Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
The name Amber McSwain may be new to you, but it's a name you'll be hearing a lot in the future. Amber won the KISS Country Colgate Country Showdown held in November at the Broward County Fair. In addition, Amber won $1500 and the right to advance to the 2005 Colgate Country State competition. In addition to country, Amber's repertoire includes Pop, Rock, R&B, and Contemporary Christian music. One of Amber's highlights for 2004 was a performance on the nationally syndicated program, "Showtime at the Apollo". Amber is currently working on a CD that should come out later this year. Enjoy her performance today, and keep an eye, and an ear on Amber McSwain. - 99.9 KISS Country, Miami, Florida
Although Sammy Kershaw cancelled his concert due to inclement at the Clay County Super Celebration, local musicians, Amber McSwain and Dusty Weeks, performed their shows and did an awesome job! Both were born and raised in Clay County. Both have their eyes set toward stardom.
Amber McSwain has been singing since she was 5 years. She often sang in her church, the First Baptist Church of Orange Park. As she got older, she sang in school musicals, at local events and in bars. She frequently sang in Ronnie’s Oyster Bar in Orange Park and in Green Cove Springs. She has won many prizes for her incredible voice; a voice of an angel. She has an unbelievable range and is a top-notch performer. Her husband, Glen, writes all of the songs that she sings. Amber can be seen on February 19, 2005 on NBC’s Showtime at the Apollo. Amber McSwain is a beautiful woman with a beautiful voice. For more information about Amber McSwain, visit www.ambermmcswain.com.
- Lori Atkinson for FL Times Union
Four entertainers with Clay County roots are among the 11 musical acts performing during The Clay County Super Celebration Riverfront Festival.
"I think we have a pretty good line-up," said Ronnie Munsey, entertainment coordinator. "We've got several big name headliners, but people need to know we've got some local folks, too."
The locals are 26-year-old Amber McSwain, a 1997 Orange Park High School graduate who made her debut at age 5 when she sang solo at First Baptist Church of Orange Park.
McSwain, who performs a blend of classic and contemporary country music, has toured the Southeast opening for country acts such as Chris Cagle, Big & Rich and Sammy Kershaw. She was featured on nationally syndicated Showtime at the Apollo, on live radio and local and national television programs.
She lives in Mandarin with her husband Glenn, her manager and songwriter, and their 4-year-old son Joshua. In addition to performing, she is a legal secretary in downtown Jacksonville and fears her commute will be complicated by the traffic during Super Bowl week. Still, she said, she's excited to be a part of Riverfront Festival.
"Anytime we can get out there and play our music, it's always a treat," she said. "I know a lot of people in the area. My family has lived there forever. I look forward to seeing some familiar faces."
- Mary Maraghy of Jacksonville.com
Last year, Jacksonville vocalist Amber McSwain got a taste of local fame when she performed on Channel 4's "Gimme the Mike!" then sang the National Anthem at several Jacksonville Suns baseball games. But national exposure came as a surprise - especially when she landed a spot on the legendary "Showtime at the Apollo" television show. The 25-year-old McSwain auditioned when Apollo casting agents came to town, and after a "Showtime" producer saw her videotape, he insisted she appear during the show's fall season. McSwain was soon backstage at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, where stars like Michael Jackson and Ella Fitzgerald launched their careers. Preparing to sing "I Surrender" by Celine Dion (one of her biggest influences), McSwain got word that she had to go on early. The Apollo audience, known for often brutal feedback, put an untimely end to the performance preceding McSwain's. "It was very scary because I had about two-and-a-half minutes until I was supposed to go on," says McSwain, "and the girl that went on before me got booed off the stage 10 seconds into her song." Though McSwain was under pressure, the audience of about 700 returned a standing ovation. "The audience was fantastic," says McSwain. "They were clapping during every break in the song. That's what I feed off of. You get a nice little adrenaline rush." Now back in Jacksonville, McSwain is working with her husband, Glenn, on an album of original material. Her performance on "Showtime at the Apollo" airs in February on NBC. - Owen Holmes for Folio Weekly
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Amber is a true, native Floridian, born and raised in Jacksonville. It became evident at a very young age that Amber had extraordinary vocal abilities. Her first performance in front of a large audience was at the age of 5 singing a church solo. All throughout her school years, she was known for her dynamic voice and extensive range and was cast as the female lead in several large musicals. After her high school graduation, Amber began performing 6 nights a week in and around her home town. At this stage in her life, Amber took a brief hiatus to start a family. After a couple of years out of the spotlight though, the stage was calling her to once again start chasing her dream to become a country music singer. Now, in full force, this vivacious, blue-eyed beauty with that amazing voice is back, and better than ever.
Amber's husband, Glenn, knew that in order to begin this journey, she must record her own music. Glenn, already a talented songwriter, pushed Amber to begin writing and encouraged her to co-write with him. After carefully choosing which songs to begin recording, they are off to the studio. Amber's sweet, angelic voice and Glenn's strong, heartfelt lyrics and melodies blended into a country sound both classic and contemporary. Through her determination and willingness to challenge herself, Amber is blossoming into a vocal force to be reckoned with.
Currently, Amber and her band are performing all over the Southeast. She has opened for numerous country stars such as Chris Cagle, Big & Rich, Ronnie Millsap, Sammy Kershaw and Josh Gracin. She has even been a featured up-and-coming artist on the nationally syndicated television program "Showtime at the Apollo." Amber has won numerous singing contests, interviewed and performed on live radio, appeared on both local and national television programs and hosted and performed for several radio-sponsored events. And this is just the beginning for this beautiful chanteuse. It is well known that in order to make it in the music industry, you need to have the voice, the look, the attitude and the presence to complete the package, and Amber has them all - and so much more! She is definitely in a league all her own.
Links
