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Orwigsburg man produces song, video to honor grandmother with Alzheimer's
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"This is for you Nan."
This simple message leads listeners down the musical pathway a man took to..."This is for you Nan."
This simple message leads listeners down the musical pathway a man took to help him cope with his grandmother's suffering.
Jordan Green watched his grandmother, Betty Lurwick, struggle with Alzheimer's disease, an incurable form of dementia that destroys memory and mental skills. He felt not only his own grief but that of his family.
To find some relief, Green sought comfort in a familiar place - his music.
"Over the last several years, I watched as my grandmother's mind gradually faded. I wanted to do a song to remind (my family) of the good times," said Green, 28, of Orwigsburg.
In March 2012, Green sought help from local musician Eva Katherine Blankenhorn to sing the chorus.
"Jordan was a friend of my dad. He came to me with the idea. I was really excited because my great-grandmother is suffering from the same disease." said Eva, 14, an eighth-grader at Blue Mountain Middle School.
Green's lyrics capture his feelings about Lurwick's life, highlighting her role as the leader of the family and her life accomplishments, which include serving as a magisterial district judge in Port Carbon.
Lurwick, 83, a resident of Schuylkill Center, Pottsville, is a daughter of the late Anna Mae and Cornelius Foley. She graduated from Pottsville Catholic High School in 1949 and attended St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing, Reading. Upon the death of her husband, Jack, in 1978, she was appointed to complete his term as district magistrate and served in that position from 1979-91.
Green said Lurwick continues to be the matriarch of the family and while her health has impacted her mobility and speech, she continues to communicate and teach all of her loved ones in her own unconventional way. Her strength comes from the daily interaction and love she receives from her family.
Blankenhorn, who performs under the name Eva Katherine, was tasked with singing the emotionally driven chorus.
"The chorus is like an angel singing it, letting everyone know she is in a good place, a good spot," Green said. "Eva's voice and how talented she is, she was the best fit for the part."
The journey cumulated with a video shoot in Philadelphia in October 2012 and Betty Lurwick "Alzheimers Dedication" featuring Eva Katherine was published to YouTube on Dec. 19.
Some of the ideas for the video came from memories Green has of his grandmother. One scene takes place in front of St. Nicholas Church, symbolizing her strong religious beliefs.
Eva recalled her shooting day vividly. She and her family were already scheduled to be in Philadelphia that weekend for a performance at a Professional Bull Riding event. Green asked if she could arrive a few hours early to shoot her part of the video.
Although she has been filmed singing before, Eva said it was first time she was directed in a video.
"It couldn't have been better and I am happy to have the opportunity," she said.
Green mixed footage from the shoot in Philadelphia with home videos of Lurwick and her family. For the viewers, it provides a visual of the life Green reveals in the lyrics.
"I was hoping to show how great my grandmother was with everybody," Green said.
As of Jan. 9, the video had almost 1,000 views. It is an achievement that lets Green know the message is being heard and is touching people.
"Music lets me speak and vent. It's an emotional moment for people," Green said.
Green has been working on music for about 10 years. He is currently working on an album due to be complete this summer. He said his inner drive is not material, such as making money, but being able to just share his music.
"It took me a long time but if you work hard, you can capture your goals," he said.
One of the those goals with the "Alzheimers Dedication" video was not only to create a dedication to his grandmother for himself and his family, but to also spread the word on an incurable disease that affects many people.
This is one goal Eva believes they achieved.
"I think not only is it a great dedication but it brings awareness," she said.
To watch the video, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgE9cnTX8Ec.
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The Gift of Song
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Orwigsburg girl - just 13 with 2 records to her name - is in demand
BY JILL WHALEN (STAFF WRITER)
...Orwigsburg girl - just 13 with 2 records to her name - is in demand
BY JILL WHALEN (STAFF WRITER)
Published: October 22, 2012
When Eva Katherine Blankenhorn was a baby, her father would sing her to sleep.
He'd sing songs from country music legends Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, not too concerned if he couldn't hit all the right notes.
Eva, in turn, began to sing. But unlike her father, she had a voice - and a great one at that.
"She's been singing since she could talk," Kevin said. "She would just sing and sing. That's all she liked. That's all she did."
The 13-year-old Orwigsburg girl still does a lot of singing. Only now she has two records, performs for thousands, has opened for acts like Sugarland and has fans that extend beyond her father and mother, Beth Blankenhorn.
The eight-grader's music career took off in 2010.
