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Here's my story...My mom prayed that the baby in her belly would be singer, and God granted her this wish. My mom helped His cause, harmonizing with me and making music a priority in our household in Erie, Pennsylvania.
I sang in church and at school, but it wasn't til I met JR Mangan and joined a very successful cover band that was based in State College, PA that I really made singing my life.
We played constantly, toured relentlessly, and had a blast.
I started giving a lot of things up for music: my social life, my four year boyfriend, and sleep. But never once did I doubt my dream.
I fel in love with a talented fellow musician along the way, and he inspired me in every way I can think of- we wrote songs together and about each other, and dove head first into music. Pretty soon we had a rock band called "The Versions" that was booked to open for "The Pretenders" before we even had enough songs for a whole set.
He opened up my songwriting side, as I learned to play guitar and feel deeper emotion than ever.
When I performed solo at a music convention in Orlando, and Matt and Gunnar Nelson noticed and flew me out here to LA and Nashville the following week, and introduced me to some amazing people in the music industry.
I flew back home to PA and asked my band what they wanted: we could either hit the road in a van and do a grassroots tour and make music our lives, or we could all move to LA together and try it there, but they had other plans. So I left my home and my band and I ventured out alone, with my guitar and a Jetta packed tightly, and headed out to LA.
Since moving to LA I've performed an original song live on MTV, gotten songs placed in two movies ("Deceit" by ElevenEleven Productions, and Eric Weinstein's "Persuasion", both of which will be released next year).
I'm also a studio vocalist for ABC TV shows, movie trailers, famous artist's albums and independent projects.
In November 2006, I was a regional finalist for the TV show "Nashville Star", where I got to the top 56 and flew to Nashville to perform live with Claus Herther on guitar (who also co-wrote many of my songs with me) at "The Stage" on Broadway.
Recently I had two songs produced, mixed and mastered by THE LEGENDARY JAMES "JIMBO" BARTON (MATCHBOX 20, AEROSMITH, KISS, ERIC CLAPTON, ETC.) AND THE PHENOMENAL JJ FARRIS FORMERLY OF THE TORIES, AND NUMEROUS HIT MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS.
I also started writing with several hit songwriters for song placement for other artists...styles ranging from country to R&B.
I am also on the Samurai Girl Soundtrack, available on iTunes, singing "Long Gone".
I've performed at House of Blues on the Sunset Strip and opened for the Rembrandts, and am playing gigs around LA.
And the UK is now featuring two of my original songs on the London airwaves.
In addition to these endeavors, I'm always working on new material.
I've had the opportunity to meet and work with musical legends since moving here, and I'm very grateful for all of it.
So here I go, with lots of hope and dreams and hard work to back it up...having faith that this is my calling, and thankful to all of you amazing friends and music lovers who have been so supportive of my endeavors, and my passion.
Thanks for reading all of this!!!
Hey! Thank you for supporting my music. Check out my web site at www.vanessathompson.net and my music videos at www.youtube.com. My new music video to my song "Heartbreakin game" is below for you to view. If you like it, feel free to put it on your page and share it with your friends. There are also some banners on my page if you want to use them on your page. If you have Facebook, please add me. Some are putting me in their top friends. The support is really appreciated. Hope you liked the cover on Hollywood Celebrity Magazine. If you like my music, please add it to your play list for others to hear. Thank you :)
I am starting a new you tube series, "Video of The Week". There will be a new video posted every week. Here is the first video of the series. It is a cover of Luke Bryan's Do I. Let me know what you think. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0nVmk1idyM
Happy New Year! This is from my new DVD. Shot by Tim Gill at The Loft Live in Columbus Ga, James Salter and Steve Meadows recorded it and Eric Weaver mixed. That's Derek Murphy on drums. Enjoy.
We're kicking off our west coast tour in LA at The Cat Club. Please come out and party with us and help spread the love!! I give thanks for YOU! xoxo - Astra
Please watch this video of my song "Lean on My Shoulders" its a very emotional and inspiring song. Download it if you like it. Thank you. youtube.com/bettawithtoast (my youtube)
Thanks for being our friend! Wanted to drop by and say hello... Also wanted to invite you to check out our live show THIS FRIDAY in at the Complete Actor's Place in Sherman Oaks (OPEN BAR!!!). For more details - http://bit.ly/2go3Uo Peace, love and rock n' roll, Lights on Fire
Thanks for being our friend! Just wanted to drop by and say hello... Also wanted to invite you to our next gig 10/16/09 @ TRiP! We'll be giving away free merch at the show and playing NEW MUSIC for all our friends - only $6 w/our flyer. Go to http://...com/krlp4u for more details! Looking forward to rockin' the house with you! Peace, love and rock n' roll, Lights on Fire
Excuse me, can you lend me a minute of your time? Thanks! After many long nights in the studio, sweating, frustrated, and emotional trying to reach perfection, My album "Hazardous" is finally up for sale. I put everything i had into this album, so much energy and passion. I can honestly say this is my best work yet. It would be a shame for all my hard work and efforts to go unconsidered. Im not asking you to buy it nor am I asking you to like it, but I am asking you to give it an honest listen. If you like it, great! If you buy it, even better! If you hate it, no hard feelings. Let me know the outcome. Thanks for your time.
