NASHVILLE, TN (Universal South Records) - Universal South recording artist
Katrina Elam only recently released her first single, 'No End in Sight' from her forthcoming self-titled CD due out October 5, but she's already found a fan in fellow Oklahoman Vince Gill.
Actually, Vince Gill has been a long time supporter of the young singer/songwriter. Their friendship began well before Katrina moved to Nashville. Katrina was still in high school in Bray, Oklahoma but at 16 was already signed to a publishing deal with Nashville's Warner/Chappell Music and had been performing regionally for quite some time. Vince saw Katrina perform several times and kept in contact with her and her mother throughout the years.
'I first met Katrina back home in Oklahoma and heard her sing. She was maybe not even a teenager and even that early on I realized her God given talent was undeniable,' said Vince adding, 'She strikes me as someone that really will endure.'
Proof positive of his belief in the young ingenue materialized when Katrina was 16 and Emmylou Harris became unavailable to sing on the Graham Parsons song, 'Sin City' for The Byron Berline Band's Gene Clark/Graham Parsons Tribute Album. Vince quickly called on Katrina to fill in for the legend.
Vince even offered his experienced advice when Katrina was weighing her recording contract offers. Vince took Katrina and her mother to dinner and, because of Vince's high praise for Tony Brown and Tim DuBois, Katrina easily decided to sign with Universal South, the label Brown and DuBois helm.
Katrina has ties with another legendary Oklahoman as well. When Katrina was a teenager, she had the opportunity to sing onstage with Reba McEntire and the Tulsa Philharmonic Orchestra on Reba's classic, 'Whoever's in New England.'
'I promised myself that day to strive to be as genuine and generous as Reba was to me and to help other aspiring talent just as Vince and Reba did me,' said Katrina.
Coincidentally, it was Reba's producer, Tony Brown who signed Katrina to his label, Universal South. The label has its offices in Reba's Starstruck building on Music Row in Nashville.
Katrina's first single, 'No End In Sight' was just recently released to country radio and is one of nine songs she co-wrote for her self-titled debut album, which will be released October 5.