"It's been a little bit of everything" since then, Eva said. "There have been crazy moments. There have been fun moments. There have been stressful moments. But above all, it's been a lot of fun - and it's been a huge learning experience for me."
Her first break came in 2009 when she won a kids' singing contest held by a Lancaster radio station. Calls started coming the next day from folks wanting Eva to sing, Kevin said.
Soon after, she recorded an album of country music covers with Bret Alexander of The Badlees, a Pennsylvania band that received national attention with songs "Angeline is Coming Home" and "Fear of Falling."
"She was only maybe 11 when I first heard her sing. She was a prodigy," said Alexander from his Dupont studio. "She sounded like she was in her 20s."
The next year, she released "We're Gonna Get There," again under her stage name Eva Katherine. It has 10 original songs written by Alexander, Carl Bell of Fuel and the Mulch Brothers.
And it was musicians who asked to work with Eva - not the other way around, Kevin said.
It's the same for Eva's performances.
"We have a lot of people who contact us," Eva said. "Occasionally we will reach out but they usually contact us."
In 2010, she performed more than 55 shows. Last year, she had 60. This year, she's topping those numbers.
Eva, who favors country music but sings all styles, has shared the stage with artists like Covington, Kix Brooks from Brooks & Dunn, Miranda Lambert and Sarah Bareilles.
She's performed original music and cover songs with her band, The Lonesome Souls, and has sung the National Anthem at Madison Square Garden, NASCAR races in the Poconos and Dover, Del., and at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
Her most recent star-spangled performance was before a crowd of 27,000 at the nationally televised Professional Bull Riders event at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
"The Professional Bull Riders? Oh my gosh, I could go on and on about them. I've sung (the National Anthem) nine times for them so far. The riders are like the 46 older brothers I never had. They're all like family," she said.
Eva and her band perform locally, too, at places like the Schuylkill County, Luzerne County and Bloomsburg fairs.
Earlier this year, she traveled to Nashville, Tenn., to film "The Shotgun Red Variety Show." She was back in the city this month to work on material for a new CD.
Voice coach Dawn Hull of Orwigsburg has watched Eva's career blossom. When she had Eva, then 7, for her first lesson she knew immediately that the girl was "one of those students who come along once in a lifetime."
"She's God-gifted," Hull said. "I didn't teach her what she knows. I just feel like her friend and a guide. She really developed on her own. She is wonderful in all ways. She sings wonderfully and she has a great personality to boot."
She's also an "exceptional" student, said Michelle Guers, acting assistant principal at the Blue Mountain Area Middle School. A consistent distinguished honor roll student, she's well-liked by students and staff, Guers said.
"She's outstanding all around," Guers said.
jwhalen@standardspeaker.com Q. What successful parenting strategy can you share with other parents?
A. We don't have any "strategy." Just try to be open and loving. We like to make decisions together as a family.
Q. At what moment did you realize your child was special?
A. All parents think their child is special from the moment he or she is born. We are no different. With singing, it was her voice teacher who told us she thought that Eva's voice was unique.
Q. What is the greatest challenge you've encountered in raising your child?
A. We try to teach both of our girls to embrace their individual gifts. That can be difficult when, at certain ages, kids prefer to be like everyone else. We do our best to make them feel loved and special.
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Get out for some Kix
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Legendary country music superstar Kix Brooks, formerly of Brooks and Dunn, will be rockin' out at 8 ...Legendary country music superstar Kix Brooks, formerly of Brooks and Dunn, will be rockin' out at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Crocodile Rock Cafe, Allentown, as announced by SLP Concerts. This is an all-age event.
Kix was raised in Shreveport, La., and has been performing since he was 12 years old so he can relate to his opening act, 13-year-old singing sensation, Eva Katherine, Orwigsburg. This is an opportunity to gather up the kids to spend some family time together, along with supporting a local artist. Croc Rock, which has four venues under one roof, has always opened its doors for local bands, upcoming artists and national stars.
Kix Brooks was influenced by an array of music from jazz to blues to Cajun to country. He started songwriting while in high school and eventually landed in Nashville where he joined Tree Publishing Co. Artists like Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Conlee and Highway 101 all reached No. 1 with Brooks' songs.
I saw Brooks and Dunn circa 2002 at Hershey Stadium during their Neon Circus/Wild West Tour. They were the highest selling duo in the history of country music, selling more than 30 million records, had 23 No. 1 hits, won more than 75 major industry awards, and in 2010 set a record with their 41st top 10 single, breaking a tie with Alabama as the duo or group with the most Top 10 country singles in the 19 year history of Nielson BDS monitor.
