Vicki Blankenship is that rare artist that comes along from the shadows of nowhere and blows away everybody that hears her perform. Her voice can hit a high pure pitch and then growl into the depths of rock and roll in the next breath. It is that great diversity that have many comparing her to the great Janis Joplin or the haunting images of Stevie Nicks. But sometimes the country girl shines through in comparison to the spunk of Mary Chapin Carpenter and the pure vocals of Patsy Cline. She is a writer of great depth not only in songs but poetry and blogs. She gets right to the heart of things with an insightful mind that examines truth and presents it in a simple, honest, touching, direct, and a most poignant manner. She is complex and has a deep inner drive. She is a self confessed workaholic in need of more play time.
Vicki's songs move people, her life inspires people, and her blogs inform people. Meeting her in person is an energy charge. Hearing her perform live will glue you to the edge of your seat, hanging on to every lyric. But by the end of the night you will be dancing if you get to experience the energy she throws from the stage when performing with her full band. Her songs will hit you dead in the heart and stick to your mind.
Vicki is also joined on stage at times by some very talented musicians as she tours around. Here are a few that have shared stage with Vicki. Les Scarborough (guitar), Steve Mays (bass guitar), Gabe Pline (drums), Leslie Berry (keyboards), Rick Mithcell (bass guitar), Cindy Adler (bass guitar), Jen Lowe (percussion), Melissa Massey (drums/percussion), Kit Holmes (keyboards), Vange Durst (guitar), Rich Kulsar (drums and percussion), Allison Tartalia (keyboards), Phyllis Free (drums and percussion) and many more. Her performances whether solo, duo, trio, or full band are always energy driven and captivate the audience.
Influences
Vicki's influences are wide and it shows as she writes in many genres of music. She grew up with a great grandfather that was a banjo player and was surrounded by blue grass and country music, and also a grandfather who was a jazz and big band drummer. She then staked claim on loving the rock and roll era of the 60's and 70's while attending Franklin County High School in Rocky Mount, VA and with the disco era and the dance music infusion while attending Elon University in North Carolina. So her songs show a fusion of different genres of music but her lyrics are from her heart only.
Vicki self professes to listen to mostly Indie artists now although some of her favorite label signed artists and bands are Carol King, Etta James, Patsy Cline, Emmylou Harris, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Alison Krauss, Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks, Heart, Sting, Billy Joel, Crosby-Stills-Nash and Young, America, Doobie Brothers, Steve Miller Band, The Beatles, Marvin Gaye, Billie Holiday, Bruce Springsteen, and Melissa Etheridge who she also admires for her fight against cancer and raising awareness and money to fight the disease.
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Les Scarborough Lead Guitar
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Gabe Pline Drummer
New band family member Little Miss Grace Pline and proud parents Gabe and Melissa. Grace is going to be the future percussionist of the group.
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Steve Mayes Bass Guitar
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Leslie Berry Keyboards
Vicki Blankenship & The Posse Band
Singer songwriter Vicki Blankenship put out her debut CD in 2003 and started to pursue her music career full time in 2004 and followed up with her second CD release "Horizons" in January 2005. She then founded Indie Music For Life, a nonprofit organization that raises money for cancer research and an eductional awareness program on music and laughter as therapy for cancer patients and in May 2005 Indie Music For Life, Inc became an official 501(c)3. Indie Music For Life works with Indie artists all over the world to produce compilation CDs and to organize concert benefits. In October 2005 Vicki took over the Indiegrrl organization from her songwriter friend Holly Figueroa O'Reilly who wanted a much needed rest. In 2006 Indie Music For Life added Indiegrrl as an entity of the non profit and in 2007 added another entity Laughs For Life that works with comedians to raise money in the fight against cancer.
Vicki has put a lot of personal energy into the non profit and in promoting Indie artists in general and now sits on the board as an advisor. Vicki's dedication to the growth of Indiegrrl in promoting women in music as well as putting focus on the organization joining the fight against cancer, shows her commitment to raising awareness to both women in the arts and finding a cure for cancer.
Both of her CDs have garnered critical praise and have been featured on various radio shows in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia, including Sirius Satelite Radio. Winner of several songwriting awards and honors, Vicki toured coast-to-coast in 2004, 2005, and 2006 promoting both CDs and appearing in over 300 different venues, festivals, and conferences as both a performer and guest speaker. She has appeared in some of the most notable top acoustic venues including Eddie's Attic in Decatur, GA, Main Street Cafe in Homestead, FL, The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, TN, World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, PA, The Knitting Factory in New York City, Club Passim in Cambridge, MA and The EMP in Seattle, WA. Her list of festival and conference appearances include impressive showcases at the Rockrgrrl Conference, National Folk Alliance Conference, The Ohio LBA Festival, The Virginia Women's Festival, The Southern Women's Festival, MACRoCK Conference, Festival For Change, Swiftwaters Women's Music in the Mountains Festival, Provincetown, MA Women's Week and numerous Indie Music For Life events in 9 different states.
At times she was joined on stage by the very talented musicians, Cindy Adler, Les Scarborough, Gabe Pline, Steve Mays, Leslie Berry, Vange Durst, Rich Kulsar, Jen Lowe, Melissa Massey, Phyllis Free, Steve Wolfe, Allison Tartalia, Kit Holmes and more playing duo, trio, and full band performances that were always high energy shows that featured her wide range of vocal talents and musical arrangements.
Register to showcase and attend the 2008 Indiegrrl Women in the Arts Conference
Mark you calender to come out and enjoy a weekend of camping, fun, and lots of great music and comedy in the mountains of North Georgia.
Purchase the new 2008 Indie Music For Life Compilation CD projects by going to their website retail store at http://www.indiemusicforlife.org The children's music CD features 22 artists and sales for $10 and the regular CD is a double disc set this year that features 37 Indie artists from around the world and sales for $12. That is a STEAL ! ! !
did you know your going to be playing on my birthday? ♥if one day u feel like crying♥....♥call me♥. ♥I dont promise that i will make u laugh♥, ♥but i can cry with u♥. ♥If one day u want to run away♥-- ♥dont be afraid to call me♥. ♥I dont promise to ask u to stop♥......♥but i can run with u♥. ♥If one day u dont want to listen to anyone♥.....♥call me♥. ♥I promise to be there for u but also promise to remain quiet♥. ♥But one day if u call♥......♥and there is no anwser♥.....♥come fast to see me♥. ♥Perhaps i need you♥. ♥Send this to all your friends, no matter how often you talk♥, ♥or how close you are♥, ♥and send it to the person who sent it to you♥. ♥Let old friends know you haven't forgotten them, and tell new friends you never will♥. ♥Remember♥, ♥everyone needs a friend♥, ♥dont ever leave the one u love for the one u like♥,♥ because the one u like will leave u for the one they love♥. ♥tonite ur true love will relize how much they love u between 1 and 4 in the morning♥.♥ tomorrow the shock of your life will occur if u break the chain♥.
Hey Vickie, sending you positive energy because with all you're doing I bet you're really tired! Cool site and good music! I have to be a friend now to all the new Indiegrrl Women in the Arts stuff! Thanks for all you do for the artists! With you in spirit as always!
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Les Scarborough Lead Guitar
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Gabe Pline Drummer
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Steve Mayes Bass Guitar
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Leslie Berry Keyboards
