T for Texas, T for….

I’ve been following the blossoming career of my friend Mary Sarah for  about 6 months now. This young lady is an amazing talent from the great state of Texas who is making big waves in modern country music! While we were bantering on Twitter today, she told me she will be recording this evening at Sound Kitchen Studio in Nashville. I asked her to send me some basic info, and her management team, headed up by Sharon Dennis contacted me almost immediately with all I needed. A great artist needs a great team, and Mary Sarah certainly has that angle covered, too.

On first listen, I was amazed at the complexity and maturity in her 16 year old voice. Her command of the musical language is far beyond that of the average youngster, and her love and knowledge of the “old” songs is surprising to say the least.  Below are some excerpts from the letter that Sharon sent me.

A Blossoming Carreer

Not many just-turned 15-year olds are invited on stage by a legendary group like the Oak Ridge Boys to sing acapella. The captivated audience in Galveston’s prestigious Opry sat enraptured… then came thunderous applause and a standing ovation for Mary Sarah’s rendition of the 1961 Connie Frances hit, “Where the Boys Are,” a song that most artists of her tender age would not even attempt, much less, know.

At 12, Mary Sarah toured the U.S. for 6 months as a featured lead vocalist and dancer in Kidz Bop, a Razor & Tie Records and Vee Corporation production, produced by Michael Anderson in Los Angeles. This was an 18-song rock concert from Kidz Bop albums, which to date have racked up 7 Gold albums, with “kid-friendly” cover versions of hits. The experience from performing in front of 4-6,000 kids per show defined her stage presence and earned her national and global popularity.Mary Sarah is hosting a four part series for the 2011 season of “OPRY on the Square – Country Now and Then” in Sugarland Town Square. http://OpryontheSquare.com

A huge part of Mary Sarah’s story is her faith, love for her family, and charitable work; the foremost being The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), a cause very dear to her heart. Mary Sarah’s brother, Chris, battles this disease. Last fall she performed the National Anthem at the opening of The Walk To Cure Diabetes in Houston. “I want to be a voice for those who need one,” she told the Houston Post, which called her “an incredibly talented country singer/songwriter.

Update: at the request of the label, this section has been removed until  a later date, but will be back with even more, soon!