Tickets for this show are still available at Ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-745-3000, at all Ticketmaster retail locations, including Wal-Mart and Boscov's, and at the venue on 520 W. Hamilton S. Tickets are $15 in advance or $17 at the door.
For more information on the venue, visit www.crocodilerockcafe.com or www.slpconcerts.net.
For information on the artists performing, visit www.kixbrooks.com or www.evakatherine.com.
(Tutko is creator of
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The next big thing?
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If you didn't have the opportunity to catch the performance by Eva Katherine Blankenhorn at the Gree...If you didn't have the opportunity to catch the performance by Eva Katherine Blankenhorn at the Greene County Fair three years ago, you may have missed your shot at hearing this young singing star on the rise.
Although several generations of her family have hailed from both Washington and Greene counties, Eva Katherine, as she is known professionally, lives in Orwigsburg in Schuylkill County. Her grandmother, Carol Gayman, lives in Jefferson and great-grandparents, Erma and Steve Yurkovich, live in Brownsville.
At just 13 years old, she has sung twice at Madison Square Garden in front of 20,000 people, and has shared the stage with Sugarland, Bucky Covington and Little Big Town, among others.
But, she is quick to say, she doesn't want to be pigeon holed to just the country music genre.
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"I was born and raised on country music and it is definitely my favorite type of music," she said. "But, I like different things about different types of music and I like to sing a variety of songs."
On her recent trip to Nashville, she was told by an industry insider there would be people who would ask her who she sounds like.
"She gave me good advice. She said the answer is, 'I sound like Eva Katherine,'" she said. "I am not Carrie Underwood or Miranda Lambert. I am inspired by a lot of different people, but I sound like Eva and I'm not going to try to be anybody else."
Her recent recording of "We're Gonna Get There," a 10-track CD produced by Bret Alexander, who has written and produced songs for the platinum selling band, Breaking Benjamin, displays her unique talent.
Along with her band, the Lonesome Souls, she has been touring across the northeast, with 22 shows in less than two months at one point. However, her parents are working hard to keep her grounded in reality. After all, she is in the seventh grade.
"She still needs to do what she is doing a couple of more years and see how things go," said her mother, Beth Day Blankenhorn, a Jefferson-Morgan graduate. "We just want her to have fun. When we go with her to perform we try to do as much as we can as a family. It is not just about the singing when we go. We look for other things to do, like visiting historical sites."
Beth said she and her husband, Kevin, were like most parents who think their child is good at something.
"It is your child so you just automatically think that. She was singing since she could talk and always putting on shows for us when she was younger," she said. "One Christmas we got her voice lessons as a present, never expecting this. The voice teacher was the one who said we should really work with her."
Things just took off from there for Eva. As she developed her voice, she entered several local competitions and won a big one put on by radio station I-105 in Ephrata. Then a mutual friend of Kevin and Alexander suggested Eva go to Alexander's studio, not far from where the Blankenhorn's live.
"We thought it would be cool to record a couple of songs for family and friends. And, he too said, wow, she has a very different voice, especially for someone so young," Beth said. "Bret suggested working together and doing some original songs."
That was how "We're Gonna Get There" came to be.
She doesn't think the road to the top is an easy one and knows there are many stops along the way. But she doesn't mind all of the fairs, festivals to get there.
"At times it can be overwhelming. I'm only 13. It is such an experience just to have gotten to do the things I have done already at such a young age," she said. "I am taking as many experiences and opportunities as I can."
One of those opportunities is an appearance on the Shotgun Red Show in Nashville that will air later this month. It was a chance for Eva to talk about music and perform. The trip to Nashville also gave her time to spend with some of the songwriters who worked on her debut CD, available at www.cdbaby.com. Her live shows can be heard by doing a search of Eva Katherine at YouTube.com.
What is next for Eva? She hopes to write some of her own music.
"I like to be creating and pushing the envelope. I would love to go to work every day doing a job I want to do and expressing myself in a way that not everybody can," she said. "I would just love to perform and record one day and become an inspiration to other people."
Listen to Eva's live version of Three Dog Night's, "Never Been to Spain," performed at Front Street Station in Northumberland at http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxMq2a6R2N4&feature=related.
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Music on the Menu: Katherine ready for radio
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The word on Eva Katherine is that she’s an artist beyond her years. And after listening to her debut...The word on Eva Katherine is that she’s an artist beyond her years. And after listening to her debut CD, “We’re Gonna Get There,” it’s clear that the word is true. The 12-year-old singer, who is quickly becoming a bit of a sensation here in NEPA, not only displays a wonderful voice, but also a remarkable maturity.
