Van Preston and The Famous GentleMen

Artist Information

Biography

Van Preston's music encompasses many genres, and tells the stories of many people. Van grew up in a small town in Arkansas, and started writing songs at the age of nine. Named by her mother after a Southern Pentecostal Evangelist from the 1960's, (Asa Alonzo Allen), Van's music has a broad appeal. Despite being unsigned and unrepresented in the US, she has earned many accomplishments.

These Include:

*Eight songs 'placed' or recorded by other acts during 2010 (3) and 2011 (5). The five songs during 2011 were:

1. Steal Me Away' (a Rock song recorded by Rock Artist Luke Dickens, 2008 Australian Idol 1st Runner Up, and 2011 Toyota Starmaker Winner)
2. Album cut “Without You”, a country song, on the Big Machine Records Act “Steel Magnolia” Debut album, co-written with Joshua Scott Jones and Meghan Linsey, briefly released to US Mainstream Country radio Summer 2011.
3. 'Steal Me Away' placed in National Geographic Adventure series show.
4. 'The Forbidden Hope Diamond' (a Jazz song recorded by Minnie Murphy for Matrix 99 Records)
5. "My Heart Craves Him', (a Pop song recorded by Veda Radonovich, and produced by Sheryl Crow's producer)

In 2010, Van had two Rock songs cut by German Heavy Metal Rock Band, Mad Max and one Country song recorded by Norwegian Country band, 'Jacked Up' (http://www.myspace.com/jackedupband).

*Is involved with a TV Pilot being pitched to National TV networks Winter 2012.

*In 2012, Van will have multiple songs featured on a new product available worldwide, myvoco.com

*Has had six top-20 country songs in Europe (Hotdisc Charts) and three Top 40 songs on secondary U.S. Country radio stations (New Music Weekly Charts).

*Debut album was nominated 2007 Country Album of the Year in Europe by the European CMA.

*Song "Bought Myself A Toy" is represented in Europe on Universal Records-France.

*Songs "HeartBroke For The Last Time' and 'What Goes Around Comes Around' represented by Mr. Music Records, Gothenberg Sweden and have been distributed across Scandinavia.

*Songs that have been used commercially , including by a US Fortune 500 company (Pure Romance), as well as several independent artist cuts.

*Van has placed in several Songwriting Competitions, including twice in the John Lennon Songwriting competition and twice in the NSAI Song Contest, as well as once int the UK Songwriting Contest.

*Featured / Reviewed in “Country Weekly”, “Maverick”, “Performing Songwriter” as well as a 2009 Video appearance on CMT

*Has opened for many Top Artists including James Taylor, Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, LeAnn Rimes, Alan Jackson, and Martina McBride.

*Has headlined EuroDisney-Paris, Numerous European festivals, toured Australia twice, and has played legendary clubs including the now-defunct CBGB’s in NYC.

Instrumentation

Carl Melberg - Bass
Daniel Pierce - Bass, Guitar, keys, Harmonica, mandolin
Sammy Mayers - Drums, Percussion
Jack Brumfield - keys

Discography

"Radio Stats: "Sweet Tea on A Day Like This" went to #20 June 2011 in Europe. "Bought Myself A Toy", went to 19 in Europe AND 71 in the US. "HeartBroke For The Last Time" went to 4 in Europe. "What Goes Around, Comes Around" went to 16 in Europe. "Forever Ago" went to 10 in the US and went to 21 in Europe, "Tougher Than That" went to 9 in Europe and 25 in the US. " Everything I've Never Seen" went to 20 in Europe and was released to US Country radio August 2008, where it is charted at #2 - November , 2008.

Links

• MySpace
• Facebook
• Reverb Nation
• YOUTUBE
• Twitter

Audio

• Not My Valentine FemaleVox
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• Damn The Lies: FINAL
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• Bucket of Tears Rough
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• Van Preston - Sweet T (mp3)
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• i just wanna know who you are
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• My Heart Craves Him
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• You Never Believed In Me ROUGH
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• Mr Policeman Rough
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• Van Preston - Sometimes (mp3)
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• All I Ever Wanted Was You Rough
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Lyrics

• Bought Myself A Toy
• Absolutely Broken
• HeartBroke For The Last Time
• Piece of You
• ForEver Ago
• 'Steal Me Away'

