Amber Hayes
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Amber Hayes

Nashville, Tennessee, United States | INDIE

Nashville, Tennessee, United States | INDIE
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"Something About Amber Hayes"

To say that newcomer Amber Hayes exudes the word charisma would be somewhat of an understatement. As people in the business say from time to time, she has the “whole package.” She’s got the talent, the looks, and that unknown factor known as “it.” In talking with the Weleetka, Oklahoma-bred beauty, one thing becomes very apparent. She loves country music, and all it represents.

“I am a big fan of traditional country music,” she says proudly, adding that “I love the tradition of country music. It’s something that I want to help to keep that going. To be able to play on the Grand Ole Opry is one of my biggest dreams ever, and I hope I’m able to that. I would love to be like Jeannie Seely and Helen Cornelius and all those fine ladies that get to perform every weekend there,” says the singer, who received a huge career boost playing the role of Kathy Twitty in It’s Only Make Believe, a musical based upon the life and career of Conway Twitty. She says she has nothing but fond memories of the experience. “I played her for a year and a half. It was such an honor to be involved with that. I got to experience a lot with them through the musical. They allowed us to go to Twitty City, and I got to hear stories about their dad. It was really cool.”

Seely, who recorded the classic 1966 hit “Don’t Touch Me” has been very supportive of Hayes. “She’s amazing,” she says. “I’ve gotten to work with her, which is so cool. I was in a musical with her called Could It Be Love. I’ve learned so much from her as a performer. She’s so amazing. She’s been so helpful and encouraging.”

Hayes has been on the road as of late, promoting her debut single, the lively “C’Mon.” In just two weeks, she covered five states and over 3,000 miles while visiting radio stations. “We have been real busy, and we’ve met a lot of great people. It’s been really, really fun,” she says of the experience. “I’ve been a performer since I was little, but I’ve never done a radio tour before, and this has been a new experience for me. I think it’s the most important step for me. Everybody has been real warm and nice, and open to playing the record, which is really cool.”

She says travelling the highways and getting to know music directors at stations across the United States reminds her of another country music legend. I’ve been thinking about Loretta Lynn a lot as we do this, because of the movie,” she says, alluding to the scenes in the classic 1980 film about Lynn’s life that depicted some of those early radio visits. “That’s the truth. That’s what they did. They got out there and beat down the doors from radio station to radio station.”

When asked about some of her other influences, it didn’t take her long to respond. “Dolly and Reba,” she says. Being from Oklahoma, I used to go to Reba’s concerts growing up. So, I think there’s a lot of that in my music.”

“There’s lots of great country music that comes from Oklahoma, and I’m proud to be a part of that. I’m from a small town in Oklahoma, and I think it’s made me the artist that I am.”

The varied career of McEntire is one like Hayes would love to have one day. “I think that makes me want to be even more like Reba. She is a trailblazer, an entertainer, an actress. She does it all. She’s even designing clothes through Dillards, and that’s amazing. I think that’s awesome.”

Of course, Hayes follows in a long line of singers from Oklahoma—including Jean Shepard, Vince Gill, Toby Keith, and Carrie Underwood. When asked about something being in the water in the land of the Sooners, she smiled and said “That’s what we want to think. There’s lots of great country music that comes from Oklahoma, and I’m proud to be a part of that. I’m from a small town in Oklahoma, and I think it’s made me the artist that I am.”

Her upbringing played a part in the writing of the nostalgic “Home,” from her C’Mon! EP. “When we were writing this song, we were sitting around and talking about what it was like for me to go back home to Oklahoma. I still call my grandma or my mom back home to find out about so-and-so. It’s a pretty real song,” she tells LimeWire Music Blog.

Home was definitely on her mind when she first moved to Music City a few years back. She didn’t take to well to leaving her Oklahoma roots behind—at first. “I moved to Nashville two weeks out of high school. I was barely 18. I never lived away from my family ever. My mother moved me in to the apartment, and came back to Oklahoma. I thought I was going to flip out. That was one of the worst feelings I had ever felt in my life. The next day, I drove back home. My friend, who moved here with me, told me ‘You know, you have two weeks before you start school. Why don’t you go home?’ So I did that, and I never left. Nashville is my home now,” she says assuredly.

Another song that has a lot of personal meaning for the singer is “Borrow Mine,” though it’s one she didn’t write. “That is my paw-paw’s favorite. I could just tell on his face how much he loved that song. I didn’t write that it, but someone had passed it along with me.” The inspirational message of the song made her take up and take notice. “I’m a real positive person, and faith is a big part of who I am. That’s probably always going to be on my albums. I wanted to share the message of it. It’s a cool uplifting song.”

2010 looks like it is shaping up to be her year. She’s going to be embarking on another leg of her radio tour in a few weeks, and should have a full-length album ready to roll this fall. The single is continuing to make its’ way onto the airwaves across the country, and she hopes that will lead to increased concert dates as well.
- Limewire.com


Discography

"C'Mon" EP
Release Date - 2010
Label - FUNL Music

"C'Mon" - Radio Single
Release Date - 2010
Label - FUNL Music
Chart - Music Row - currently at 46

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Bio

Amber Hayes was born an entertainer. She was singing, performing, even hosting her own 30-minute Country music show, "Amber & Friends" at state fairs, private parties and corporate events by the time she was eight. Over the years, Amber's talent and performances have garnered recognition and awards. She was chosen as one of "America's Ten Most Beautiful Children" by Globe Magazine, crowned "Junior Miss of Oklahoma," was a National Finalist in "America's Kids," and was a finalist for Disney's television show, "The Mickey Mouse Club" along with Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson. Since moving to Nashville a few years ago, Amber has had many opportunities to share the stage with some of country music's hottest new stars like Rodney Atkins, as well as legendary artists Marty Stuart, T.G. Sheppard, Jeannie Seely and others. She also nabbed the coveted role of Kathy Twitty in the national touring musical, "It's Only Make Believe – The Conway Twitty Musical," about the life and music of Conway Twitty. The play debuted to rave reviews and a sold out crowd at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville before touring the country. Amber recently signed with FUNL Music and released her debut EP and title single, “C’mon". The single is currently heading toward the Top 40 on the Music Row Chart.