On Wednesday, Oct. 5, Katherine will perform at the Weekender/Mountaingrown Original Music Series. And while the seventh-grade student admits it’s a big show for her and that it will be her first full live-radio broadcast, it’s really the type of thing she’s been preparing for as long as she can remember.
“It was originally a Christmas gift from my parents that I would get one half-hour singing and piano lesson,” says Katherine. “That was when I was 6 years old. I took my first lesson, and that ended up being an hour every week, and I’ve been doing that for seven years. And then I started doing churches and high school football games, and then it evolved into, ‘Hey, would you come sing at my wedding?’ and ‘Hey, do you do shows?’ Everything just kind of snowballed.”
Katherine names Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean and The Beatles as some of her favorites and influences. She also cites her producer, Bret Alexander, and his band, The Badlees, as having a strong impact on her music. She says her first venture into the recording studio also came courtesy of a Christmas gift from her parents, and that the original plan was to record an EP of covers to sell at her shows and simply give to family and friends. But after working with Alexander for a while at his studio, Saturation Acres, it was suggested she do a more in-depth album.
The result is “We’re Gonna Get There,” a terrific collection of country-flavored gems that also features a long list of regional all-star musicians. Many of the tracks were written by Alexander and two were penned by Carl Bell of Fuel.
“Some were covers, while some songs were written specifically for me,” says Katherine. “I’m not really a writer yet. I write poems, and I write essays, but I’ve never really ventured into the world of songwriting. But a lot of those songs, I treat them like they’re mine.”
She adds that she’s quite happy with the result.
“I had to trust Bret a lot,” she says. “This was my little baby. But when I first heard the finished product, I knew that I had made the right decision by just letting Bret do what he does best. I could not have been more pleased.”
Katherine has had a busy year with several high-profile performances. She has sung the National Anthem at the Little League World Series and also performed at Madison Square Garden in New York and at Musikfest in Bethlehem. Locally, she appeared at the final “Concert For A Cause,” on the Weekender’s “Music First” stage at Montage Mountain prior to Sugarland and on WBRE-TV. In January, she’s heading to Nashville to perform on the internationally seen Shotgun Red Variety Show. Out of 2,500 singers, only 11 were invited.
Katherine says she and her band are ready to rock the radio airwaves on Oct. 5.
“Without music, we’d have a heck of a hard time expressing ourselves,” she says. “Music has completely changed my life. It’s like breathing to me. I can’t live without it. This is my first time doing a full performance on the radio, and I’m excited and really looking forward to it. I know we’re going to do some things we normally wouldn’t do. There might be a few surprises.”
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Eva Katherine on WBRE-TV's "PA Live" 9/22/11
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12 year-old Orwigsburg native Eva Katherine performs an original song from her latest album, We're G...12 year-old Orwigsburg native Eva Katherine performs an original song from her latest album, We're Gonna Get There.
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Eva Katherine, Musikfest 2011
12 year old Eva Katherine performing at Musikfest 2011, photo by Doug Seymour.
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Eva Katherine : Self-Titled CD Review 5/31/11
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EVA KATHERINE – SELF TITLED CD
Review by Michael McKenna 5/31/11
This special young lady is only...EVA KATHERINE – SELF TITLED CD
Review by Michael McKenna 5/31/11
This special young lady is only 12 years old, is attending her first year of middle school and has already recorded one CD and another is on its way! She is like the energizer bunny and a cutie to boot! Her voice is totally out of the box! Her vocal range is awesome! The future for this amazing young lady is bright and with the help of her friends in the business who are well known nationwide, she is going to be going places and reach heights that will take her soaring into the next decade and beyond!
I had the opportunity to hear her live at Mayfair and was knocked clear into the next county by her professionalism, stage presence and those awesome pipes! Hailing from Schuylkill County, Eva has already achieved kudos that many don’t experience until they are much older and time-tested. In 2010 Eva performed 52 shows at 33 different venues including The Bloomsburg Fair and this year has Mayfair and Musikfest on her schedule. Eva was the Big I-105 Kidz Idol Winner and opened their 2009 FallFest featuring country music stars Jimmy Wayne, Josh Thompson, Darryl Worley, Chris Young, Sarah Buxton & Little Big Town. She has opened for Nashville recording artists Bucky Covington and Daryle Singletary. Eva has also performed at three internationally televised PBR events, one at the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, VA, one at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT and most recently at Madison Square Garden in NYC. Regionally she has performed live numerous times with the Badlees and other PA bands. With kudos and experience like this, I can see this young lady taking the same route as Berks County’s Taylor Swift.