Video

HB4TLT-web

"Bought Myself A Toy" Video

HeartBroke For The Last Time

Photo Gallery

Press

• "Maverick Magazine" 4 STARS!! (UK) [+ Show ]
  

  **** Spellbinding, pistol of an album that fires upbeat, stunning bullets to rapturous applause lik...****
  Spellbinding, pistol of an album that fires upbeat, stunning bullets to rapturous applause like the hired guns of the Old West.
  Having received airplay on US radio and gathered quite a fan base through her constant gigs and dedication to making it in the dog-eat-dog world of country music, this Arkansas-born artist who goes by the name of Van Preston that moved to Nashville in 2004 to pursue her dreams has surely laid the foundations with her debut album here.
  With an upbeat country rock start in the style of Dixie Chicks or a vibrant Elizabeth Cook, Bought Myself A Toy also seems to imitate the style of Taylor Swift but in a far more superior way. It makes you wonder what this toy actually is, as she describes how she enjoys this "toy" by herself and I do not believe it is a pinball machine. Despite this curious lack of information as to what this item it may be, it sure is one hell of a country song which can still be enjoyed after even the fifth consecutive listen. Perfect for dancing to, What Goes Around Comes Around can also be ideally described as a track destined to be played at the end of a honky tonk session. The fiddling and pedal steel by all means adds a buoyant and stonking country sound to the mix which never fails to raise the spirit and keep the beer pouring as I assume many of those who follow Van have certainly enjoyed a pitcher or two whilst hearing this track in action. The beat of Heartbroke For The Last Time is reminiscent of a Tennessee Two track, with Van acting as Cash and the pedal steel in place of Luther’s picking. If the drumming was removed this would sound ideal for Johnny, Luther and Marshall but alas the band is no more. Although we can still dream of such a band releasing their own version, what we are left with is an extremely fine, and by all means, sublime track that seems just the thing to be played when behind the wheel.
  Despite this being her debut album, the quality included in its ten tracks is astonishing. Not many artists and bands make it big in Music Row, but as this release has already achieved success than maybe we should be speaking of Van Preston as the next big act who can try and topple Taylor Swift as the Queen of Nashville? I certainly hope so. - RH

• Performing Songwriter [+ Show ]
  

  Every so often you'll hear a singer with so much unbridled joy in her voice, you can't help but smil...Every so often you'll hear a singer with so much unbridled joy in her voice, you can't help but smile. Van Preston will hit you this way with well-crafted lyrics to match her sassy soprano. Preston's self-titled release has a decidedly classic country flavor along the lines of Dwight Yoakum or Loretta Lynn. Sweet fiddle and pedal steel add just enough sparkle without detracting from the lyrics.
  Highlights include "What Goes Around Comes Around" and the fast-paced "HeartBroke for The Last Time". But the cherry on top of this musical sundae is "Bought Myself A Toy." "When I'm missing you, I just snap that baby right out of the case and it gets rid of my blues," Preston sings over electric guitar and raucous drumming.
  

• New York Times [+ Show ]
  

  "VAN PRESTON: Making It on Her Own"; By PHIL SWEETLAND, New York Times Nashville Correspondent, Musi..."VAN PRESTON: Making It on Her Own"; By PHIL SWEETLAND, New York Times Nashville Correspondent, Music and Radio
  
  NASHVILLE – The lovely lady from Arkansas proudly describes herself as “unsigned and unrepresented.” But Van Preston left out several adjectives in that description of her music, words that apply perfectly, such as “powerful,” “catchy,” “personal,” “commercial,” and “important.” Just how important is her work? Just ask the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, which in 2007 recognized Van’s original songs not once but twice. “Toy” and “Someone Who Ain’t Me” were both cited by the prestigious Lennon panel.
  
  Radio has also jumped on Preston’s music. Van has found other media to get her music heard. MySpace, for instance, has become one of the fastest-growing sources of music in the wired world, and Preston has become a MySpace favorite. (Last year, she was) rated the Top Unsigned Americana Music on MySpace. European fans, so often ahead of their American brethren on groundbreaking music, have fallen in love with Van: She’s the No. 4 indy artist over there and has racked up four Top 20 hits in Europe in the last 18 months.
  
