Around 1990, Chris set out to transcribe two old manuscripts of poetry left behind by his grandfather, George Albert Leddy (1883-1967). He had little appreciation for or understanding of poetry. But that all changed when he discovered that poetry is a performing art.
He realized that the poems were poetic ballads best appreciated when memorized and recited dramatically from-the-heart. He started memorizing and performing the ballads as a storyteller around Vermont after retiring from IBM in 2000. Audiences loved it, and he was encouraged.
In 2008, he self-published The Poetry of George Albert Leddy.
In 2017, a cancer was found on one of his vocal cords; surgery helped. But in 2022, the cancer came back, and he had to have a complete laryngectomy.
Although he can no longer perform as a storyteller, he is still driven to bring his grandfather's poetry to light.