Her self-titled CD is mainly covers of standards and classics that are performed with class and perfection. Her band mates include manager and guitarist Bret Alexander (Badlees & Breaking Benjamin) and guitarist Dustin Drevich from the NEPA band Lemongelli who form the nucleus of her band The Lonesome Souls.
The first track “Get Rhythm” sounds like I’m sitting in a club in Nashville with a cold one and listening to a veteran singer. “Georgia on My Mind” opens with some amazing keys as Eva launches into the lyrics with such deep passion and feelings as she hits notes that are out of the range of a lot of singers. Patsy Kline’s “Crazy”sounds like I’m hearing a young version of Patsy as Eva works her way through this timeless classic with ease. Johnny Cash’s standard “Folsom Prison Blues” picks up the tempo as she pays tribute to this traditional country master. She really has a lot of fun with this one! “Walkin After Midnight” is another Patsy Kline tune performed to perfection that Eva duplicates with that signature sound that is very hard to do.
“I Wonder” features Eva getting deep with this country tear jerker as she shuts the door and just sings like she is a 20 yr veteran of the Opry. The Carrie Underwood hit “Temporary Home” is another ballad where Eva just pours out her feeling from down deep as she nails this one with remarkable precision. What a set of pipes! “More Like Her” is another tune that Eva nails. This Miranda Lambert hit is performed like I was sitting and listening live in a concert hall or arena. Those high notes are hypnotizing! LeeAnn Womack’s “I Hope You Dance” which is one of my country faves sounds so close to the real thing. Eva nails the hook, holds her notes an extra long time and the WOW factor hits home with this performance! My choice as the BEST on this CD! “White Horse” shows me that one young lady can perform another young artist with style and grace. Her vocal inflections are a mirror image of Taylor. I would love to see them do this as a duet. I can only dream! The timeless gospel classic “Amazing Grace” is done with such passion that words cannot do it justice!
What this young lady brings to the table is simply amazing. Her talents are still untapped and yet she could give some of the established singers a run for their money. I can’t wait to hear some upbeat toe-tappin, line-dancing numbers from Eva. I would give this CD 2 THUMBS UP, but I’ll go one better, Eva Katherine gets a STANDING OVATION!! Watch Out America, there is a new star rising in the east!
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Local Girl, 12, Wowing Audiences With Singing Voice
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READING, Pa. -- Eva Blankenhorn is just like any other sixth grader... kind of.
"You're just Eva. Y...READING, Pa. -- Eva Blankenhorn is just like any other sixth grader... kind of.
"You're just Eva. You forgot your books in your locker," Eva laughed. "And then by night, it's like yeah, I'm singing at an Express game."
The 12-year-old from Orwigsburg, Schuylkill County has a bit of a double life.
"I've been singing for as long as I can remember," she said.
On stage, she goes by Eva Katherine.
"Eva Blankenhorn's kind of a mouthful," Eva said. "Eva Katherine's just easier."
Eva by any name is easy on the ears.
In 2009, she won the Big I-105 Kidz Idol contest singing 'Crazy' by Patsy Cline. Eva credits that performance for thrusting her into the spotlight, although the song wasn't her first choice.
"At the time, I don't know who Patsy Cline is. I don't know what this song is," Eva recalled. "So, I learned it and at the time, I didn't like it very much."
Now, it's one of her favorites.
"Either 'Crazy' by Patsy Cline or 'Folsom Prison Blues' by Johnny Cash," Eva said. "They're both songs that the crowd loves."
Crowds all over seem to love her.
"I was in Madison Square Garden," said Eva. "I performed for the professional bull riders and it was almost sold out."
Fresh off that performance at Madison Square Garden, Eva will be at the Sovereign Center on Saturday night. She'll be performing the National Anthem before the Reading Express season opener.
"This is our fourth time doing it and I'm even more excited," Eva said.
Eva's first single, "You're Not the Only One," is on iTunes. She hopes to have an album out by June.
Eva's definitely dreaming big, but keeping her feet on the ground.
"It's kind of one step at a time," she said. "There have definitely been some that say you might be the next Taylor Swift. And I'm thinking to myself, man, if I'm the next Taylor Swift I'm going to throw a party!"
