Penelope Torribio solo, guitar, vocals, all songs: country, blues, family.
Influences
I write and love songs that tell about real life. I kind of teethed on old Jimmie Rogers. I love the vocal and passion of Emmy Lou Harris. I like the down to earthness and humor of Loretta Lynn. I am crazy about BiG Mama Thorton. I am, of course, a fan of Patsy Cline's rich vocals. I love the lyrical songs of Rosanne Cash. I am a great admirer of Bette Midler and would love to meet her. There are many other musicians out there, but these are the ones I feel I am most influenced by.
Sounds Like
Loretta Lynn, Donna Fargo, Emmy Lou--good old plain country voice.
Penelope been called a female Jimmie Rogers and an American Edith Piaf for her ability to write songs about every day life: bills, car trouble, diet, love, loss and she does this with a great mixture of heart, humor and passion.
If you like old country blues visit youtube/user/penelopetorribio
to view tribute to the original Jimmie Rogers and his original fans.
Member of Songsalive, AHA! Artist Helping Artist and is on compilation 1 of Females on Fire Warrior girl Records.
Songs can be found on cdbaby and itunes. Albums: "Headed for a Good Time", full on country with band, "Watch Out! I’m Singing the Blues", blues, and "Family Man" country and folk. Penelope also has five children’s music cds, animal and ecology visit www.penelopetorribio.com for links to ecology music sites.
Herstory
Penelope was a teacher and a mother of two before she ever held a guitar, wrote a song or sang outside of the bathroom. While walking through a drive-in swap meet she meet a man playing a beat-up old guitar.
He asked her, “Do you wanted to play beautiful music only ten dollars?”
She said, “I don’t play guitar.”
He said, “Why don’t you teach yourself?”
She never guessed how much ten dollars could change her life. Penelope bought a guitar book, “Beginning Rock Guitar.” She taught herself a few chords and being unable to play the songs in the book, began writing her own songs about her life. She didn’t know that she had any music inside her--but out it came. Within six months she had her first paying gig for a Women’s Studies class at Cypress College. Through word of mouth she began to play at other college classes and then writers conferences.
About that time she met Otis Roy, a Jimmie Rogers imitator, and a bunch of other guys who loved the old blue yodels- (visit http://www.thatiscountrymusic.com for more information and free video.) He needed a guitar player and she loved the old stories he told about Jimmie and old radio. They became a team and played in numerous festivals, Otis dressed up as Jimmie Rogers and Penelope dressed up as Minnie Pearl. They had lots of fun.
Following this time Penelope performed for five years with , “Penelope and a Little Bit of Gold” at both the minor and major country clubs in Los Angeles and Orange County. It was during this time she named Female Vocalist of the Year by California Country Music Association for her clear country voice.
In September 2006 Penelope came out with three new albums, one country, one blues and 1 children’s ecology. She has eight albums altogether and is part of the Indie scene.
Hi! I’m Penelope. I am happy to be on myspace and to meet so many other talented people.
I hope you will visit thatiscountrymusic.com, and click on the video tribute to the music of Jimmie Rogers. It has great old songs and interesting stories about the early music scene. Then visit my puppetry and music site,1worldmusicandpuppets.com for information on blending music and puppets and finally
1worldeducation.com to join the movement to transform our school system.
It was great meeting you at the Songsalive! showcase in L.A.! Really enjoyed hearing your songs...! Hope life & the music biz is treating you well, and don't be a stranger!
HEY! I JUST ADDED MY 2 NEW SONGS TODAY! THE INDUSTRY IS BUZZING ABOUT THEM!! I WOULD LOVE TO GET THE PLAYS UP SO THAT WHEN THEY CHECK OUT MY PROFILE THEY CAN SEE THE SONGS ARE GETTING PLAYED! IT WOULD MEAN SO MUCH TO ME IF YOU COULD JUST TAKE 5 MIN. AND TAKE A LISTEN TO THE 2 NEW SONGS, "FINALLY GOT AWAY" AND "HER BED, MY DOOR" THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP! IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME. LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!!
MUCH LOVE!
CHELSEA LENA
CHELSEALENA.COM
MYSPACE.COM/CHELSEALENA
