COPPER RIVER MUSIC is a cutting edge songwriting team based in Los Angeles and Nashville. Deanna Johnston, Shawn Rorie and Tina Springham are the three creative powers that make up this unique team.
DEANNA JOHNSTON: Deanna has fused a unique blend of Alternative Country Rock that maximizes her engaging vocal style. Her songs are raw and edgy, dripped in the swamps of the South. Born & raised on a farm in Canada, as the second of four kids, Deanna didn't truly discover her musical calling until early adulthood. She started singing as a means of gaining the affection of her boyfriend at the time. While the romance faded, she quickly discovered a talent she never knew existed and developed a passion for performing and song writing. Hours and hours on stage and in different towns across Canada and the United States, ultimately brought her to Nashville. In 2005, Deanna was one of the 15 final contestants chosen out of thousands from 9 countries to participate on the hit TV show RockStar:INXS. Deanna was one of the top three final woman in the competition left standing. Appearing on International Prime time TV 3 times a week has created a large following and demand for her music. Deanna's powerful voice also inspired INXS to invite her to sing on their recent CD release 'Switch'. You can especially hear Deanna on the song 'Hot Girls'. Deanna’s song writing has also been acknowledged. She has cuts coming out on upcoming CD releases from Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow/Deep Purple), Howard Leese (Heart/Paul Rodgers) and new country artist, Justine Stewart. Deanna has shared the stage with several high profile artists including INXS, Chaka Khan and Kelly Clarkson to name a few, and even had the thrill of performing for Oprah Winfrey.
SHAWN RORIE: Has been the driving force behind several successful bands as both a writer and performer. He has toured extensively as an artist since he was young, and now has pulled all this experience and talent together in an undeniable formula for writing great songs. Shawn began his musical journey at the age of 13 and by his late teens was sharing the stage with platinum selling artist. His journey has led him to writing and recording for major label artist's stretching many different genres of music. As once an artist with his own record deals, Shawn has been fortunate enough to have experienced both sides of the coin.....That has led him to working with such producing talents as Bernd Burgdorf (Pink, Linda Perry) Marc DeSisto (U2, Don Henley, Stevie Nicks) and Jay Gordon (Orgy, Korn) to mention a few. His music has also appeared in various T.V. shows including Access Hollywood and Monday Night Football. He has received high praise for his song writing by many top names in the industry and has been a featured writer in Nashville. He has also had the pleasure through years of touring to have shared the stage with acts ranging from Radiohead, Matchbox 20, and Oasis to Wilco, Dick Dale, and The Blind Boys Of Alabama. All of his experiences has made him a sought after session and live player. He is currently playing and writing for Rockstar INXS finalist Deanna Johnston.
Tina Springham is a songwriter / singer hailing from Alberta, Canada, who broke on to the US music scene with her sophomore cd "Mood Shifts", as “Steely”, which yielded 2 Top 20 singles. The second single, "Simple Girl", held the Top10 spot for weeks. Most recently her first release “Flying into the Sun”, off of her 3rd full length cd hit 14 after just 5 weeks on AC Charts! Steely’s successes have led to cross country radio interviews and a radio promotional tour, as well as coverage in national newspapers such as USA TODAY. The incredible response from radio and media spawned a promotional tour. She has been seen at the House of Blues, headlined at the Knitting Factory and The Mint in Hollywood, at Mickey Mantle’s in New York, & performed in Orange County, Nashville, and many places in between.
Steely has shared the stage with Richard Marx, Oletta Adams, Deanna Johnston, Shawn Rorie, and has worked with such names as Andrew Lane, Jonathan ‘Sugarfoot’ Moffet, Sekou Bunch, Byron McNeish,Rich Redmon, Ted Burger, Forrest Robinson & Mike Plotnikoff and many more. Steely has also performed at The Three Rivers Regatta in Pittsburgh, one of the largest outdoor festivals in the US, at The Gavin Convention, & at The NAMM Convention. Her cd’s were recorded at The Armoury in Vancouver Canada, and SonicWire in Orange County, & mastered at CAPITOL RECORDS by Ron McMaster
Tina feels its important to take time in the writing process & she took more chances by seeking out and working with more diverse songwriters, both male and female, allowing for different perspectives & a melding of sounds and styles. The unique styling, honest lyrics and sultry sound, which led to her initial success, blended into what is now known as Copper River Music. Tina's creativity and passion for music has helped established a new marriage of unstoppable forces. Tina has an undeniable gift at songwriting. "This collaboration between Deanna, Shawn and I, has been such an amazing, fun, relaxed experience, I have discovered so much, dug deep and really let go".
**They all together have created a driving, soulful, undeniably original sound that has proven they are cutting edge and reinforces their staying power!
***Smile*** Awwwww... So good to be back at work in Nashville. You know, I love my job as a Artist Promoter- I hope you are still loving yours! But more so I hope each day you are smiling!!!
Check out our new music and please sign up to our mailing list... We are currently seeking management and would appreciate any referrals you may be able to extend... Thanks again and spread the word about Before Nine!!! Have a great week! ~David
VOTE FOR STEELY ! SHE IS IN SECOND PLACE! 5G CASH PRIZE, EXPOSURE / GUITARS! YOU HELPED HER GET TO # 15 IN TEH LAST ONE HELP HER WIN THIS ONE!!!! SPREAD THE WORD
Come check out some new INSIDE OUT clips from last month. Click HERE to visit my profile, or click HERE to visit my website to hear all of INSIDE OUT. (Soon available for download.)
It is not confirmed yet whether or not CBS is
bringing back RockStar this summer.
We can't let that happen! We've got a great band back with RockStar:INXS,
as well as MiG, Deanna, Tara, JD, Marty, Suzie... We got to discover many great
artists with RockStar:Supernova... Lukas, Toby and Juke Kartel, Magni, Dilana,
Storm , Ryan, Josh...
And please, let's not forget that with both seasons, we discovered the talented
musicians of the House Band... Nate, Jimmy, Paul, Rafael and Sasha.
Those guys rocked our TV for both summers, and we love them for it! Without the
TV show, most of us would have never heard of them or of their music, and the
show wouldn't have BEEN without them!
The vast majority of us would have never heard of all those talented people if
it was not for RockStar!!! We need a third season! We need this great show on
our tv this summer again!
If you want to help bring back one of the best reality tv show to CBS... Please
write them a note and post it at the following address:
CBS Television Network
51 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
Please please please please please!!! Do this once or twice a day for a month or
so... CBS won't be able to ignore all the mail and emails they'll receive!!!
