HEY IT'S AMY DALLEY!

I'm Amy and I sing a bit country.

Great to see you hear Amy!

From Amy's website....



I guess I will start with the highlights (I will skip over the low lights...)

I grew up in Kingsport Tennessee. As far back as I can remember, I sang. When I was really young, I would put on shows for the family. My Mom would make herself comfortable on my waterbed (oh come on, it was the 80s...everybody had one!) and I would sing every song I knew. She would give me pointers and pretend that she was the judge...long before American Idol. I imagined that I was on a big stage with spotlights and fog and millions of screaming fans. When the song was over, I would open my eyes and there would be just my Mom, sitting on the waterbed, sipping coffee, smiling.
I sang in talent shows, weddings, contest...whatever I could do to satisfy the dream whenever it fit into my packed schedule of cheerleading, soccer, swim team, friends...you name it, I did it.



I went to East Tennessee State University. At the time I felt like a total failure because I hated it. I loved being on my own. I just was not interested in school. So, when I heard about an open audition at Dollywood, I went. There were days of callbacks and dance auditions, group auditions, solo auditions. Eventually I landed a part. I quit school, semi reluctantly...ok,I’ll be honest... I over-joyously crammed my Volkswagen bug with everything I owned and moved the day I found out I had a part! I remember rehearsing for Dollywood's opening ceremony that year, standing with my new musical friends and thinking, "I can’t believe they are gonna pay me to do this." That was a life changing moment for me. I will never forget that feeling. I knew then why I was so uninterested in school. I wasn’t called to be a teacher (or whatever) I was meant to be a performer. I loved it. and that feeling has grown and fed on itself ever since.



In 1994 I moved to Nashville. I knew no one except my brother who played basketball for Belmont University. I lived with him and four of his basketball playing roommates for the first year. They were all very protective of me. When I would go sing at open mic nights or talent shows, one or more of them would go with me...to cheer me on, to watch out for me...and probably to pick up girls....Either way, I was glad they were in the audience.

I grew frustrated with only singing a few nights a week though. After all, I had moved to Nashville to be a star, but basically I was a waitress. A singing waitress, but a waitress. SO, I put a band together and hit the road. That sounds so easy when I write that....but believe me, it was not. There were auditions for the band which looking back is hysterical. We were in a warehouse doing cover tunes. But I didn't even have a gig booked yet. I took the auditions SO seriously too. I even video taped them, so I could review the guys I liked the best...OK, and laugh at the dorky ones. Eventually I found a band and lots of gigs. We did hit the road. we played everywhere as the Hillbilly Gypsies. It was a strange struggle of an experience. I loved it and at the same time it was SO frustrating for me. I mean, I wanted to be in Nashville, but I was on the road most of the time. The band was changing nearly every week. The gigs were varied...some were amazing and some are too scary to think about now. Standing outside of the gig one afternoon in the middle of South Dakota I decided that the Hillbilly Gypsies should be done. And we were.


AMY WITH HUSBAND JACK

Shortly after that I had my daughter, Madeleine. At that time I thought I was probably gonna have to put my dream of being a star, singing for a living, to rest. Then, like a miracle, one day I got a phone call form Jeff Carlton who at the time was the head of a publishing company called Hamstein Publishing. He offered me a writing deal. He said he thought I had something to say. That phone call changed my life. From that moment on, I felt like the songs I had always written were worth something. Hamstein was a very nurturing place for me. I loved everything about it. It was encouraging and supportive. I grew in my songwriting in leaps and bounds. I am thankful for that kind of springboard.

Still the elusive dream was the record deal. I had begun writing with a guy named Lee Miller who was also a writer at Hamstein. We clicked. I learned so much about song writing from him. I mean I had always written songs, since I was a little girl. But I didn't know a lot about the commercialism of songwriting. It is an art all its own. Lee and I wrote every Wednesday for about 7 years! We also worked on my Curb project together. If you ever heard a song of mine on the radio, before 2008, then Lee is the one who produced it. I love the music that we made. From some of the craziest demos to some amazing sounding records, I loved all of them.






My record deal came and went. I was on Curb records form 2002-2007. During that time I was able to do some amazing things. I was on a big tour (Toby Keith/ Rascal Flatts 2003). I was able to see a lot of the country through the multiple radio tours I was on. I was able to have many dreams come true, like 3 videos, 6 singles on the radio. Four of those making it into the top 30 countdown. That is pretty cool to think about. I am proud of the work that I did there. On some days I am a little disappointed that I was never able to have my album in stores, but bygones will drive you crazy.

In 2008 I had a beautiful little boy, Jackson. I began writing songs for a fantastic publishing company, Bro n' Sis Music/ Carlin America. I created my own record label, Madjack Records. My husband and I produced and created and slaved over my debut CD called It's Time.

It's Time is a collection of the songs I have always believed in (re-thought, re-recorded and re-vamped) and new songs that I absolutely love! It was hard choosing which songs would go on the album. I write A LOT of songs...and everyone has their favorites, so it was tough. But when I hear it altogether, I think we chose really well. and at the end of the day, all you want is an album that you are proud to give to people. I am very proud of It's Time.



