Biography
Jill Sissel is an extraordinary singer/songwriter and musician producing insightful Americana flavored music by using textures of sound and lyrics to design colorful palettes of music suited to all walks of life. Notably she has achieved Just Plain Folks Songwriting Contest nominations for 2001 Best Americana Song with," Love Knows No Distance", and Best Americana Album with LOVE KNOWS NO DISTANCE; and 1999 Best Americana Album with THE BUILDER, and an honorable mention with NSAI's songwriting competition with the duet, "Safe Inside" written with Paul Jackson in 2001. She produced the theme for an independent film entitled Murphys Law and she wrote another composition for the score. Jill has opened for major league acts including Dan Seals, Tracy Lawrence, Jo Dee Messina and Ty England.
Her multi-genre songs range from high energy to richly-textured, poetic music. Simplicity and truth are the inner threads woven into all of her songs.
Melissa Sigler is an award winning international artist, performing songwriter and musician "delivering powerful, sultry vocals with a blues and jazzy edge. Siglers strength lies in her ability to cast whatever mood she wills upon her audience, whether its beckoning seduction or tranquil harmony", says Dan Willging of Dirty Linen. Melissas awards include: winner of New Orleans OffBEAT Magazines Best of the Beat "Best Emerging Blues Artist" Award; Selected to represent Nashville's Music City Blues Society at the 2007 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN; Honorable Mention in the 2002 John Lennon Songwriting Contest; Honorable Mention in the 2006 Billboard World Songwriting Contest. As part of the celebration for The Year of The Blues 2003, Melissa performed with The Red Hot Blues Mamas on the July 2003 European Tour sponsored by the Willie Dixon-Vicksburg Blues Society at The International Blues Nights Festival in Olsztyn Poland. International tours include Europe and Australia. In television, she has been the featured artist on: The Music Factory, a Nashville based variety music program; Writers In The Round with Don McNatt, a Nashville music show for writers; The Louisiana JukeBox, a nationally broadcast syndicated music program and she was the host and producer of Southern Music Showcase, featuring performing songwriters from New Orleans to Austin broadcast in southwest Louisiana.
Liz Ficalora notably known drummer and percussionist, is not just positioned at the back of the stage. This native New Yorker comes carrying an arm load of accomplishments with her including a Bachelors degree in Music Education from Bostons Berklee College of Music. Liz has earned a National Award for her jingle composition for Maxwell House Coffee. Her underscoring and composition work has appeared in the documentary "Preservation Works" by the Massachusetts Historical Society; the movie Richard II, director John Farrell; and on the multimedia Desktop Promotion Presentation for the New York Times in collaboration with Sea-Corp, demonstrating the rich diversity of this talented artist.
Upon moving to Nashville, Liz joined a country touring band, Sterling, and has played as the opening act for Colin Raye and Bryon White. After working the road and highway shows, Liz landed a drumming gig on board the Carnival Cruise Line for a year and a half. Upon returning from the seas, she then became the Choral director for T.W. Hunter Middle School directing the musical Annie and conducting the Christmas Recital.
In 2004 Liz opened a new digital recording studio in pursuit of a career as a producer and engineer writing music for film and video. Her music creates a strong visual for film and video and her vision for the future focuses on producing, writing and conducting large orchestrations in an original style suitable for documentaries, short and full length films. Liz is currently a private teacher of drums, percussion piano, voice, and guitar to over 35 students and has authored two instructional manuals including: How to Write a Fast and Easy Drum Chart,1996 and Percussion Design 1978.
The Paint Sisters are a trio out of Franklin, TN who blend blues, country and rock on their self-titled debut album. All three women have distinguished careers on their own.
Melissa Sigler is a lauded blues singer and writer hailing from Louisiana with a voice that is deep, resonant, and sultry - everything a lady singing the blues needs. A wailing guitar and saxophone back her keyboards as she covers Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine." Self-penned tracks like "Quite Alright," "She's Gone" and "Change My Heart" are sure to be instant classics on the blues circuit. "Tell Me You Can Cook" has a classic blues-rock feel to it, describing comically how tastes in men can change with time. All four songs show that Sigler's music writing voice is as strong as her vocals.
Jill Sissel hails from Utah. She is an accomplished, highly poetic songwriter of rock and country music. Fans of Karen Carpenter and Carole King are bound to enjoy her work, and her songs form an interesting counterpoint to the blues pieces. "Under the Blue Sky" and "Take A Picture of This" are full of exuberance and resounding faith in possibilities. "The Builder" is a more solemn, reflective personal story told using the analogy of a structure being shaken by a fierce hurricane, tearing away the surface for a new start. It is backed by simple piano and Liz Ficarola's harmonizing vocals.
Ficarola is a New York native and skilled percussionist. She backs on vocals beautifully, especially on the first track, "Angels Singing" She produced the album with John Carter Cash and co-wrote "Take A Picture of This". (self-released)
www.paintsisters.com
-Kathleen Wehle
Hello! There's this very cool rock festival going on this weekend at Vanderbilt University. Lots of great acts including my friend, Alana Grace! You can check her out at: www. myspace. com/alanagrace and check out details of this music festival at: www. ritesofspring. com to see the line-up and all other details. Lady Antebellum, Spoon and Feist are going to be there among many other artists! All happening Friday and Saturday! Alana's playing on SATURDAY at 445pm, so come check her out! You won't be sorry that you did and there's lots of great music all the rest of the evening, too.
Just trying to spread the word about her and her music because she's been very supportive of Forget-Me-Not.
Please re-post this to help spread the word and hope you're having a great week!
Shannon Mock, a good friend who has generously given her time and talent to Forget-Me-Not, could now use our support. She is in the final days of a talent competion that I fully support and encourage you to do the same. Just click on the FameCast icon to vote, complete the registration, and you'll be able to vote and post a comment. Please try to vote every day. Voting ends at 11am central on April 8th.
Remember, too, the Forget-Me-Not Series concert at Nashville Palace, Sunday, April 6, from 6-11p.m. Shannon, along with several other talented artists, will be performing live. Admission is free, donations will be appreciated and there will be a raffle and silent auction, as well. Hope to see you there!
Sorry I couldn't attend y'alls cd release party :(, really wanted to but I had a prev. commitment. I'm sure it was a smashing success!!! By the way is that the fabulous Jill on harmonica on "Quite Alright"? Sounds pretty darn good!
Thanks for the awesome comment Jill, comin' from you that means a lot! Glad ya' like the banjo, I'm a big fan of it. It's featured on 4-5 songs. That's lil' 'ole me singing the lead and John Cowan (New Grass Revival) singin' harmony. John also sings harmony on my Little Feat cover, "Long Distance Love." He rules! 'Preciate ya' taking the time to listen to it!!
Happy New Year and Rock on for 2007 Peace and Love and Remember What Today Can Bring is a World of Peace and Great Music.
Peace Out and Travel Safely
Irene Goodnight
Now thems is some good lookin' doggies in that video! Finally had a chance to get to it -- pretty cool Sissel -- sounds great! Have a wonderful holiday
