CJaye LeRose

With over 3,000,000 hits, YouTube may have been the Internet entry ramp for CJaye LeRose’s music career, but it was by no means the only vehicle. She also boasts impressive numbers on Twitter (20,000) and Facebook (18,000). Even though there were no musicians in the household, CJaye came by her love of country music honestly. “My mom and I watched the video channels constantly. I was obsessed with Shania Twain and Deana Carter!” confesses the southern-twanged songstress.

Although the dream of a music career took root in those early years, it wasn’t until she was a freshman at Texas Tech University that she wrote her first song, “Date With The Tub,” a tongue-in-cheek reminder to men to pay attention to the women in their lives. This song is indicative of CJaye’s songwriting style – real-life subject matter wrapped in wit and charm. In “The Porch,” the lead track from her debut CD, Date With The Tub, the singer offers her beau the man-time he wants by suggesting that he spend a “night out” … on the porch. “I love my man, I swear!” laughs the girl-next-door with the model-esque looks. “But what woman hasn’t wanted to hide the remote ?!”

Early this year, CJaye relocated to Nashville.  Since arriving, she has written with several noted Nashville songwriters, including Roxie Dean (“When I Think About Angels” – Jamie O’Neal) and Bonnie Baker (“Ordinary Life” – Chad Brock),  and is a regular performer at local songwriter nights.  While CJaye’s career-passion is music, her cause-passion is promoting pet adoption. “I actually started my You Tube Channel to get out the ‘adopt your dogs’ message,” says CJaye. “I’ve written a song called ‘Mutt In a Cage’ that I hope will encourage people to adopt their pets, and we’re currently trying to find the right pet-centered partner organization. My goal is to have the proceeds from the sale of this song go toward supporting the work of organizations like Best Friends, whose mission is to find a home for every homeless animal.”

With the traditional music business model in transition, many artists seek alternative avenues for sharing music and engaging fans. Considering CJaye’s remarkable internet journey thus far, she appears to be on the right path.

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Gloriana

Ask any unknown musicians who’ve sweated it out on the club scene — as brothers Tom and Mike Gossin did before moving to Nashville in 2007 and joining forces with Rachel Reinert — and they’ll tell you that having a dream just isn’t enough. Achieving success takes strong motivation to commit, something these three young talents have proven willing to do as their career has exploded over the past two years. From sharpening their live show, to sending a demo to Emblem Music Group owner Matt Serletic (who signed them), to moving in together and secluding themselves for a month to put their stamp on the stellar songs that appear on their 2009 debut album, everything the members of Gloriana have done has been about their passion for creating music.

That pledge, as well as their authentic talent, have propelled the group to become the best-selling debut country act of 2009. Gloriana debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and No. 3 on the Top 200 chart and spawned the gold-certified hit single “Wild At Heart.” Gloriana also won the fan voted- on American Music Award for Breakthrough Artist, as well as the “Nationwide On Your Side” honor at the CMT Awards. The album’s success led to two years on the road, during which the band performed in front of millions worldwide as Taylor Swift’s handpicked opening act on her Fearless Tour. They also opened shows for Jason Aldean, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, and the Zac Brown Band. In 2010, Gloriana won the Academy of Country Music’s Award for Top New Vocal Group and were nominated for a Teen Choice Award for “Choice Country Group.”

Now Tom, Mike, and Rachel have funneled everything they’ve learned into their second album, due for release later this year. “We’ve grown up a lot as a band,” Mike says. “We’ve honed in on singing and playing together and have really found our sound as a group.” This time around, the group were intent on revealing more of themselves as artists. “On this record, we wanted to tell stories,” says Rachel. “I think people will be able to relate to a lot of these songs because they’re honest and come from a place that’s real.” They also felt emboldened to bolster their signature harmonies with new musical styles, as you can hear on the new single “Wanna Take You Home.” “It’s soulful new country, with a Southern rock flavor that’s almost gospel-y,” says Tom, who co-wrote the song with multi platinum producer and songwriter Serletic and Wendell Mobley (Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney).

