Current Band:
Vocals/Piano: Annie Fitzgerald
Guitar: Ryan Olson
Cello: Allison Seidner
Influences
Carol King, Bonnie Rait, Joni Mitchell, Tori Amos, Eva Cassidy, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Judy Collins, James Taylor, Annie Lennox, Laura Nyro, Susan Tedeschi, Lisa Loeb, Jonatha Brooke, Shawn Colvin, Seal, Sarah McLachlan, Nikka Costa, Jane Monheit, Norah Jones, Paula Cole, Tracey Chapman, Edie Brickell, Damien Rice, Chopin, Debussy, Ravel, Gabriel Faure, Billy Barber, my singing/songwriting peers....
"The first thing that pulls you in is her voice. Captivating, compelling & dynamic. Then you hear the beautiful melodic lines & the intelligent, thoughtful lyrics in her songs. You watch her play and you cannot help but be impressed by her musicianship. Annie Fitzgerald is a music executive's dream. I look forward to watching her star rise."
- Bob Leone, Former projects director of the Songwriters Hall of Fame (1988-2006)
“Annie gave us the show of a lifetime. Her performance on "The Live Sessions" touched each listener’s heart with her simply wonderful songs, magnificent performance, and genuine persona. If you are in the New York area, and you would like to hear some of the very best music in town - Go see Annie Fitzgerald.” - JazzyJ ,Twin Cities Radio on the Net
"A rare talent" - Eban Crawford, Reaching for Lucidity Podcast
"A maturity that's beyond her years...." -Ray Lee, KROX Crookston
Annie Fitzgerald's voice has been described as soulful, compelling, dynamic and unforgettable. Her organic, piano-driven sound merges pop and folk with jazz undertones, while her lyrics speak from the heart.
Born and raised in a small town in northern Minnesota, Annie had significant opportunities to develop as an artist from an early age. She began dancing at age 2. She went on to dance with the Oakland Ballet Company, became active in the theatre at age 9, won several scholarships to study and perform across the country, and became an award winning choreographer at the early age of 14.
Annie earned her B.M. in vocal performance from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis/St. Paul. In the summer of 2000, she trained at the Mountview Theatre School in London. After graduation, she became a member of the working theatre community in the Minneapolis area, and a member of Actor's Equity Association. She performed at venues such as the Ordway Center, and Chanhassen Theatres where she was a company member for two years. She self-produced a very successful cabaret show "Defying Gravity-A season of Change", and was active in the television and commercial industries in the Twin Cities area.
While working at Chanhassen Theatres, Annie met talented pianist & songwriter Billy Barber. She teamed up with him to record his original songs, and was further exposed to the art of songwriting. During the project, she worked with Grammy Award Winning Engineer Tom Tucker (Lucinda Williams, "Essence") at Master Mix Studios, and appeared at Minneapolis' well-known Dakota with Billy Barber and the Kenni Holmen trio.
Inspired to take the next step, she decided to make a move to New York in February of 2005. She began taking songwriting classes at the New School in Greenwich Village with songwriter & producer Henry Gaffney, and went on to record her own compositions. Collaborating with engineer and co-producer Karl Demer and co-writer John Lynn, her self titled EP was recorded at AtomicK Records in Minneapolis and released in May of 2006.
The release of her self titled EP on itunes and other downloadable sites has brought many successes, and has exposed Annie's music and vocal abilities to a larger audience. It is receiving regular airplay on WYMU Music Highway Radio Show broadcast in Nashville and Memphis, TN, Reaching for Lucidity’s radio pod-cast Coffeehouse Show, the Feminine Groove, WYCE in Michigan, and several other local/national stations. She has participated in SHOF/NAPM workshops, and was invited into BMI's Professional Contemporary Songwriting Workshop. In March of 2006, Annie was selected to perform as an up and coming singer-songwriter in the Songwriters Hall of Fame 57th New Writers Showcase. Her song "Ain't that a Shame” was chosen be on the 2007 Best of the Songwriters Hall of Fame New Writers Showcase Compilation CD, featuring the most talented of the showcased writers. Annie was nominated for the second time in 2006 for the “Starving Artist Award” granting funds to up and coming artists in and around New York City.
She currently performs around NYC at such venues as Rockwood Music Hall, the Cutting Room, the Bitter End and The Duplex. She's busy writing material, planning a live CD recording, and getting ready to record her upcoming full length album.
