NASHVILLE, TN. (Universal South Records) - Universal South recording artist
Katrina Elam is getting ready to celebrate one of the biggest days of her life. The Bray, Oklahoma native will release her self-titled debut CD from Universal South Records on October 5. To mark the event the singer–songwriter is planning a special homecoming performance and autograph session at the Duncan, Oklahoma Wal*Mart near her hometown.
'Any time I get to come home and enjoy my mom's home cooking and see my family and friends it's great, but to be sharing a moment like releasing my first album with them is even better! I can't imagine celebrating this with anyone other than the people who encouraged me to take this step in the first place!' said Katrina.
Before heading to Oklahoma however, she'll make her first televised appearance on the the Grand Ole Opry on October 2. After receiving overwhelming response from her previous performances, the Opry invited Katrina back to be part of their televised portion and the talented newcomer is thrilled. 'I can't wait until my performance on the Grand Ole Opry. I think every country performer dreams of singing on that stage. There is so much history there and becoming a part of something like this is unbelievable.' Grand Ole Opry Live appears on GAC at 8PM ET and 11PM ET.
Katrina's first single, 'No End in Sight' features famed fellow country artist Keith Urban on 'ganjo' (a guitar/banjo hybrid). In fact, Katrina's CD booklet reads like a 'who's who' of musician's and artists. Award-winning musicians Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Bryan Sutton and Aubrey Haynie all appear on the disc as well as Dan Tyminski from 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' fame, who sings background vocals on "Flowers by the Side of the Road."
Moreover, Katrina co-wrote 9 of the eleven tracks with such notorious songwriters as John Rich (Big & Rich), Marcus Hummon and Stephony Smith to name a few.
The impressive album which was produced by Tony Brown and Jimmie Lee Sloas doesn't hit stores until next Tuesday but it is already pulling in critical praise. Robert K. Oermann wrote, 'Katrina Elam's vocal fire is so hot that she can stand toe to toe with any female in the format' for Music Row Magazine and Larry Holden from Country Weekly wrote that Katrina is 'vocally stunning and she's gonna be a star!'
She's found fans in her musical peers as well. Fellow Oklahoman Vince Gill remarked that '...early on I realized her God given talent was undeniable,' and Keith Urban was so taken with Katrina's talents that he not only played on her record, he invited her to open up for him on his first headlining tour. '…The first time I heard her voice it hit me in the same way Trisha Yearwood did, and there's a womanly soulfulness that takes me back to Linda Ronstadt…,' remarked Urban.
Katrina's debut CD, Katrina Elam, is in stores October 5. She hits the road for the CMT On Tour: Keith Urban Be Here '04 tour on October 8.