“Like any new act, we were finding ourselves on the first record — in the recording process and as musicians,” Tom says. “The new album really just feels like us, who and where we are now, to the point where we know exactly what we want to do and how to get there.”

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Katie Armiger

Confident, secure, bold, assertive, vulnerable and in-your-face could all describe both the songs Katie Armiger’s third studio album, Confessions of a Nice Girl, as well as the artist who sings them. Katie, who released her first album when she was just 15 years old, has accomplished more during her four years as a recording artist than most people twice her age. Confessions of A Nice Girl marked her highest debut at #6 on Amazon, #11 on iTunes, and #36 on Billboard Heatseeker chart. Over 30 high school’s across the country used Katie’s moving ballad “Leaving Home” as their 2010 graduation song and the video spent a record 18 weeks on the fan-voted GAC Top 20 Countdown. Her last single “Best Song Ever” peaked at #24 on the Music Row Chart and the video was voted by fans to #1 on GAC’s Top 20 Countdown for three weeks straight and was in the Top 3 on the countdown for nine weeks straight.  “Kiss Me Now,” the flirtatious ode to new love she co-wrote with Sarah Buxton and Blair Daly, was her second to hit the Top 40 on the Billboard Indicator Chart, while “Trail of Lies” landed in the Top 20 on Music Row, setting a record as the Highest Charting Independent Female Artist in 2009. Katie also earned the title of the Highest Charting Independent Female Artist of 2008 on R&R with “Unseen,” and the young lady with the enviable voice set yet another record for the highest debut for a solo independent artist since 2003 on the Music Row chart with her debut single, “17 in Abilene,” in 2007. All these accolades and more have made Katie one of country music’s biggest and brightest independent artists.

On the heels of the release of Katie’s new deluxe package entitled, Confessions of a Nice Girl (The True Confessional), she has taken the country community by storm with opening slots for some of country music’s biggest names including Darius Rucker, Ronnie Dunn, Little Big Town, Kellie Pickler, Luke Bryan, and Clay Walker this Summer. And Katie has shown no signs of slowing down either with her latest single “Scream” officially going for adds October 31^st. For more information on Katie and to check out her upcoming tour dates fans can go to www.katiearmiger.com.

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Amber Hayes

2010 proved to be a breakout year for singer, songwriter and performer Amber Hayes.  Her debut single, “C’mon,” went Top 40 on the Music Row chart, she celebrated the release of her first EP with a live show and broadcast on legendary radio station WSM 650AM, and she made her performance debut at the world-renowned CMA Music Festival.

Amber continued to break new ground in 2011.  In March, she signed a booking agreement with national talent agency Brand N Music, which saw the Oklahoma native touring on a regular basis with chart-topping artist Ty Herndon.  She also landed her first movie role with an appearance in the 2012 rodeo-themed family film, Cowgirls N’ Angels.   Several of Amber’s songs, including one unreleased track, appear in the movie and on the soundtrack.  Her second single, “Wait,” proved to be another Top 40 success, and the video (directed by three-time CMT Director of the Year Steven Goldmann) world-premiered at No. 1 on Yallwire.com.

“Growing up in rural Oklahoma, I was exposed to a lot of traditional Country music, and I guess I gravitated more toward the female singers like Dolly and Barbara, and then later, Reba,” says Hayes, whose talents as a theater performer earned her a leading role as Kathy Twitty in the 2008 Conway Twitty musical, It’s Only Make Believe.  “I’ve got great respect for the history of Country music, and it’s always been a dream of mine to play the Opry.  My music definitely has a contemporary style to it, and I’m thrilled that it connects with today’s Country music fans, but my roots go back a long way.”

In fall 2011, Amber returned to the studio to record her sophomore album, which is slated for an early 2012 release through FUNL Music.  She also made her international performance debut, traveling to Sweden, China and Japan for a run of festival dates.

