Combining the drive of southern rock, the silky smoothness of pop and the earthiness of American roots music, Melissa Raquel Cleveland delivers the goods. Though diminutive in stature, there is nothing small about the voice of Melissa who belts out vocals with the power of a rock singer and the finesse of a diva. Melissa ultimately sounds most at home when she leans on her roots of country music, but she has no problem tearing through high-energy rock and pop.
Melissa was born in Houston, Texas on Labor Day September 6th where she lived for a short while before moving to Huntsville, Texas, just a few blocks from the state prison. Singing came natural from the start. “My earliest influences in music were a mixture of country and rock. My mother enjoyed singing and she knew all of Loretta Lynn’s songs and I couldn’t help but sing along with her, it just came natural. My dad grew up in a family of pickers. He played many songs on his guitar and some that he wrote, but the songs that stuck with me were the CCR songs.” Diversity was evident early on.
Melissa’s first performance was at the age of five when she sang with the band at the reception of her Great-Grandparent’s sixtieth wedding anniversary. Singing at Cleveland family reunions and other family events was just the beginning of her journey. By the age of seven, Melissa’s family moved back to Houston. “Somewhere along the way I got hooked on Donna Summers and Heart and I couldn’t get enough of their music. I have a large collection of CD’s that covers just about every genre that exists.”
In Houston, Melissa visited the Galleria, a mall, which had an amateur recording studio and there on a cassette tape on side A She recorded “The Rose” and side B was “Black Velvet”. With the help of her mother they located a nearby recording studio in Houston so that Melissa could record with professional equipment. “The first songs that I recorded at Mike Coker’s studio were by Bonnie Raitt and Mariah Carey. Within the first year I joined his band as the featured artist.”
When she was not recording in the studio or singing around town Melissa was working a day job. During this time she met the man that she is married to today, “he is the love of my life.” He built Melissa her very first studio in the garage of her parent’s house and that is where she composed her first song called “Tourist of My Heart”, a song that she prefers to keep in the vault. In this garage the Rockmore Group was born. “During the Rockmore days I came into my own as a singer and the group included myself, my dad Doc Smith and a long-time friend. Melissa and her dad Doc have shared countless performances together. “My dad Doc introduced me to Blues music. He is a great singer and entertainer. His harmonica playing always got the crowd going and still does today whenever we perform together.” Melissa utilized the early days to create her stage presence and to develop and mature her vocal ability. “One of the bars that I sang at frequently was, Neil’s Place, and the first time we were booked at Neil’s, I swore that I would not get out of the vehicle because there was a sign that read “fish bait”, other places like Faces and The Handlebar were great for honing my skills…my encore usually ended with me singing on the bar!”
Melissa was chosen as a final contestant to sing the song of her choice, “Unchained Melody”, in the Colgate Country Showdown in Conroe, Texas. Among other vocal contests Melissa performed Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary” and Faith Hill‘s “Breathe.” In 2000 Melissa finished recording her first CD, “No Room for Doubt” with producer, Brent Cartwright. The CD was recorded both in Houston and in Nashville. “This was my first real studio experience.” Prior to recording the CD, Melissa only recorded demos. The CD consisted of eleven songs. “I am a stronger vocalist than I am a writer, so I was open to the learning process of co-writing. I co-wrote four songs; “No Room for Doubt”, “Only One”, “Stand Still” and “Young Mary Zebra.” The “YMZ” song is sentimental because she sold her Mustang to finance the project and “YMZ” were the letters on her license plates. “I kept my plates and I have them hanging on the wall in my music room. I did not have much experience with the business side of music and I was my own representation. This CD was a very big learning experience for me.” A band was formed, billed as Raquel Cleveland and they performed at local venues like the Hard Rock Café and the Engine Room. Out of thousands of submissions the CD was chosen in the top five for the Mars Music Contest. “In between that time in my life (when I was also only known as Raquel) the stories are endless of how many ups and downs I have been through with music. Paying dues is part of the process and without all of the experience and circumstances I would have never gained all of the knowledge that I value today.”
Fast forward to November of 2007 to the release of Melissa’s second CD, “When You Say My Name”, with producer and friend and Brandon L. Shane. The CD of twelve Country/Country Rock songs was recorded, mixed and mastered in Nashville. Melissa took a different approach on this CD and recorded songs that were written by very gifted songwriters. “The songs are diverse as in there is a little something for everyone. I am very proud of the CD and I absolutely love all of the songs. As a fan of country music I love the sounds of Dwight Yokam, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Faith Hill, LeAnn Womack, Gretchen Wilson, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley…and the goes on. I will continue to make every effort in my life to gain just a fraction of the success of those that have paved the way.”
A native of Texas Melissa calls Houston her hometown and she has performed hundreds of dates as a local up and coming artist. She is always pleased to donate her time for a good cause as she has performed at numerous benefits. Near and dear to her heart is her mission to rescue and save abused and abandoned animals. At the present she does everything within her power to support her local animal shelters. “I feel strongly about having pets neutered and spayed. As my music grows and takes me places I will spread the word to help the furry creatures that need us!” Please check out Melissa’s Mission on her Website.
While her style reaches a wide range of listeners Melissa has made performances from the famous Tootsies in Nashville to Florida, to California to Las Vegas and other well-known places through-out the US that include nite-clubs, festivals and events such as the HLS&R BBQ cook-off; she never misses an opportunity to sing! Melissa has opened for Hank Williams, III, Roger Creager, Highway 101 and T Graham Brown and has sang with Kevin Black and Roy Head. “Throughout my own personal journey I have matured as a person and developed more musically as a singer/songwriter. I have tons of faith, but it doesn’t take much all you need is enough the size of a mustard seed. It just takes a little…believe in you and other’s will too!”
JUST TRYING TO SPREAD THE NEWS ABOUT MY SONG….. “ANGEL KISSES” WILL BE ON CD TO BE RELEASED IN JULY…. RECORDED BY “DELORES HERSHEY” COME BY AND LISTEN! ADDING MORE PRODUCTION TO THE SONG SO IT WILL EVEN BE MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN IT IS NOW!!
Please come by and listen to Delores Hershey sing “Angel Kisses”. We would love to know what you think of it. We are co-writers on this song. Please add www.myspace.com/deloreshershey to your friends if you haven’t yet and let her know I sent you.
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