Music
Press
Festival References:
Absolute Entertainment – Montgomery Alabama Cityfest
Lee Abbott
6300 Maurice Road Suite E
Theodore, AL 36582
251-232-6738
alee@absolute-entertainment.net
WKOR F.M
Scott Daniels – Program Director – Columbus Market Street Festival
200 North Street #205
Columbus, MS 39701
Scott.Daniels@cumulus.com
662-386-7349
Stuart Agency, Inc. – Biloxi Crawfish Festival
Mitchell Stewart
P.O. Box 3468
Cookeville, TN 38502
931-528-5858
931-260-0915
Sound Associates/Image Talent Agency – Biloxi Crawfish Festival
Chuck Johnson
5675 Rabbit Creek Dr.
Theodore, AL 36582
251-443-5001
MISS 102.9 – Clear Channel
Janet Spears
1375 Beasley Road
Jackson, MS 39206
JANETSPEARS@Clearchannel.com
601-982-1062
Director of Biloxi Coliseum
Matt McDonnell
2350 Beach Blvd.
Biloxi, MS 39531
228-594-3700
Director of Mississippi Coliseum
Mike Brinkley
MikeB@mdac.state.ms.us
601-961-4000
Washington Parish Fair
Diane Applewhite
Mamdi435@hotmail.com
985-839-4663
- SweetWatr Jade
Sing something. the request is cold and out of the blue. Almost like walking up to a comedian on the street and asking him to "be funny". but the members of the teenage trio, SweetWater Jade- Jeanna Upchurch, a senior of Madison Central; Whitney Hennigan, a senior at Brandon; and Kelsey Carroll, a sophomore at Madison Central- do not hesitate. Well, only briefly. "Let me rinse the potato chips out of my mouth", Upchurch says, taking a few gulps of water. in a matter of seconds, standing outside a coffee house in Madison, they begin singing The Trouble With Joe, a song from their just- released self-titled country cd. The harmony is deep and rich and in sync, like a fine-tuned orchestra. This is why SweetWater Jade has created a buzz all the way to Nashville. Their vocal coach is Kim Wood Sandusky, who helped mold Destiny's Child into the best-selling female group in history. Based in Nashville, Sandusky is in high demand and carefully chooses new clients. So why did she take on SweetWater Jade? "Because they have a different quality of talent than other singers in their age group", Sandusky says. "They are way above the bar for their age, and their talent is only gonna grow. A richness in a girl's voice hits when they're about 20 maybe 21. And it'll just soar. not peak, but soar. It happened with Destiny's Child. "But also, the girls of SweetWater Jade look fabulous. Blend well together. They're good on stage. I just saw the total package with them." Rick Adams, the long time radio personality with WMSI-102.9 ( Miss 103) in Jackson, agrees: "I heard them a couple of months ago, and I was just blown away. They must have sang for 45 minutes, never missed a word, never missed a beat. Perfect harmony. and you could tell they were having a good time on stage." "We had them visit the studio about a week ago. These are not your average teenagers. I honestly believe they are going to make it, and they've already set themselves apart from others who are, in the words of Alan Jackson, chasing that neon rainbow". They sang Surfing USA on stage with the Beach Boys a couple of years ago in Memphis. They performed last summer at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville where they shared the green room with stars such as Carrie Underwood, Big & Rich, Trick Pony, Heartland, and Emerson Drive. They have been singing together for 8 years which is mind-boggling when you consider their ages- Upchurch is 19, Hennigan 18 and Carroll 16. - The Clarion Ledger
From the moment I hit play, I knew I was going to enjoy this CD. The guitar chords drew me in and I fell in love with the girls’ voices and the way they delivered the “in your face” lyrics of “Can’t Let You Kiss Me”. These three teenagers sweetly harmonize with a spunky confidence and that thread that runs through their lyrics. Not only are they confident in their vocals, but they are confident in who they are --- women who matter. Sweetwater Jade is the new generation of Country Music and they will get you moving and singing along as they give a glimpse into a woman’s mind and heart and tell us about love, relationships, and that sometimes guys just don’t get it. “Actions Speak Louder Than Words”, “He Won’t Get It”, “The Trouble With Joe”, and “Blame it on the Medicine” are melodies that each relate the underlying truth that a woman is precious gift. “Walkin” is a spirited little tune about the final straw and you are right there walking with “high heels in her hand…wearing out her stockings on the Interstate”. “Burning Bridges”, self-penned and inspired by personal experience, is a slow, but upbeat story of heartbreak and moving on --- something we all have faced. I enjoyed every song on this quality CD. Remember these girls because I expect big things are coming their way! (Cathy Anne) - Gone Country Magazine
As little girls singing in the school play eight years ago, Kelsey, Jeanna, and Whitney had no idea they would one day be honored as Mississippi's future Grammy contenders. SweetWater Jade performed at local competitions and fairs until a couple of years ago when the realized big changes were happening. People began calling them for gigs instead of the other way around. Jeanna, of Madison, first realized the "wow- factor" when the group opened for country music star, Taylor Swift, in May. "I looked up to Taylor and Lady Antebellum... and there they were watching me sing on stage!" she says. This upbeat country-rock trio has opened for the Beach Boys, Sammy Kershaw, and Dierks Bentley and performed with MS natives, Jerry Lee Lewis and Marty Stewart. Most recently, SWJ performed at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville. " We aren't in this for the fame. We're in this for the music", Kelsey says. "I just want one day to have someone sing one of our songs, and if someone came up to me and told me that i helped them through a hard time with one of our songs, that would be my dream." SWJ is not willing to accept success at just any cost. Whitney, of Brandon, explains: " We've established who we are, and we are staying true to ourselves. We are doing what we love and we want people to like us just the way we are." These "down- home MS green-eyed girls" wont need to change a thing- fans do love them just the way they are. - Jackson Free Press
Discography
Debut Self Titled Album Released January 2008
SweetWater Jade
Photos
Bio
Three green-eyed teens and sensational singers, Kelsey Carroll, Jeanna Upchurch, and Whitney Hennigan have been serenading audiences for the last seven years as a trio, and their jade colored eyes inspired their chic name, SweetWater Jade. Kelsey, Jeanna, and Whitney’s trendy musical flair for modern country music is perfected by their unique voices and unique harmonies coupled with their spunky personalities.
The humble beginnings for SweetWater Jade began in Magnolia State, Mississippi. These three southern teens shared a love for performing and entertaining, a drive for dedication to long and hard work, and belief that all things are possible through faith.
Honing their musical skills, Kelsey, Jeanna, and Whitney all sought private voice lessons. Interestingly enough, these three girls had never been acquainted and solely hared their love for music and the same voice teacher. From the suggestion of their voice teacher, all three teens decided to take their solo skills and unite as a harmonizing group to perform in a State Fair competition. “Our goal was to perform in the group category at the fair. After the competition we had so much fun singing as a group we decided to continue,” Kelsey says. Looking back on their first competition, this talented trio has now been blessed to be singing together for seven years. “We started as a group wanting to do competitions and then we started getting more opportunities to sing at places,” Kelsey says.
SweetWater Jade has showcased their talents from venues adorned with boots and spurs to bring lights and crowds with thousands of fans. SweetWater Jade has been the opening act for the Beach Boys, Sammy Kershaw, Dierks Bentley, Josh Turner, Jason Aldean, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, and Aaron Tippin. They have performed at the Peavy Awards, where they were presented as Mississippi’s Future Grammy Contenders, the Liberty Bowl, Dixie National Rodeo, Statue of Liberty 4th of July Celebration and their first 2007 CMA Music Fest Nashville, Tennessee.
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