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Orwigsburg Girl Set for Big Apple Stage
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ORWIGSBURG - Eva K. Blankenhorn loves to sing, and tonight she will be showcasing her talents on an ...ORWIGSBURG - Eva K. Blankenhorn loves to sing, and tonight she will be showcasing her talents on an internationally famous stage.
Blankenhorn, 12, of Orwigsburg, who performs under the name Eva Katherine, is set to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" to open the Professional Bull Riders' kickoff event of its 2011 season at 7:50 p.m. tonight at Madison Square Garden, New York City.
"It just comes naturally to me," Blankenhorn said of singing. "It's never a chore. It's something I love to do."
Tonight's gig is the latest step in Blankenhorn's blossoming career, which in the past year has taken her all over the eastern United States and enabled her to record and release a CD of country cover songs.
"She's phenomenal," said Jeff Hull, Orwigsburg, husband of Blankenhorn's voice teacher, Dawn Hull. "It's important for people to know how big this 12-year-old is. This is for real."
Although she likes many kinds of music, country is the genre that Blankenhorn has chosen.
"Country is where I want to be right now," she said. "It's so laid-back and fun. They sing about life."
A sixth-grade student at Blue Mountain Middle School, Blankenhorn said she started voice lessons with Dawn Hull when she was 7.
"I knew from the get-go she was something special," Dawn Hull said.
After three years of lessons, Blankenhorn began performing publicly in 2009 and made a name for herself. She won the Big I-105 Kidz Idol contest and got to open that Lancaster County radio station's 2009 FallFest.
In 2010, there were a series of highlights.
"One thing just kind of fell into the next," she said.
Her One Crazy Summer Tour took her to 33 venues, including the Bloomsburg and Schuylkill County fairs, Professional Bull Riders events in Charlottesville, Va., and Uncasville, Conn., and the Barbecue Festival in Lexington, N.C.
In June, Blankenhorn released a self-titled CD featuring some of her favorite country songs. She plans to follow that this spring by releasing a CD of all-original music, said her mother, Beth Blankenhorn.
One song that will be on that CD, "You're Not the Only One," already is available on iTunes, Eva said, which was written and produced by Bret Alexander of Saturation Acres Recording Studio and a member of The Badlees, a Northeastern Pennsylvania rock group.
Also on this year's schedule is an appearance at another Professional Bull Riders event on Feb. 5 in North Carolina - a performance that, like tonight's, might never have occurred if she had followed her first instinct and canceled.
"The first time, I didn't want to go. I was crying. (Her family) made me go," she said. "By the end of it, I was in love."
When she is not making music or attending school, Eva likes hanging out with her friends and reading. In school, her favorite classes are English, history and language arts.
"I can express myself with words," she said. "It's a good way to vent."
As is the case with most 12 year olds, Eva is not certain about what path her life will take.
"I would definitely love to be a professional singer," she said. "I'm going to try and work as hard as I can to get there."
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PA MUSIC SCENE ISSUES A MUSIC ADVISORY – Eva Katherine Releases First Original Single on iTunes
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Eva Katherine Releases First Original Single on iTunes
Eva Katherine Releases First Orig...Eva Katherine Releases First Original Single on iTunes
Eva Katherine Releases First Original Single -“You’re Not the Only One” – written and produced by Bret Alexander.
“You’re Not the Only One” available NOW on iTunes.
You can hear 12-year old singing sensation, Eva Katherine, perform four songs with a back-up band consisting of members from the Badlees, Pan.a.ce.a and Lemongelli this Saturday night, November 27 at the Front Street Station. Eva’s performance will be taped by Media Boomtown.
If you would like to read more on Eva Katherine visit:
Official Website: Eva Katherine
Facebook: Eva Katherine
Previous Press: Eva Katherine – Today’s Ray of Sunshine Tomorrow’s Rising Star
You are hereby advised to spread the word and tell everyone to go to iTunes NOW!!
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Future Bright For Eva Blankenhorn
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We recently decided to stop by Roman Delight III, Route 61, Orwigsburg, for Eva Katherine Blankenhor...We recently decided to stop by Roman Delight III, Route 61, Orwigsburg, for Eva Katherine Blankenhorn's music release party. The restaurant is owned by Carmelo and Jennifer Valenti.
"I have known Carmelo for over 20 years and his facility was suited best for what we were planning, not to mention he has amazing food and an A-1 staff. Eva will perform there again later this year and folks can check her website for details on that," said Kevin Blankenhorn, Eva's father.
