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Hollywood/Nashville/New York (PRWEB) November 19, 2007 -- Pensacola songwriter Cher Lynn Bragg has completed the recording of her first 12 song CD release in Nashville with MCA Universal producer Robert Metzgar. The new project features the songwriting of one of country music's brightest new stars. Cher Lynn was discovered by the veteran hit maker at Fan Fair 2007 and signed to a recording contract this year. She is currently writing for other recording artists and looks forward to writing for a new ABC television show produced in Hollywood. The Legends Hall Of Fame producer was impressed with the title song of Cher Lynn's new album on Platinum Plus Universal Records entitled, "Nothing But My Earrings On."
Entertainment Headline News editor, Mikel Gore recently interviewed Cher Lynn upon completing her album project scheduled for release in early 2008.
Q: Cher Lynn, how old were you when you sang your first song? And where was that?
A: I grew up in Statesboro, Georgia. I lived out in the country and was surrounded by soy bean fields in an old house with a wrap around porch. There wasn't much to do besides entertain myself, so I played outside and often I would play a ukulele that my mother bought for me when I was five. The only song that I knew was Linda Ronstadt's Blue Bayou. I was absolutely captivated by her, and was mesmerized by her voice. I wanted to be her when I grew up. I'm sure my mom got tired of listening to me play and sing that song over and over, but she never discouraged me. I sang my first song at a 6th grade talent show. It was Blue Kentucky Girl, and I've been singing ever since.
Q: Who are some of the artists that you personally listened to as a young person growing up?
A: Thanks to my mom's diverse taste in music, I developed a really diverse taste in various musical genres. I loved Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, The Judds, and the Forrester Sisters. I always listened to the Allman Brothers, Warren Zevon, Little Feat, Rod Stewart, Ricky Skaggs, Ry Cooder and today my favorite artists are Trisha Yearwood, Allison Krauss, Rhonda Vincent, The Whites, Nickel Creek and Sheryl Crow. Sheryl Crow is constantly giving a fresh angle to her songwriting and that is what I aspire to do in my future.
Q: Who are some of your favorite male artists in today's country music?
A: I love Vince Gill. I have seen him several times in person and he never fails to amaze me with his songwriting, guitar playing skills and his angelic voice. Ricky Skaggs is one of my favorites from my childhood. I had the pleasure of seeing Ricky Skaggs and The Whites perform when I was just ten years old, and I will never forget the energy that was in that room. I love Brad Paisley, Keith Urban and Dierks Bentley as well. They are amazing songwriters and performers that I really listen closely to for inspiration.
Q: Who do you look to as a role model?
A: I don't have one particular role model in my life. I actually have several. All of the women in my life are role models to some degree. My mother, Charlene Kingry , my step-mom, my sisters, my grandmother (Mema's song is on the album) and all my crazy aunts. Each of these women are strong in their own way and all are talented, smart and extremely funny. They have all taught me to not take myself too seriously. There is humor in everything if you just look hard enough. I have also learned from them to be proud of who I am, no matter what anyone else thinks.
Q: What about your songwriting? Tell us about that.
A: Songwriting is the challenge of my life. Within the past year, I have written a large catalog of songs, including the first twelve songs for my CD project. I perform throughout the Southeastern region of the country in person and try out my songs on the public. I graduated from Milton High School in Milton, Florida. I later attended Pensacola Junior College. I learned to write and put my lyrics together after encouragement from my husband, Scot Bragg. While I'm not a trained musician, I have had OJT or "on the job training." I have never taken a lesson in my life, although I've had plenty of influences...my mother, my community of pickers that I play and sing with on the road, and my husband who is a wonderful supportive musician. I started playing the ukulele when I was six years old, and the guitar when I was twelve. I have a limited edition Taylor guitar that I got about ten years ago for my birthday. I will never part with it. That guitar is my baby.
Q: Tell us about your day job.
A: I am a buyer for General Electric Energy in Pensacola, Florida. I have been in purchasing for the last 17 years of my life. Before that I worked at Chuck E Cheese and I actually loved it there. The job was great but the kids would run up and kick you all the time, so I had bruises all over my legs constantly. I have found that songwriting is a lot like that. You write something and then watch people kick it around until it becomes tried and true.
Q: What things in life are important to you?
The single most important thing in this world to me is my family. I have a large one and we are all extremely close. They are very supportive of my music. Music has been the glue that has held our family together for years. My mother and I played in a band together called, "The New Gals," and I have been in various musical groups, bluegrass bands, and recently the "Black Creek Girls," which toured and played dates throughout the southeast until hurricane Ivan devastated the members homes. The band broke up in 2004 after all that. So, my husband and I formed a duo together and we have been working in Fairs, festivals, weddings, restaurants, and charity events ever since. Playing Fan Fair in 2007 with over a 165,000 people there for country music's biggest party was a highlight in my career.
Q: What is the title song for the new album?
A: The title is Nothing But My Earrings On, and you can hear that along with Blue Collar Wife, Girl Thing, The Fighter, and 12 of my best songs on the new album. It will be in stores in 2008, on Platinum Plus Universal Records. The record label is still working with marketing on what song to release as my first single record. Until then, you can buy the album on my web site at www.cherlynnbragg.com Please write me and let's get acquainted. I would love for the people who read this article to let me know if you enjoy my songs. You can contact me by sending an email to info@cherlynnbragg.com or by calling my record label in Nashville.