  Preston is a quiet person at first, but still waters run deep. She happily is making a lot of noise on the road and at Radio with a sound that is both hauntingly familiar and utterly new. -----------------------
  
  

• 2008 [+ Show ]
  

  http://www.ttela.se/?article=36487 http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:sqxRPcexjCwJ:www.vf.s...http://www.ttela.se/?article=36487
  
  
  
  http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:sqxRPcexjCwJ:www.vf.se/Kultur--Noje/Noje/4999/Januari/Vecka-5/Succe-for-countryfesten.aspx+%22van+preston%22&hl=sv&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=se
  
  
  
  http://www.ttela.se/artikelmall.asp?version=176266

• Music Row [+ Show ]
  

  On Van's Debut Single, "Absolutely Broken", "She has a lot of verve in her voice, and the song is ...On Van's Debut Single, "Absolutely Broken",
  "She has a lot of verve in her voice, and the song is quite catchy..."
  
  On Track One of Van Preston Debut CD, "Tougher Than That",
  —Van’s a feisty gal on the kick-off rocker of her album. The bright, male harmonies on the choruses are quite effective, as are the electric guitar work and organ notes.

• Various Other Music Publications [+ Show ]
  

  "BLUESBUNNY.COM"; GLASGOW;SCOTLAND "There's that thing about mainstream country music. When it ..."BLUESBUNNY.COM";
  GLASGOW;SCOTLAND
  
  "There's that thing about mainstream country music. When it is done well, it is the music of blue collar America. It's not really for the young, it's not really for the musical purist but it is the music for the majority of people who have travelled along the rocky road of life.Having said that, like much of country music these days, you don't need a pick up truck and a dog called Bo to enjoy it. Armed with a sizeable chunk of session musician's, she shows no signs of nervousness in this, her debut album. She does a fine job in with other people's songs like the ultra commercial - and very Faith Hill Like - "Schizophrenic Heart" but the real heart and soul are to be found in her own compositions with the elegant ballad "Forever Ago" and the exuberant (think that's the best word…) "Bought Myself a Toy" standing out. Like I said, this is an album of music for real people.
  Unusually for a country artist these days, Ms Preston writes a fair chunk of her own material. Maybe that's why she convinces. The Nashville music machine has churned out many like her but you know when you have heard the real thing and Ms Preston is indeed the real thing."
  
  "Nashville Scene"
  Pete Kotz, Editor-In-Chief
  "Van Preston is like a Countrified Pat Benatar"
  
  
  Nashville Music Guide
  SEVEN OUT OF SEVEN STARS! Review by Brad Fischer, Music Editor
  
  "This cute young lady has a voice as good as any
  female country artist in the business. Not only that,
  five of the ten songs on this CD were written by the
  artist. And she knows a good song when she hears one
  as is verified by the tunes she chose for this
  project. The cuts on this album are from some of the
  best songsmiths in Music City and finely produced by
  Greg Crowe for the independent "UnConVentional
  Records" label. I loved them all! Get your copy before
  Preston is the big country star she ought to be at
  www.vanpreston.com"

• Radio Reviews [+ Show ]
  

  "Van Preston's 'Absolutely Broken' is catching on each week with our listeners. I think we'll be hea..."Van Preston's 'Absolutely Broken' is catching on each week with our listeners. I think we'll be hearing a lot more from her."
  Dennis Voy
  KMAQ-FM/AM, Maquoketa, IA
  
  "You're obviously very talented and i wouldn't be surprised if I flipped on CMT one day to see you in a video or something. Your style of country music is exactly what myself and my listeners prefer. " Mark Bownds, KGAS Radio
  
  "Thanks for the new promo of Van Preston's CD. You sure caught my attention! "What Goes Around" is excellent! Van has a voice that makes it hard to push the eject button; you've just got to finish the song..."
  KEOS Radio, College Station, Texas
  John Roths
  
  "Van Preston has developed a style that is both distinctive and radio friendly. Her debut video is dynamic and exciting, and if there's any justice she'll end the year as one of Nashville's premier new talents."
  American Music Channel
  
  Musictogo Songwriter's Network;
  Bert Gagnon
  
  "Van Preston is among our listeners favorite artist and for good reason. Country/Americana that really lets loose. A combination of great songs, strong muscianship and lyrically direct. This highly charged cd has a collection of songs that everyone can relate to. Vocally powerful in a Rocker sense, Van holds true to her chosen genre and has created excitement and entertainment in each track on this fabulous self-titled cd. This is definitely another win for Country/Americana and for our broadcasts"-
  
  

• Countrystarsonline.com [+ Show ]
  

  There are many words one could use to describe Van Preston but the first 3 that came to mind were sp...There are many words one could use to describe Van Preston but the first 3 that came to mind were spunky, energetic and honest. I have never seen Ms. Preston in concert but I would be willing to bet you a six pack of coke that the audience is filled with loyal friends and fans singing along at the top of their lungs to every verse. The impression I get is a gal that loves the whole shootin' match, writing, performing and meeting the fans after the show. Van recently did some advertising for a road band and I hope all the pieces fell into place.
  
