Country Singer – Jennifer Haley – Nashville, TN

Who the heck am I?  Well, I’m just an average girl holding on during this ride I like to refer to as my “dream”. I am the granddaughter of a Southern Baptist preacher and one of five children. So, what do you do with five kids, a church, and the influence of the Jackson Five? That’s right…you form a white quintet that sings white gospel music in an all white church. Genius!

Speaking of genius, I grew up in a decade known as the “eighties”. My musical background began in Southern Gospel and Bluegrass Music from the hills of the Ozarks. My family owned three eight tracks which were the Oakridge Boys, Imperials, and the Gaither’s! We also watched Hee Haw and listened to the Grand Ol’ Opry. It was then that I became fascinated with female artists such as Crystal Gayle, June Carter (Cash), and the Mandrell’s (I love you, Barbara!). I saw Louise Mandrell sing in Branson, MO (don’t laugh), and I remember plotting to sneak on her tour bus. I just knew she would understand my musical ambition and take me under her wing. Well, as fate would have it, I was nine and my parents had eagle eyes. I guess it just wasn’t my time…

The eighties continued to evolve and excite. I want my MTV! My oldest brother spliced the cable of our neighbors, so we were able to sneak the occasional peak. Yes, I had been exposed to the world of secular music, and yes he was eventually found out. I fell in love for the first time with a guy named John Taylor (Duran Duran), Madonna graced my walls, and I learned how to play Axel F on the piano. If it weren’t for this song, I would have never continued playing the piano…

My piano teacher, Betty, later exposed me to the brilliant talent of female pianists such as Mary Chapin Carpenter and Carol King. I also began listening to Trisha Yearwood, Pam Tillis, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, and Reba Mc Entire. I really felt like I was supposed to be in Nashville, but I needed a sign! As fate would have it, Garth Brooks came into my room and sang The River to me (Okay, via radio). We shared a tender moment together and I decided to move to Nashville….

So here I am…still staking out a tour bus to call home! Louise? Barbara? Garth? Can anyone hear me? My mom always told me that I had a song to give to the world. So sometimes I say to myself, “Self, do you have a song to give to the world?”  Well, by gosh I think I do. So this is my journey…this is my soul…this is my song… 

 

I have played in Nashville at Bluebird Café, Radio Café, Douglas Corner, Five Spot, Edgehill Studios, 3rd and Lindsley, 12th and Porter, Fuel, The Rutledge.

I am a singer/songwriter in Nashville, TN.  I play piano and people say I sound like a Nora Jones of country.  People have also compared my voice to Olivia Newton John, Cyndi Thompson, Chrissie Hynde, Deanna Carter, Sarah McLachlan, Cowboy Junkies, Carol King.

 

My influences are very varied.  I grew up listening to a lot of Gospel Music including the Gaither’s, Imperials, Sandi Patti, Amy Grant, Kim Boyce, and Susan Ashton.  Later, I began listening to Country Music including Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Tricia Yearwood, Martina McBride, Dolly Parton, Matraca Berg, Grechen Peters, and Lucinda Williams.  In college, I listened to Madonna, Tori Amos, Cranberries, Amy Mann, Shakespeare Sisters,  Cowboy Junkies, Carol King, Dusty Springfield, Fionna Apple, Kim Richey. 

I have written songs with Jim Lauderdale, Angelo, Jeremy Stover, Tommy Lee James, Dierks Bentley, Jodi Spence, Jerrod Neiman, Randy Houser, Brett James, Ray Stevenson, Matthew Haley, Eric Silver, Chris Waters, Ray Vega, Troy Verges, Montey Powell, Gille Goddard, and Dennis Matkosky.