Shine On Me

Small Towns Inspired Big Dreams – A Black Female Country Music Artists Journey Twenty five years ago in a small rural country town in Texas , I was performing my one woman show “18 Reasons to Live, Laugh and Love”. I always would go to the local high school and meet with the school principal to see if there was something I could do as an outreach for the students. The principal expressed to me the need to inspire the town’s minority students, especially the girls, who would barely finish high school before marrying and having babies. He suggested that I could perform the national anthem at the Friday night football game that it might provide some inspiration to those students. As I stood in the middle of the field, I could feel and see the gleam in those young African American girls eyes watching a Black Female Country Artist performing at their football game. Country music was the only music they could hear on the radio during the early 90’s. From that moment forward, I knew that I needed to continue working in the country music business, and this was my purpose. “ I was there to inspire them but they inspired me”. Now celebrating my Silver Anniversary CD release “Shine on Me”, my foundation and I continue to provide encouragement to underserved students by providing scholarships and also living to the mission statement of being “A positive image for our nation’s children”. As a Black female independent artist, I have been very fortunate to have experienced and accomplished as much as any other black female in country music. My latest CD “Shine on Me” was produced by Jack Gale and celebrates 25 years working with Jack in the country music business. This CD reflects who I am - both Country and Soul. It is a natural fusion of country, Gospel, R&B and rock. The rock came later in my career when I teamed up with my Ensemble Teacher, Uros Raskovski from the California College of Music, Pasadena, CA. I attended school in 2010 to receive a certification in Artist Development and worked with some of the industry’s best. Uros and I penned five singles for this album. In addition, noted Music Director, Kevin Dorsey, (Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand and other notable artists) worked with me as my vocal coach. The lead-off single “Working In The USA” was released in Feb 2013. To me this song celebrates the freedom we have in the USA to work hard and be successful. The video which was shot in California with KC Amos (son of the actor John Amos) should be released by the end of March. I had a great time working with KC. I’ve also been produced by some noted producers Anthony Smith (Clay Walker, Neil McCoy and Donna Summer), Jason Miles (Sting and Suzy Bogguss )and David Scheffler, who produced all 4 of my philanthropic CD’s where the proceeds from the sales of the CDs went to charitable organizations such as CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), Charitable Christian Medical Clinics, Lupus Foundation of America, AR Chapter, and Habitat for Humanity, AR Chapter. On of my fondest memories on this journey was when George Albert, owner of Cash Box Magazine called me into his office in Los Angeles in 1993 to let me know that I would be on the cover of Cash Box in March 1993 and would be the featured artist along with Wynnona and Garth Brooks. This was my first nationally distributed album and it had landed five singles in the top 100 country singles with a cover of a Glenn Fry, Eagles song "I Found Somebody" remaining at #52 for 14 weeks. “Blues Stay Away from Me” went to #50 on the charts and was the #1 ranked independent single by Cashbox magazine. Also that same year I was named Songwriter of the Year by the Tennessee Songwriter Association headed up by Jim Sylvis and Independent Artist of the Year by Tracker Magazine. During my career I have been honored with the Airplay International Golden Microphone Award and the Producer’s Choice Award and have maintain membership in the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) since 1988, The Los Angeles Songwriter Association , ASCAP 1992, The Reunion of Professional Entertainers (ROPE) 1993 , and the Country Music Association (CMA) 2000. The music career has provided me with an opportunity to travel all over the United States and throughout these 25 years I have been able to meet many great people both fans, media and people in the music business. I could not have had the career that I have had without the support of all those people, including management, producers, vocal coaches, manufacturer’s, retail and distribution, graphic artist, masterer’s, publicity, historians and media (print, radio and TV). All of these people have helped me reach my dream and allow me to try and help other’s meet their dreams. Proceeds from the sales of my CDs helps students go to college through my Dreams of the Heartland Scholarship fund. Petrella (www.countryversial.com) is a country music singer/songwriter, owner of Garden-Mound Records, P. Phunk Music Publishing and founder of Dreams of the Heartland Foundation, Inc.