For more information and to see the Cowgirls N’ Angels movie trailer, visit www.AmberHayesMusic.com

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Deborah Allen

Deborah Allen is one of those rare artists who forged their own path to success and ended up building a world-class career in the process.  An extraordinarily talented singer, songwriter, producer and performer, Deborah’s unique abilities as an artist may be matched only by her enthusiasm and creativity as an individual. With her latest album, Hear Me Now, Deborah Allen’s music remains as smart, witty and sexy as ever.

Although most often associated with her signature smash, “Baby I Lied,” the true measure of Deborah’s influence in contemporary music is underscored by the hit singer’s diverse radio success.  Songs like “I’ve Been Wrong Before,” “I Hurt For You,” “Rock Me,” “If You’re Not Gonna Love Me,” “Wrong Side Of Love,” and “Break These Chains” are a few of the singles that made their way up the Country, Pop or AC charts during her career.

Ironically, songwriting has often been the most overlooked aspect of Deborah’s career, yet hundreds of artists have benefited from her abundant catalog of material.  With more than 1,600 compositions published, Deborah’s songs have been recorded by a laundry list of acts, including LeAnn Rimes, Brooks & Dunn, Patty Loveless, Conway Twitty, Tanya Tucker, Janie Fricke, John Conlee, Isaac Hayes, Diana Ross, Sheena Easton, Fleetwood Mac and more.  In addition, her songs have been featured on several major motion picture soundtracks, such as Coyote Ugly, River Rat, Clinton and Nadine, as well as in River Phoenix’s final film, The Thing Called Love.  For Allen, songwriting remains one of the most consistent aspects of her career and one that she insists is just as satisfying as the performance element.

Throughout her phenomenal journey of hits and accomplishments in every facet of her career, Deborah Allen remains true to her vision.  From her discovery by Roy Orbison, to her friendship with Shel Silverstein, her work with Prince, and her current release, Hear Me Now, Deborah creates art entirely on her own terms.

For her 2011 release, Hear Me Now, Deborah got to experience the best of all worlds, contributing in the songwriting, recording and production process.  Allen wrote or co-wrote every song on the project, including the album’s first single, “Anything Other Than Love.”

With a distinguished career built on success after success as a performer, songwriter and producer, the dynamic Delta singer from Memphis, Tennessee, has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.  That’s simply not Deborah Allen’s style.

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Eric Paslay

Honesty is a powerful magnet that always draws an eager audience and it has proven to be a potent tool in Eric Paslay’s (Pass-Lay) creative arsenal. Sometimes playful, often poignant and always poetic, Eric has quickly earned a reputation as an artist who radiates integrity. His songs have substance and depth, but his EMI Records Nashville debut album is every bit as entertaining and accessible as it is meaningful, and therein lies Paslay’s charm.

Paslay moved to Nashville to attend Middle Tennessee State University.  During college he landed an internship at Cal IV Entertainment. When a tape copy job opened up a month before graduation, Paslay applied only to have his supervisor take his name off the list of contenders. “My supervisor said ‘I came to Nashville wanting to write songs and I got a job and stopped writing. I don’t want to be the guy who makes you stop writing songs.’”

A few months later, Paslay was offered a writer’s deal at Cal IV. Even as he continued to develop his chops as an artist, he became one of Music Row’s most sought after young songwriters. He co-wrote the hit title track of Jake Owen’s new album “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” as well as cuts “Friday Night” by Lady Antebellum and “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” by the Eli Young Band.

Though appreciative of the songs that others have recorded, Paslay will be the first to admit he didn’t move to Nashville to be a songwriter, but to be an artist. He has a passion for using his voice to connect with an audience, and there’s a warm, earnest quality that commands attention whether he’s delivering a heartbreaking ballad or an edgy confession.

