Ask Karen Anne Litecky about her life’s journey and her songs. Her reply is as sweet as her voice. “My life in music has brought me in gratitude to this moment. Singing is a part of me, like breathing or laughing. It comes straight from the heart and is a God given gift.”

Soothing, gentle and witty – that is the music of Karen Anne Litecky. The messages of this quiet angel are full of hope and faith. Karen Anne’s own journey in recovery propels her music to carry a strong message: “keep yourself open to life’s softness no matter how hard your trials”. Working with great artists like Michael Kianka, Hector Rosado, Judy Perry and Roia Rafieyan, Karen Anne’s career has unfolded as only the most beautiful of flowers do.

A resident of Pennsylvania, Karen Anne grew up in New Jersey in a home full of polkas, prayer and endless guitar. From the tender age of five, her parents and two sisters supported her music lessons and theatrical pursuits. Growing up, Karen Anne soaked in the lyric melodies of musicals like “the Sound of Music”, memorized the close family-oriented harmonies of the Bee Gee’s and was inspired by the soft sounds of female vocalists like Ann Murray and Karen Carpenter. Adding the somber tones of Catholic folk music to this mix, Karen Anne developed a great love for simple minor melodies with quiet messages that speak volumes.

In 2003, Karen Anne found herself starting life anew. Alone and eager to break free of an unfortunate divorce, she rallied her spirits with a lot of love from friends and family and a pocket full of songs. Karen Anne introduced herself to popular area open mics and to NSAI songwriting gatherings in Monmouth County, New Jersey, polishing her skills as she challenged herself to such feats as a 14-weekend summer tour and a pairing with local artist Patti Bramson to form the “Martin Blondes”. The support of advocates like Joe Cullity and Red Bank’s Internet Café boosted her confidence as her songwriting and performance skills grew. The culmination of these efforts was a 3-year commitment to the birth of her CD, INVITATION.

INVITATION is a compilation of 10 original songs and 2 cover songs, many reflective of Karen Anne’s journey over the last 20 years. While the Latin “Lost At Sea” touches on the hopelessness of relationship break-down, “Soft Again” reflects courage to live again. The playful reggae “Love In Action” tells Karen Anne’s own journey in recovery. It was first inspired by the loss of a friend’s daughter to melanoma cancer. “Another Goodbye” began as a songwriting exercise but matured into this bittersweet duet after Karen Anne witnessed the three tours to Iraq close family friends endured. Other songs like “Music in My Head”, the bluesy “Chamomile Tea” and “Invitation” are quips on the joys, excitement and insanity of early romance. One would be remiss without mentioning the acoustic sensation of “Magic”, John Farrar’s masterpiece which takes us beyond Olivia Newton-John to a whole new stratosphere.

Karen Anne’s performances have spanned countless venues including the annual NJ Ride Against Aids, the New Jersey Counselor Association’s Annual Spring Conference, WDIY’s Heartland’s Hayride Radio Show, WXLV’s The Phil Stahl Show, Bob Egan Entertainment’s Cabaret, the historic Stepping Stones’ Annual Recovery Picnic, and the Knowlton Township Lion’s Club’s Annual Picnic and Truck Raffle, to name a few. This is just the beginning. We look forward to seeing what her future brings.

With new love in her life, a tremendous compassion for those in need and a desire to help others Karen Anne now steps into the spotlight of a world ‘beyond her wildest dreams’. INVITATION is just that – an invitation for you to join Karen Anne on this glorious ride. If you accept and share in her music, Karen Anne’s message is sure to warm your heart and to bring you newfound hope.