Eva Katherine, 11, is a daughter of Kevin and Beth Blankenhorn, Orwigsburg, and she loves spending time with her younger sister, Paige, and the rest of her family, along with friends. She enjoys reading, loves horses and watching the Professional Bull Riders. She does very well in her enrichment classes at Blue Mountain Elementary East. But Eva Katherine has a very special gift - this young lady has a singing voice well beyond her years. She is a talented singing sensation who has recently been making some impressive public appearances.
Earlier this spring, Eva made her first appearance with the Badlees. The Badlees are a nationally famed group of musicians hailing from Northeast PA, known for songs such as "Angeline is Coming Home" and "Fear of Falling," among many others. This was one of many sold-out shows spurred by their long awaited new CD, "Love is Rain."
The Badlees then brought Eva up on stage to perform a couple of songs. Eva sang "Georgia On My Mind" and "Folsom Prison Blues." The crowd went wild with cheers and applause.
The band is often approached by friends and fans with remarks like "Great show!" but on this particular night they were also approached by hundreds of people all asking the same question, "Who's the kid?"
Eva's self-titled debut release was recorded at Saturation Acres Recording Studio, Dupont, under the creative ear of acclaimed producer, Bret Alexander (Badlees, Breaking Benjamin). Through a chain of events, Eva was introduced to Alexander in December 2009.
"Bret has been very gracious in helping Eva. I think he has a plan for her. He stays in contact with us quite frequently and offers guidance by answering any questions we have. Bret will also be writing some material for Eva in the future," said Kevin. Eva said she loves working with Mr. Alexander, as she calls him. "He is very patient and a really cool person," she said.
"She is a very special young lady, I'm not used to my artists calling me Mr. Alexanderâ?¦ but I will adapt. I'm excited about her record. People are really responding to her already. With the right songs, look out," Alexander said.
Other folks who have been very supportive of Eva's talent are her Aunt Cyndi and Grammy Carol, Ryan Pelton and Rich Dallago. Family and friends who traveled hours from Western PA were wearing shirts that read "Eva's Posse."
"The concept has caught on and the T-shirts have become quite popular. The sound at Eva's CD release party was provided by Event Staging, Orwigsburg.
Eva performed about eight songs as part of the evening's entertainment. There were CDs, photos, T-shirts and a Cake Pro Bake Shop provided a huge cake with a replica of Eva Katherine's CD cover on it.
Schaeffer's Harley-Davidson is supporting Eva's Crazy Tour 2010. Eva will be opening for former American Idol finalist and country star Bucky Covington when he performs Aug. 6 on Schaeffer's Harley-Davidson Night at the Schuylkill County Fair, Summit Station.
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EVA KATHERINE – Today’s Ray of Sunshine… Tomorrow’s Star
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POTTSVILLE - Eva Katherine Blankenhorn at the age of 6 years old sang to her grandfather who just lo...POTTSVILLE - Eva Katherine Blankenhorn at the age of 6 years old sang to her grandfather who just loved listening to her. Her grandfather has since passed away but would surely be very proud of his granddaughter. Now at the age of 11 years old you may be wondering what is so special about this young lady? Well… have I got news for you!
Eva is first and foremost the daughter of Kevin and Beth Blankenhorn, Orwigsburg PA. She loves spending time with her younger sister Paige and the rest of her family along with friends. She enjoys reading, loves horses, watching the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) and does very well in her 5th grade enrichment classes at Blue Mountain School District. But Eva Katherine has a very special gift… this young lady has a singing voice well beyond her years. She is a talented singing sensation who has recently been making some impressive public appearances.
In 2007, Eva’s parents decided to surprise their daughter by giving her vocal lessons as a Christmas present. Mrs. Dawn Hull is Eva‘s music professor and thought she would engage with Eva for 2-3 lessons. After the very first lesson, Mrs. Hull declared she would indeed like to keep Eva as a student. Eva has commented, “Mrs. Hull is the best! She is always patient and a lot of fun. We rock out in her kitchen every week.”
Eva does recitals, school plays and keeps working on her stage presence. She loves to have fun and meet new people. Last year, she performed the “National Anthem” at a Reading Phillies game and sang for the Reading Express Area Football Team. Eva sang at a church in Allentown and also sang “Amazing Grace” at the St. John’s United Church of Christ in Kutztown by invitation from a close family friend. She also entered Kidz Idol which was sponsored by the Big I-105. Eva actually won and was awarded the grand prize of opening the FallFest by singing the “National Anthem” and receiving a guitar signed by every artist who performed at the festival.