While the average "master scale" country album now costs well in excess of $155,000 to just get started at a label in Music City, Cher Lynn had the help and guidance of one of MCA Universal's long time producers Robert Metzgar about how to record an album, make a video, and get launched into the country music business. "I have been interested in a music career all my life," Bragg told the white haired 30 year veteran of country music. Metzgar is a producer that has developed some of the biggest acts in country music in his career. " Cher Lynn Bragg is one of the greatest songwriters I have ever had the privilege of meeting and hearing in this business. Her songs will last her a life time in this business," Metzgar said.
Cher Lynn Bragg recorded her first session of songs at the world famous Chelsea Studios in Nashville where so many famous names in the music business got their start, including Alan Jackson, Shania Twain and Tom T. Hall. Cher Lynn's first recording session featured such famous players as Tony Migliore, Hank Singer, Jerry Kroon, Sonny Garrish, Jimmy Carter, Pete Bordonali, Mike Seevers, Chris Leuzinger and others. Bragg's co-producers and surrounding entourage of people who have assisted her in the project is like the Who's Who of the music business. Platinum Plus Universal is one of the largest development labels in the world and also boasts some of the most successful artists in the country music business. Bragg's album will be in stores early 2008, and is distributed nationally by the big four, Select-O-Hits, Trans World Entertainment, Handleman, and Anderson. Sales of the new album have taken off with the new year of touring and radio station promos ahead.
Written by: Mikel Gore
Entertainment Headline News
http://www.entertainmentheadlinenews.com
- Entertainment Headline News
Discography
Nothing But My Earrings On
Platinum Plus Universal Records Nashville
Release date is 2008
Pre release copies of Cher Lynn's debut CD are available on www.cherlynnbragg.com or
www.cdbaby.com/cherlynnbragg
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Bio
“I was standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona—such a fine sight to see.”
–The Eagles
Glenn Frey may have been making a joke when he wrote those infamous lyrics, but a little five year old blonde-headed blue-eyed girl in Statesboro, Georgia wasn’t joking when she would proudly belt those words out for anyone who would listen. That little girl, Cher Lynn, was born in Winslow Arizona, and being connected to that song helped carve the path she would ultimately take—becoming a singer and a songwriter. Cher Lynn’s love of music began before she could walk. “Mom always made sure there was great music playing in our house. I had an appreciation for the good stuff--Warren Zevon, Leo Kottke, Bonnie Raitt, Rod Stewart, Marshall Tucker, Allman Bros, Ry Cooder, Joan Baez and Little Feat. There was always such a diverse collection of music blaring from the turntable in the living room--from blues to bluegrass, folk to just plain good old rock-n-roll.”
She picked up the guitar at age twelve and began to emulate her idols, Bonnie Raitt, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris. “I remember Mom had Linda Ronstadt’s album Prisoner In Disguise. It was a double album that opened up like a book, and I would stare for hours at the pictures of all the handwritten lyrics and sing Love is A Rose over and over again. That album completely captivated me, and I guess I knew even then that somehow I had to play a part in the musical universe.”
“We moved to Northwest Florida when I was ten years old, and my mom started playing in an all-girl bluegrass band, so she carted us kids all over the Southeast attending bluegrass festivals. At the time I was too young to appreciate it, but I met some incredible musicians, including Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, John Cowan and Pat Flynn of New Grass Revival. I also had the pleasure of meeting the Father of Bluegrass himself, Bill Monroe.”
Little did she know it, but these encounters would help shape and influence her songwriting later on.
As her musical influences broadened, Cher Lynn became a house musician at several venues in the Northwest Florida area. She built a loyal fan base the old fashioned way-- with hard work and dedication. In 2001, she joined a bluegrass band where she gained more exposure to local musicians' styles and influence, and it impacted her immensely. “I learned so much playing bluegrass music. It is incredibly technical and fast-paced. I had to re-learn to play the guitar. I loved working out the harmonies—the vocal melodies and instruments blend perfectly.”
She began taking a serious interest in songwriting in early 2006, and it was then that the floodgates opened and she found her passion. “I write about anything that influences me, friends, family, emotion, anything that strikes me in a particular place in a particular time. I try to keep my notebook with me always, but I have been known to scrawl lyrics on a Tastee-Freeze napkin, a paper bag, or on my arm, for that matter. Then, it’s a mad dash to get home and get my hands around a guitar. I write my best songs in a mad rush. Sometimes I feel like I get a waterfall of ideas and I can’t write fast enough.
Cher Lynn continues to write songs and pursue her music career, and has recently inked a record deal with the development division of Universal MCA, Platinum Plus Universal Records in Nashville. Her debut album, entitled Nothing But My Earrings On, is due out in early 2008l. Cher Lynn wrote the music and lyrics to the entire album herself. “I am extremely proud of what I have accomplished so far, and I am grateful to be given a voice to be heard. To actually hear what I have created recorded on a CD will be the thrill of my life!! I have worked with some of the most talented musicians on earth, and I am so appreciative and blessed to have crossed paths with them all. I hope to be able to continue to do this for a long long time. This truly makes me happy.”
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