Top 5 Top Picks - Country Females With "The Voice"
There are country singers that give you chills when they belt out a song. These are the singers with what I call "the voice." The list I've compiled below are today's country female singers that have the type of voice that can sing anything, and do it with power, or understated elegance. Top 5 Guide Picks: Class of 1993
Each year we see a new class of stars appear on the country music horizon. Sometimes an artist will have a huge hit right off the bat, and other times it may take an album or two. The stars listed as the "Class of 1993" are those that made their first impact on country music in that year. Top 6 Top Picks - Warner Nashville Artists
Warner Nashville is a sub-label of the larger Warner Brothers Records. The artists on the roster are Faith Hill, Blake Shelton, Trick Pony, Dusty Drake, Sixwire, Tracy Lawrence, John Michael, Neal McCoy, and Elizabeth Cook. Only artists with released albums are listed below. Top 3 Top Three Picks: Tracy Lawrence
Tracy Lawrence was born in Texas, but raised in Foreman, AK. He played in his first band at age 16, and moved to Nashville in 1990, where he worked as a telemarketer and ironworker while looking for his big break. He was signed by Atlantic in 1991 at a showcase he was doing at the Bluebird Cafe, and produced his first album, "Sticks and Stones."
Top 3 Top Three Picks: Clay Walker
Clay Walker was born and raised in Beaumont, TX. He was signed to Giant Records where he recorded his self-titled debut, and hit No. 1 with his first two singles -- "What's It To You," and "Live Until I Die." He followed this success with three more No. 1 songs in the first three years of his career, putting out several more albums, before moving to RCA Records in 2002. Top 3 Top Three Picks: Wynonna
Wynonna started her career as one half of the popular mother-daughter duo, The Judds. When her mother contracted hepatitus and was forced to give up performing, Wynonna went solo, releasing the self-titled album which gave her three consecutive No. 1 singles. She's released several albums since, and had a reunion with her mom in 2000, and released the Reunion Tour album.
Top 3 Top Three Picks: Terri Clark
Terri was born into a musical family, where her grandparents were also country stars. As a teen, Terri listened to records like The Judds, Reba McEntire and Linda Ronstadt. She moved to Nashville after graduating from high school and was signed to Mercury Records in 1994. Top 3 Top Three Picks: Rhett Akins
Rhett was born in Valdosta, Georgia. He learned the guitar and joined a ban with his brothers by the time he was 11. He moved to Nashville in 1992, and was signed to Decca Records, where he put out "A Thousand Memories." He had three Top 40 hits, including "That Ain't My Truck," which soared to #3. He recently signed with Audium Records where he put out "Friday Night in Dixie."
Top 3 Top Three Picks: Mark Wills
Born in Blue Ridge, Georgia, Mark grew up liking metal bands, and he played in several garage bands during his teens. As he became an adult, he shifted towards country music. He signed with Mercury Records, where he released his self-titled debut, which was a moderate hit. "Wish You Were Here" followed with three No. 1 singles, then "Permanently," and "Loving Every Minute." Top 3 Top Three Picks: Daryle Singletary
Daryle Singletary was born in Cairo, Georgia. He grew up singing gospel music with his brothers and cousins. He moved to Nashville, and in 1995 was signed to Giant Records where he released his self-titled debut, which produced the smash hit singles, "I Let Her Lie," and "Too Much Fun." He released two more albums before moving to Audium Records, where he's released two more CDs. Top 3 Top 3: John Michael Montgomery
John Michael was born in Danville, KY, and made his stage debut at age 5 with his parents, who were musicians themselves.
Even though his music leans more to the pop side of things, John Michael was actually at the forefront of the new traditionalist movement in the early 90s. Top 3 Top Three Picks: Shania Twain
Shania was raised in Timmons, Ontario. When her parents died, she worked to raise her younger brothers by singing and dancing in a local resort. She was signed to Mercury Records, where she released her self-titled album. Producer "Mutt" Lange came into the picture, and produced Shania's second album, "The Woman in Me," and like her name, she was "on her way." Top 3 Top Three Picks: Jo Dee Messina
Jo Dee was born in Framingham, Massachusetts. During her teens, she sang in country bands in New England. By the end of 1994, she was signed to Curb Records, & released her self-titled debut. While she did have hits with the first album, her major impact was after releasing her sophomore project, "I'm Alright," which gave her three No. 1 singles. Her third album, "Burn" was also a success. Top 3 Guide Picks - Top 3 Travis Tritt
Travis was born in Marietta, GA & taught himself how to play guitar when he was 8, and he wrote songs by 14. He signed to Warner Brothers & released "Country Club." While successful, Nashville was hesitant to embrace him because of his rock and roll roots. Today, he is now with Sony Nashville and continuing to make great music. Top 3 Guide Picks: Sara Evans
Sara was born in Booneville, Missouri, the oldest girl of seven children. While growing up, she performed with her family at churches and festivals. In 1996, she auditioned for RLG chairman Joe Galante, and was offered a recording contract. She released her debut, "Three Chords & the Truth" in 1997, followed by "No Place That Far," and in 2000, "Born To Fly." Top 10 Guide Picks - Class of 1995
Each year we see a new class of stars appear on the country music horizon. Sometimes an artist will have a huge hit right off the bat, and other times it may take an album or two. The stars listed as the "Class of 1995" are those that made their first impact on country music in that year. |