Though Paslay enjoys recording and has an affinity for the studio, his true love is the stage. “I turn it on when I get on stage.  I love to entertain,” says Paslay. “The songs on this record really connect when I played them live. A song can give you a little boost in confidence or make you love stronger and dream deeper.”

Most of all, Eric Paslay loves forging that special connection with people that can only be made with a song. “I love how much you can say to someone in a song,” he says.  “It’s great having the opportunity to be a part of the soundtrack of people’s lives.”

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Marlee Scott

As a teenager, Bigride Entertainment artist Marlee Scott knew she was born to be a singer.  The only problem, she would discover, was that young Marlee was expecting to fulfill that destiny before she was even old enough to drive!

“I remember always wanting to be a singer,” says Marlee.  “When I was fourteen years old, every night before I went to bed I would tell myself that I would be a recording artist by the time I turned fifteen.  It didn’t happen quite that fast, though!” she laughs.

Born in Richmond Hill, Ontario, the Scott family moved to St. Albert, Alberta, when Marlee was only six years old.  It quickly became evident which direction her musical career would take.

“Marlee’s mom had called to schedule flute lessons for her,” remembers one of Marlee’s childhood music teachers.  “When it came time for her first lesson I asked her, ‘So, you want to play the flute?’  She smiled at me and pointed to a pink electric guitar that I had in the corner and said, ‘No, I want to play that.’”

Marlee released her first album, Souvenir, in Canada in 2005.  It introduced the young singer to the Country music masses, but more importantly, it generated enough buzz to showcase her songs at various festivals and fairs around the country, garnering invaluable performance experience for the rising artist.

Before recording her follow-up effort, however, Scott moved to Nashville in the summer of 2007.  She spent months writing material for the project, which eventually caught the attention of veteran industry executive Gerry Leiske.  Leiske was intrigued by Scott’s natural ability as a singer and songwriter, and in 2008 he signed her to a management deal.  Under Leiske’s guidance, Marlee released her self-titled sophomore album, establishing a solid foundation for her developing career in the States.

In 2010, the Canadian-born, U.S.-based singer-songwriter received a nomination for the prestigious Rising Star award at the Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMAs), as well as a nomination at the Canadian Radio Awards.  Her most recent single, “Here to Heaven,” was a Top 20 success in Canada and Australia and a No. 1 hit in England, Germany and Holland.  Scott has lived in Nashville since 2007, but maintains a devoted fan base outside the U.S., particularly in Canada.  Marlee is currently finishing her U.S. debut album for Bigride Entertainment, with plans for a spring 2012 release.

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Sarah Darling

Sarah Darling has one of the most recognizable voices in country music. Best known for her #1 music video for “Something To Do With Your Hands,” the track is found on Sarah Darling’s second release with Black River Entertainment, Angels & Devils. Sarah Darling is currently in the studio working on her upcoming album with producer Dan Huff (Keith Urban, Faith Hill, Rascal Flatts) to be released in 2012. Sarah Darling made her Grand Ole Opry debut in February of 2011 and was introduced by Opry Member, Vince Gill. Sarah has since performed on the Opry stage multiple times. With a passion for cooking and fashion, Sarah Darling signed a promotional deal with Crock-Pot (the original slow cooker) in 2011.  Sarah is also known for her love of Betsey Johnson fashion, and is often seen on stage wearing the designer’s latest dresses.

For more information on Sarah Darling, please visit sarahdarling.com

MUSICAL HERO:  My musical hero is Shania Twain.  I will never forget the first time I heard her! She opened the door for so many female artists including myself.

CD IN YOUR STEREO: Taylor Swift and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. I’m pretty eclectic!

FAVORITE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION:  I have a red convertible so that is my choice! Especially during the fall, it’s so much fun to just hit the open road and turn up the radio.

FIRST GIG: The Iowa State Fair! They gave me my first stage at age 14.

TITLE OF YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY: I would call it “All You’ve Got.”  It’s a track that I wrote that I feel really covers so much about life, love and God.

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