  You'll find a bit of everything on Preston's self-titled debut CD including some upbeat, fun country rockers like "Piece Of You" and "Tougher Than That", to honest ballads including "Schizophrenic Heart" and "Forever Ago" Speaking of honest, maybe "Bought Myself A Toy" is too honest but it's a fun song that gets the point across.
  
  Preston reminds me of a heyday-Tanya Tucker or a Jo Dee Messina with all the attitude, cuteness, and fun rolled into one little package called an entertainer.

• Garageband review of 'Toy" [+ Show ]
  

  GARAGEBAND review of "Toy"; Egostar of Los Angeles ------------------------ "Wow. Oh Yeah. Is th... GARAGEBAND review of "Toy"; Egostar of Los Angeles
  ------------------------
  "Wow. Oh Yeah. Is this country?! I fuckin HATE country, but I like this. Wow.. it rocks like a mofo. AWESOME production. Killer singer. Reminds me of me. HA, seriously, she kicked my ass and then called me her bitch. Thats ok. I can live with it...OMG I just picked out the chorus lyrics. This is a hit. WOW. I'd SO buy it...for my ex. NICE ONE y'all.... I got nothin left. Nothing here could be improved. Wrap it up. Send it to Sam Goody. ----------------------------

• Radio/Program Director Letter, 12/2007 [+ Show ]
  

  I came across (Van's) site and your music quite by accident and all I have to say is WOW! What a GR...I came across (Van's) site and your music quite by accident and all I have to say is WOW! What a GREAT TALENT! Which leads me to ask you, "Why aren't you a star?" You have a fantastic pure soulful sound and the alluring sexy looks to go along with your voice. I must tell you that for over 25 years I was a radio Program Director/Music Director and Air Talent (now retired) and I think your talent far exceeds much of the "Young Crap" on the air today. I just wanted to let you know that your talents are apprecited! Thanks for the great music!
  
  Dan O'Brian

• Motivated.... [+ Show ]
  

  "Van Preston is an outstanding songwriter with the drive and dedication to really make it in this bu..."Van Preston is an outstanding songwriter with the drive and dedication to really make it in this business. I have never seen a musician as motivated to suceed."

Setlist

Van can do up to a four-hour show featuring half originals and half covers (americana, country, classic rock, and some singer-songwriter material), or a two-hour show with all original material.
A sample of cover songs includes:
Knocking on Heaven's Door, Bob Dylan
Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, Willie Nelson
Brown Eyed Girl, Van Morrison
Gimme 3 Steps, Skynnrd
Sweet Home Alabama, Skynnrd
Move It On Over, George Thorogood
Keep Your Hands to yourself, Georgia Satellites
Good Hearted Woman, Waylon Jennings
Honky Tonk Women, Rolling Stones
Revolution, The Beatles*
Don't Close Your Eyes, Keith Whitley *
Little Sister, Dwight Yoakam
Maragritaville, jimmy Buffett
You Oughta Know, Alannys Morissette*
Old Time Rock and Roll, Bob Seger
Take It Easy, The Eagles*
Won't Back Down, Tom Petty*
Hit Me W/ Your Best Shot, Pat Benatar *
Me and Bobby McGee, Janis Joplin*
Big Yellow Taxi
Hurts So Good
Hole in my Head, Dixie Chicks
Little Ways, Dwight
These Boots Were made for walkin'
Hey Good Lookin'
I Love Rock-n-Roll
I will always love you
Have mercy on me (Loretta Lynn)
When I'm Away from you (Bellamy Brothers)
Something to Talk About(Bonnie Raitt)
First Cut is the Deepest (Rod Stewart/ Sheryl Crow)
Can't let Go (Lucinda Williams)
I Lost It (Lucinda Williams)

Basic Requirements

Calendar