Before the construction of the arena, convention center, and hip new tourist attractions like the Hard Rock Café, Nashville’s notorious lower Broadway was and continues to be home to Music City’s smoky, gritty, hole in the wall, blues bars and honky tonks. In these establishments bands play for tips, beer, love of music, and the hope of discovery. It was in The Turf, one of lower Broadway’s honky tonks, where Celinda Pink was discovered and ultimately signed by Step One Records (SOR). Pink reflects, “ I‘ve been in Nashville playing for 18 years and for two years I ran from club to club singing “Ode To Billy Joe” and “Me and Bobbie McGee”, because these were the only songs I knew. Broadway was pretty wild then. Now I play for six hours straight and never repeat a song.” These clubs were home to Celinda Pink and her music for nearly two decades.
Her first project, “Victimized”, scored her a Top 30 Gavin Americana album, a Top 20 blues single – “I’ve Earned The Right To Sing The Blues”, impressive critical reviews and generated international interest at Midem, (the International Music Festival in Cannes, France). Following Midem, SOR landed Pink a distribution deal with D/Pinnacle Records, the UK’s second largest distributor and top independent. In September, 1995, legendary promoter, Harvey Goldsmith, (REM, Live Aid, Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton) introduced Ms. Pink to the United Kingdom. Her European debut showcase was sold out. States Goldsmith, “At last an artist who is as strong live, in concert, as she is on record! We are truly excited to be touring Celinda Pink and playing a part in getting her known to British audiences.” While in Europe, Pink conducted an extensive publicity, promotion and marketing tour.
Her second American release, “Unchained”, hit the streets October 3, 1995. As writer of seven songs on her 1995 project, Pink admits much of her life is reflected in the music she writes. Her “Victimized” liner notes credit an old boyfriend who broke her heart serving as the catalyst for the songs she wrote for her first project. She refers to her writing and singing as “therapy” and considers herself an “interpreter of songs.”
When asked to describe her music, she struggles for an explanation saying, “Some people call it country blues - in 1995, in the UK they planned to market it as pop; to me, it’s just the heart and soul of a song and singing. It’s a mixture of country, gospel, blues, it’s everything. It’s very soulful. I’ve been called a female Delbert McClinton and compared to Janis Joplin, I don’t think music can be labeled anymore - it’s just good or it’s bad. I’ve had people tell me my music touches them and that makes me feel as though my music has served a purpose,” relates Pink, “I hope my music touches the soul.” Her son, Jonathon, has played guitar in her band since he was thirteen. “I went into labor with Jonathon while I was on stage playing drums...he’s been on stage ever since,” recalls Pink. She excitedly anticipates a brighter future.