Along the way last summer, she and her family also got to enjoy the atmosphere of two Pennsylvania fairs, Greene County Fair in Western PA and the Bloomsburg Fair where Eva also performed with some Nashville artists such as the Chris Higbee Project, Steve Smith and one of Eva’s all-time favorites and influence – Miranda Lambert. Lambert gained fame from being a finalist on the 2003 season of Nashville Star and is only the third female country artist in history to have three records debut at #1 on the Billboard Country Album chart. Eva herself has been in the PA Talent Showcase at Hershey, where she received the first standing ovation in 27 years. Some of Eva’s other music influences are LeAnn Rimes, Carrie Underwood and Johnny Cash.
Eva is also currently taking guitar lessons from Pottsville’s Thom Greis who is referred to as her “guitar guru.” Eva’s dad Kevin says, “Eva really enjoys learning the guitar and is getting much better each week, just not quite ready to play live yet. Eva was invited to sing in July at the Martin Guitar facility in Nazareth, PA on her way to a fair in the area that day. Eva is very excited to go there as the Martin Guitar Co. has guided tours through their facility. The list of artists that own Martin guitars is everyone whom is anyone.”
However, although Eva is getting all this attention, her father tells me, “This must remain fun for the whole family. Eva makes the call as to which performances she wants to do and the decisions are made as a family unit.”
Earlier this spring, Eva made her first appearance with a band – the Badlees. The Badlees are a nationally famed group of musicians hailing from Northeast PA, known for songs such as “Angeline is Coming Home” and “ Fear of Falling” among many others. This was one of many SOLD OUT shows spurred by their long awaited new CD release - Love is Rain. The crowd attending the performance of the Badlees along with supporting band Pan.a.ce.a (new release titled We the Broken) at the Front Street Station in Northumberland, rocked the night away to fantastic music. The Badlees then brought Eva up on stage to perform a couple of songs. The crowd went wild with cheers and applause! The bands are often approached by friends and fans with remarks like “Great show!” and on this particular night they were also approached after the concert by hundreds of people in the crowd all asking the same question… “Who’s the kid?”
The summer brings many new adventures for the Blankenhorn family. Eva’s self-titled debut CD will be available to the public very soon. In celebration, there will be a music release party on Saturday, June 12th which will be held at Roman Delight III, 1240 Centre Turnpike Route 61, Orwigsburg from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. She will also be participating in an upcoming benefit on Sunday, June 27th- Pennsylvania Helps Nashville Benefit Concert being held at BROWNIES, 23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore PA.
Eva’s debut release was recorded at Saturation Acres Recording Studio, Dupont PA under the creative ear of acclaimed producer, Bret Alexander (Badlees, Breaking Benjamin). Through a chain of events, Eva was introduced to Bret in December of 2009. Eva was definitely worthy of studio time. “Bret has been very gracious in helping Eva. I think he has a plan for her. He stays in contact with us quite frequently and offers guidance by answering any questions we have. Bret will also be writing some material for Eva in the future,” said her father Kevin. I asked Eva if Mr. Alexander has shared any chocolate cake with her as I had heard from other musicians that the chocolate cake served at Saturation Acres is a favorite. She replied, “I LOVE working with Mr. Alexander! He is very patient and a really cool person. I usually like to snack on granola bars and I like Moose Tracks ice cream. He has not shared any cake yet, but we are seriously waiting.”
Bret comments on Eva saying, ” She is a very special young lady, I’m not used to my artists calling me Mr. Alexander… but I will adapt. I’m excited about her record. People are really responding to her already. With the right songs… look out!” Eva and Mr. Alexander will be working on original material for the future.
Other folks that have been very supportive of Eva’s talent are her Aunt Cyndi & Grammy Carol, Ryan Pelton, Rich Dallago and Schaeffer’s Harley Davidson who is supporting Eva’s “Crazy” Tour 2010. Eva will be opening for former American Idol finalist and Country Star Bucky Covington who will be performing on Schaeffer’s Harley Davidson Night at the Schuylkill County Fair on August 7th.
If you are looking for something to do this Memorial Weekend, you can enjoy Eva performing a few songs at a benefit concert for the Children’s Alopecia Project on Sunday, May 30th at The Works in Wyomissing. The benefit concert will also consist of the Badlees, Pan.a.ce.a., and The Fallen Troubadours. For more information on this event click here.
Please go to Eva’s website for the complete list of scheduled appearances.
For all things Eva please check out her website:
www.evakatherine.com
supersonic
