Carolyn Green and “GreenChoby”

GreenChoby was a partnership of singer songwriter Carolyn Green and musician Mike Choby.  Their rootsy-style wonderfully combined the grit of the inner city with the sweetness of life based on hope. 

The duo joined forces back in 1995 when bassist Mike Choby saw singer-songwriter Carolyn Green perform at a coffeehouse in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood.  That first meeting led to a rehearsal, many Persian dinners, many more gigs, five CD projects, and a friendship that has lasted over thirty years.

Their last project together was, “Carry Me Back Home”  released in June of 2009 and is a beautiful follow-up to their first self-recorded project, “Hold the Line” from 2004.

Carolyn’s songwriting is transparent, often starting with a story and leading to the heart of the matter.  “I try to risk something of myself in my writing.  It often leads to a confession I don’t anticipate.” From “Spring Comes to Ohio” on the “Carry Me Back Home” CD: “The days of snow, solid and clean, life flurry’s dervish spin. I thought you were cold, ungrateful and mean, and the thought buried me in.”

Compared with Joni Mitchell, Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls and Jonatha Brooke, her musical style offers the listener accessibility and color on a thin line between folk and pop.

To this, musician Mike Choby added his mellifluous melodies on bass, acoustic guitar and vocals.  He crafts each interjection to be both passionate and present.  For this reason he served excellently as the duo’s producer on five independent CDs.  And through all these he keeps Carolyn laughing.

The duo performed together in coffeehouses, colleges, churches and house concerts throughout the Midwest and around the country.  Their audiences quickly sensed the joy in their collaboration, the humor in their friendship, and the encouragement of people who live by faith.

It is that faith that has seen them through an interesting journey over the years.

Carolyn and her family moved from Chicago in 2009 and now live in Northeast Ohio.  Mike still lives in Chicago and has been active leading worship at Uptown Baptist Church, touring with various international bands, and giving lessons. 

Carolyn is married to John Green, founder of Emmaus Ministries, a mission to men in prostitution in Chicago.  This three decade old ministry was fodder for much growth and compassion in Carolyn, as evidenced by many of her songs about the guys she met and the experience of living in Uptown.  In the midst of this, she is also a mother of four children, now young adults, and can’t help but include the impact of this role on her in some of her songs as well. 

Since moving to Ohio Carolyn has served as a worship leader at Holy Family Catholic Church in Stow OH for the 11:30am mass, joined her husband in caring for his elderly parents who have since passed on, starting a small business with her husband, and now caring for John's 91 year old Aunt Martha who is on in-home hospice.  Carolyn continues to write music and perform at various speaking engagements and opportunities that come her way.