Now I've got a new album ready. It's called Coming Out Of The Pain. Recording this album was an incredible process. I loved being in the studio, building the tracks with amazing musicians, but mostly I loved singing the songs. I sang all the vocals at our house while Jack engineered. I was barefoot and usually in my pajamas with about a thousand candles burning down to the wax. Then I would fall asleep listening to Jack add guitar parts or sing the backgrounds parts as they floated up through the vents from downstairs. I will always remember that feeling of possibility... the glow of hope that came from making this record. This is who I am. I'm Amy...a dreamer...a singer...a believer.
I must admit that it is very strange to write the story of my life or at least the story of my musical life so far... But I do think it is better this way, hearing it straight from me. Much better than some guy I don’t know writing a story about what he thinks of me, dontcha think?

At the moment we have a number of other Country singers doing this for us....Shelly Fairchild, Tift Merritt, Chelsea Crowell, Sherrie Austin and the Rankin Twins. Do you know any of them? Do you have an open personal message for any of them?

When you were a child who do you think influenced you? When you started singing who did you want to be?

Hi
Have you ever visited the UK? if you have, what memories do you have of the country?

Do you have any ideas about how you want your music to progress? Do you plan to change direction in any way?

Have you written many songs? Have any of your songs been sung or recorded by other artists?

Are there any singers you would particularly like to sing or record with?

Hi, you always look so lovely, I envy your looks so much. Does it come naturally or do you have to work hard to keep looking like that?

Is there any part of your looks that you're particularly proud of? And are there any bits you would like to change???

Hi there! Are you superstitious? Are there any things you do or wear for good luck?

Which are your favourite songs?

In your time in the music business to date, which gigs have you found most exciting? Which do you think have been your best shows?

I don't think I've heard your music yet. Which CD would you recommend I should buy to get to know your work? And have you appeared on a DVD yet?

Have there been times that things have not gone quite right? Any embarrassing moments you can tell us about?

You are surely a good-looking sexy woman, have you ever done any modelling or thought about going into that line of work?

Answer these so we can see what makes you tick?

1. Do friends have a pet name or nickname for you?

2. At school were you well-behaved or how did you get in trouble?

3 What hobbies do you pursue? Do you play any sports?

4 Do you drive? What would be your ideal car to drive?

5 If you were offered parts in a TV series, which series would you choose?

6 Who are your favourite singers/groups (past or present)?

7 Do you dance on stage?

8. What product would you like to be given a contract to advertise?

9 Do you have any pets?

10 What is your favourite meal? And favourite drink?

11 If you had not become famous what jobs would you have liked to do?

12. What musical instruments do you play?

13. Which colours do you prefer wearing?

14. In private life are you happier in jeans or skirts and dresses?

15. What do you prefer to sleep in? PJs, nighties or what?

16. What is your favourite perfume?

17. What is your ideal holiday/vacation?

18 Tell us about your partner and children?

19 What is your favourite joke?

20 In 25 years from now what would you like to be doing?

SaintMike wrote:At the moment we have a number of other Country singers doing this for us....Shelly Fairchild, Tift Merritt, Chelsea Crowell, Sherrie Austin and the Rankin Twins. Do you know any of them? Do you have an open personal message for any of them?

I know Shelly and Sherrie. both great singers

SaintMike wrote:When you were a child who do you think influenced you? When you started singing who did you want to be?

I wanted to be Linda Rondstadt or Dolly Parton

North End Mam wrote:Hi
Have you ever visited the UK? if you have, what memories do you have of the country?

I have not, but I would like to

North End Mam wrote:Do you have any ideas about how you want your music to progress? Do you plan to change direction in any way?

I am just happy to have my new album out COMING OUT OF THE PAIN is the album I dream of my whole life. I just want to keep writing and making music. I think music naturally progresses because you are influenced by what you hear in other genres and by other artists. It is a natural thing.

Jillyanne wrote:Have you written many songs? Have any of your songs been sung or recorded by other artists?

I write all of the time. I always have. Reba McEntire recorded a song that I co wrote, MY SISTER. It was awesome to see her sing it!!!

Jillyanne wrote:Are there any singers you would particularly like to sing or record with?

heck Id sing with anybody

Jillyanne wrote:Hi, you always look so lovely, I envy your looks so much. Does it come naturally or do you have to work hard to keep looking like that?

Is there any part of your looks that you're particularly proud of? And are there any bits you would like to change???

Well That question must be for one of the other girls! haha yes there are things I dont like about my looks, but I don't wanna point those out...cause then you will notice them too...

saint marie wrote:Hi there! Are you superstitious? Are there any things you do or wear for good luck?

not really, but I do have an amber ring that I wear alot. I have had it FOREVER and even when I think I have lost it...I find it again. weird.

saint marie wrote:Which are your favourite songs?

my favorite ever?!?? or on this album? "happiest girl in the whole USA" was my first ever favorite song.