You can download Annie's EP at:
iTunesemusicRhapsodyNapsterMSN MusicMusicload
Annie's Electronic Press Kit:
Annie Live at The Cutting Room -
Sample - Falling out of Love:
Songwriters Hall of Fame 57th New Writers Showcase, March 23rd, 2006. Joined by Billy Barber on piano - video recorded by John Braile
Hello from Duesseldorf, thanks so much for your friendship your music is great stuff. We are very happy that you joined the inner circle of Flaming Bess, the incredibly beautiful goddess of light. We hope that you enjoy our music. Peace to you and yours and all the best for your future. May God bless you. Flaming Bess Duesseldorf Germany
PS. in case you can’t resist you can also buy some of our music at our homepage http://flaming-bess.de or download some mp3’s at http://www.musicload.de or http://www.apple.com/itunes/overview/
Hi Annie! How are you, lady? Nashville was absolutely wonderful, thanks for the message! I miss you and would love to get together soon! Maybe we should try the making a date for a co-write...hmm? Love you :-)
Just stoppin by to say a warm hello from us all in "minneso-nice for 3 months a year!" ARe you singin much? Writing much? I have 5...yes 5 songs on 3rd base that I can't bring home....drives me nuts. Gotta finish one by WEdnesday gig!! yikes! Love ya! carolz
I just uploaded my new song EVEN IN MY DREAMS. There a 2 versions that have different beats and feel. Which do you like best? Leave a comment, Please, THANK YOU! Have a fantastic Holiday weekend, Love,
We are proud to announce that Music’s Rising Stars magazine is GOING TO PRINT!!! We want to thank all of you who have stuck by us and believed in us. The newly restructured magazine can soon be on its way to your mailbox! Now is the time to make sure you get an inaugural copy. Order your subscription now!! 12 issues for $24.95 Send Check or Money Order to: Music’s Rising Stars magazine P.O. Box 835 Whitehouse, TN 37188 (Please note new address) Profile articles will be based on information directly from the artist. We will never include any rumors or innuendo. Our first issue will feature exclusive interviews with:
ANNIE FITZGERALD Alexia Van Horn Blackbird Brent Mason Boo Boo Stewart Christopher Mark Gray Georgia Greg McDougal Greg Walters Heather Wiggins Jake Owen Randy Owen Wildcard Family Revival And more! In each issue of our print magazine you will find in-depth interviews with musicians, singers and songwriters in various genres of music. The bulk of these articles will be with up-and-coming musicians but you can expect a few names that you’ve heard of in each issue as well. Look for our profiles on venues and eateries, a kids’ corner, featured charities, humorous columns from Survivor alumni and published author, Austin Carty and more!
Thank you for stopping by to listen to my songs, hope you like some, Annie! I will be uploading new songs, so stop by and check them out. Have a great week,
Everything is great, I keep busy writing and producing new songs. Just finished a song today, I think it is very good. Other than that there is no news. Have a great day and a fantastic FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND! All the best, Love,
Hey Annie Fitzgerald, If I could have just one wish, it would be to wake up to your songs in the morning. You breath as delicately as vapors flowing towards an attractive flame. I find your eyes to be a wondrous amusement park filled with neo-plastic pleasures and turkish delights. You ever remind me of the enigma of happy thoughts I once forgot. In your absence I am forced into finding other forms of amusement while thinking about you. Wood nymphs sprinkle your path with rose petals while you dance and prowl in the sequined moonlight with leftover cupcake sprinkles. Your intoxicating reflection can but incorporate freely into the powerful surface of a disintegrating mirror set afloat upon a swarm of locusts. Your essence is equal to the beauty of a galaxy. So charmingly silky, your skin is like a teardrop on a popsickle. How it passes there and back again like a tear drop glistening in moonlight. I desire to see life through your hallucinations so that they massage my viscera into an eternal state of turgid flux.
Hi Annie! Stopped by to listen and decided to say Hello. Your songs are beaytiful and your voice is fantastic, I love your site. Have a wonderful day, Peace and Love,
Hey Annie, Yes I am in Seattle, I really like it out here. It is a good in between here and southern California were I lived for a bit outside of high school. I see your in New York doing music, that is great. I still sing from time to time but it is hard. I talk to Anna from time to time, I see you guys are in the same area, do you ever see each other? Well I hope life is treating you well. Talk to you soon.
