With the voice and face of an angel and a Medusan tangle of dreadlocks as thick and strong as her family ties and her musical roots in the flatlands of West Tennessee, Valerie June is a true original and an emerging star in the legendary and still vibrant Memphis music scene.
A self-taught guitar player, composer and troubadour of heartbreak ballads, folk songs, spirituals, soul-stirring blues and what she calls “Organic Moonshine Roots Music,” Valerie is poised to reach a wide audience as one of the stars of the ballyhooed new MTV web series “$5 Cover,” written and directed by Craig Brewer, creator of the Oscar-winning movie “Hustle & Flow.”
With a haunting, distinctive voice that will appeal to fans of Linda Thompson, Michelle Shocked, Jeff Tweedy, Sinead O’Connor, Jessie Mae Hemphill and the music world’s most famous Bobs, Dylan and Marley, Valerie began to pursue songwriting and performing at the age of 19, when she was part of the husband-and-wife duo, Bella Sun. Perhaps her relatively early marriage wasn’t a surprise: The oldest girl in a strict Christian family of five children, she was domestic as well as ambitious — she pretty much raised her siblings. Says Valerie: “Grandad always feared for my hips because I always had a baby on ’em.”
Valerie’s marriage died but her talent bloomed. Shedding her possessions, this daughter of a brick cleaner from humble Humboldt, Tenn., left the South and traveled up and down the West Coast as a sort of gypsy nightingale, playing for tips on the streets and in bus and subway stations. As interested in “sustainable” technology and natural living as music, she learned to make soap and bath salts, to supplement her income.
Since returning to Memphis, Valerie has been working hard to make ends meet and to make her music the best she can, becoming a mainstay at such events as the Memphis Music & Heritage Festival and the International Folk Alliance Conference, and releasing such albums as “The Way of the Weaping Willow” and “Mountain of Rose Quartz,” recorded at Ardent Studios (Big Star, Replacements, ZZ Top). She’s mastering the banjo and the lap steel guitar, and the new sounds she create vibrate with the tension that occurs when mountain-spring freshness meets rivertown grit. The result is beautiful, generous and authentic — and brimming with gratitude for life, with all its joys and hardships.
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I'm trying to say hello to everyone at least once a year.
Have a Fabulous week artist: Sepsenahki is SOLACE Artist/Show host/model: Wahida Fowler Photo by Phoenix Lockticians Network model/actress: Nerissa Kamoy
Really enjoyed playing music with you Sunday. It was well worth the trip to see you and listen to that sweet voice again. Oh, I used that soap today. It's smells great. Thank You. See you on this side of the river in a couple of weeks.
Thank you for being our friend. Mike Dollins & The Cruize Bros "Live" Hot Springs Blues Festival 2009 jamming Sissy Strut.
Guido Ciardetti – Born in Chicago, and was Buddy Miles Bass Player
Brad Messer – Born in Texas, and grew up with SRV
Mike Fraz – Born in New Orleans, playing same venues as Dr. John
Mike Dollins – From California & Arkansas Delta, played in the King Biscuit Blues Band, and with the great blues legends Big Daddy Rucker and Len Rainey on the west coast.
These veteran players love jammin’, and Sissy Strut is becoming a fan favorite on YouTube, AOL, MySpace and FaceBook. United as brothers in the roots of Blues, Jazz, R&B, Soul, Funk, Gospel and American Rock.
Hey girl! I was THRILLED to find that you'll be playing the Memphis Music & Heritage Festival on Sunday, Sept 6! We'll be in the Folklore Hall Stage at 6:45. If you get there early...stop by to see us! I hope we get to stay long enuff to see your set. I luv your music! GOOD STUFF!
Thank you for the add and the friendship. you are very good, I like your stupendous music a lot, and stupendous voice. compliments ..really. you are one of my prefeitis, I feel great admiration for you, talk to you soon, and all of my best wishes to always listen to your good music. all the best.. from italy..and good week neal
THANX FOR THE ADD valerie june!!! I HOPE YOU ENJOYED MY MUSIC AND VIDEOS!!! DONT BE A STRANGER KEEP IN TOUCH AND SPREAD THE WORD BOUT T.N.T.!!! ALSO CHECK ME OUT @ www.youtube.com/THAREALTNTtv
Keep on jammin’ them blues, it’s music to my ears. The House is a Rockin’ at Odie’s House of Blues with host band Mike Dollins & The Cruize Brothers every Thursday Check out www.bluesguitarnews.ning.com an all blues network to list your gigs, videos and photos. See who has joined in the blues social network, and join the fun. Burn them 6L6's into little sizzling pools of melted glass brothers and sisters. Peace to the world through blues.
Hey girl! We're playing THACKER MOUNTAIN RADIO at the Lyric Theater in Oxford, MS on JULY 15 - 7:30 pm. If you're not doing anything...COME ON DOWN!!!!
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