juliette movie soundtrack, where he puts his own spin on the 1960s pop song “Quando Quando Quando.” Soon he’ll be going viral with a new video, a remake of the George Michael classic “I Want Your Sex.” His plan was to remake the video frame by frame, but decided to switch it up, though he assures me if you’re a fan of the 80s version, you’ll see a few subtle references to the original.

From the moment I started following Chris on Twitter (@iamchrismann), I was impressed by the attention he pays to his adoring fans. Embracing all forms of social media, Chris makes himself available on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and encourages dialogue with his 3000 plus followers. On his website, he has a link to the MANNblog, a personal favorite of mine. There are no assistants or PR people manning the MANNblog, just Chris. He updates frequently with brief stories and candid pictures about his adventures in L.A., all the big projects he’s working on and the time the Lord spoke to him from a chicken joint. His website also plays songs from his first LP, available on iTunes. I’ll admit, his soulful ballad “When The Lights Fade” is a frequent favorite on my iPod. He’s also started a Twitter and video campaign to get him on Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show.

When I asked if he had any future plans to perform in Wichita, Chris said he would welcome any opportunity.  I can’t wait to see where the talented Mann from Ta-Town goes from here.

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