Loretta Hagen

Bio:

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Rich alto vocals, polished award winning lyrics and tightly woven harmonies are the hallmark of Loretta Hagen's musical career. A 2011 winner of the New Jersey Folk Festival Songwriter Competition, Loretta recently released her third CD, Mud and Stone, featuring uplifting heartfelt ballads, playful up-tempo country swing, and cool bluesy grooves. Hagen, a New Jersey-based singer-songwriter brings her songs to life with gentle sincerity and tongue-in-cheek musings through her depiction of the human experience in today's economic and social climates. Loretta's melodies leave folks feeling as if they are listening to their own stories set to song. Hagen has shared the stage with Roger McGuinn, John Gorka, Jonathan Edwards, Johnny Winter, Richie Havens, Gretchen Wilson, and Kim Richey, to name a few, as well as headlined many of her own shows. Career highlights include performances at many concert venues and festivals throughout the Northeast and Nashville such as Outpost In The Burbs, Mayo Center for the Performing Arts, Acoustic Cafe, Listen Live Music, Borderline Folk Music Club, FMSHNY Hard Luck Cafe, Art Barn Songwriters Series, SteelStacks, Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club, Bluebird Cafe, Black Potatoe Festival, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Acoustic Live in NYC Showcase, Musikfest, SS Cape May, New Jersey Folk Festival, and Hudson Valley Songfest and Music Expo6. Following her critically acclaimed CD Something More, co-produced by Pat McInerney (Nanci Griffith), Hagen released Sundown Till Dawn, a CD that garnered rave reviews and radio play across the country. Sundown Till Dawn is extremely personal, with the title track written about her mother who suffers with Alzheimer's Disease. The emotionally charged ballad is included on the soundtrack of a film called "10 Mountains 10 Years" chronicling the journey of a group of mountain climbers who are raising awareness about the disease. Loretta performs primarily with her trio consisting of husband/guitarist Gary Hagen and harmony vocalist and djembe player Linda Lambiase, or with full band if requested. Loretta’s songwriting awards include winner of 2011 New Jersey Folk Festival Songwriter Competition ASCAP PLUS Awards, Billboard Song Contest, and Music City Song Contest, SS Cape May showcase, Suzi Wollenberg Folk DJ showcase 2011 at NERFA. QUOTES "Mud and Stone will be a treasure for weeks, months and years to come." - Ron Olesko, WFDU-FM 89.1, Traditions Radio Show Loretta Hagen writes songs that sound like they can come from the Heartland, but they also really come from the heart." - John Platt, WFUV 90.7 FM "Loretta has a magnificent voice and is a terrific performer! Great new CD!" - Jim Monaghan, WDHA-FM, All Mixed Up Radio Show "I've always enjoyed [Loretta Hagen's] music since I first heard [her] a few years back. [Loretta's] songs sound incredible. I love that!" - Ron Olesko, WFDU-FM 89.1, Traditions Radio Show "I'm Gone - beautiful! That one's got HIT written all over it! Very powerful songwriting!" - Ron Olesko, WFDU-FM 89.1,Traditions Radio Show "Loretta's manner and voice are imbued with such quiet, unassuming grace that you don't realize at first that she has completely stolen your heart!" - Laura Foord, Heights House Concerts "[Loretta's been] blessed with ... an uncanny gift of being able to write songs about everyday life which tug on the heart strings" - Sol Zeller, Borderline Folk Music Club "Crisp, bright guitars and a joyous refrain of "I'm good as gold now that you're home" And so begins the new project from singer/songwriter Loretta Hagen, Mud and Stone. Like the CD title, her lyrics are as genuine and earthy as the lady herself. We rejoice at the return of a loved one in "Now That You're Home" or get lost in the daydreams of "I'm Gone". Her heroines fight the everyday battles of finding love or figuring out who will be there "When My Years Are Stacked". Loretta's honeyed voice and uplifting melodies help us find a way through. Joe Pszonek WMSC "Radio Nowhere" "she's building a following there and throughout the Metropolitan area. She writes songs that sound like they can come from the Heartland, but they also really come from the heart." John Platt WFUV 90.7 (Roger McGuinn at Mainstage Concert) "Loretta has a magnificent voice and is a terrific performer! Great new CD!" Jim Monaghan WDHA FM All Mixed Up Radio Show Loretta Hagen - Sundown Till Dawn "2008 has been good to Loretta Hagen. Twelve self-penned songs for that big, Nashville-style voice to ride on. Many songs are inspirational and seem directed inward for the singer as well as for the listener. Some, like "Mirror, Mirror," are so brilliantly conceived lyrically, they seemed destined for one of the Nashville biggies to pick up and have a monster hit. "Mirror, mirror, can you bring love back, mirror, mirror, try / Layered teardrops blur my reflection, mirror, mirror, lie." Of course, if justice prevails, and the buying public will take to a li'l ol' gal from New Jersey , Loretta will have the big hit (or two) herself." Richard Cuccaro, Acoustic Live in NYC and Beyond Magazine http://www.acousticlive.com/dec_10.htm New York Times “her music blends a good mix of Americana genres, including folk, country, rock and blues” “Loretta has a rich voice and her songs were insightful. The title track from her album Sundown Till Dawn was personal and poignant and was written for her mother who has Alzheimer's disease. Another tune was a call to compassion and "Mirror, Mirror" was a wistful song reflecting on life and moments in time.” Rich and Laura Lynch SoundPress.nethttp://www.kweevak.com/files-articles/rd_art_2010_01_24_gin_blossoms.php (Gin Blossoms concert at Outpost In The Burbs) Loretta Hagen - Something More The title of this CD might refer to the singer's voice. There is indeed something more in Loretta Hagen's vocals. Although she's from New Jersey , the material has a country feel, having been recorded while Loretta lived in Nashville . With her big alto, she covers many of the standard subjects &emdash; love found, love lost, love missed, love almost found and a whole lot of personal redemption. All of it is gripping and real and it's mainly due to Loretta's big voice. R.Cuccaro, Acoustic Live Magazine "I’m Coming Up, from the CD Something More is Loretta Hagen playing to her strengths and succeeding, magnificently." Kris K- Gods of Music Reviewer, The Best Indie Music On The Net. Quiet Storm Publishing The Sunday Record “….talented, dusky-voiced Loretta Hagen…” Sweden’s Aftonbladet “The Swedish summer has arrived and I have 10 CDs in my suitcase. One of them is Loretta Hagen from NJ, similar to Nanci Griffith, a little more edgier, a little more country." “Loretta Hagen isn't all country, all rock or all blues. She falls somewhere in between, melding the genres with her mellow acoustics, her raspy voice and her earthy lyrics.”-Surburban Trends Newspaper Contact: Michelle Fortier Wingschell Entertainment- Wingschell@yahoo.com 862- 324 -5565 On the web:Lorettahagen.com Myspace.com/lorettahagen You Tube Facebook

Member Since:

October 08, 2006

Members:

Gary Hagen, guitar, Debby Maggiulli, drums/percussion, Teri Avella, bass, Dave Barry, fiddle, Sara Gallmann, vocals ..

Influences:

Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shawn Colvin, Karla Bonoff, Emmy Lou Harris, Kathy Mattea, The Pretenders, Heart, to name a few!

Record Label:

Bearfort Recording