Cher Lynn
“I was standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona—such a fine sight to see.”
–The Eagles
Glenn Frey may have been making a joke when he wrote those infamous lyrics, but a little five year old blonde-headed blue-eyed girl in Statesboro, Georgia wasn’t joking when she would proudly belt those words out for anyone who would listen. That little girl, Cher Lynn, was born in Winslow Arizona, and being connected to that song helped carve the path she would ultimately take—becoming a singer and a songwriter. Cher Lynn’s love of music began before she could walk. “Mom always made sure there was great music playing in our house. I had an appreciation for the good stuff--Warren Zevon, Leo Kottke, Bonnie Raitt, Rod Stewart, Marshall Tucker, Allman Bros, Ry Cooder, Joan Baez and Little Feat. There was always such a diverse collection of music blaring from the turntable in the living room--from blues to bluegrass, folk to just plain good old rock-n-roll.”
She picked up the guitar at age twelve and began to emulate her idols, Bonnie Raitt, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris. “I remember Mom had Linda Ronstadt’s album Prisoner In Disguise. It was a double album that opened up like a book, and I would stare for hours at the pictures of all the handwritten lyrics and sing Love is A Rose over and over again. That album completely captivated me, and I guess I knew even then that somehow I had to play a part in the musical universe.”
“We moved to Northwest Florida when I was ten years old, and my mom started playing in an all-girl bluegrass band, so she carted us kids all over the Southeast attending bluegrass festivals. At the time I was too young to appreciate it, but I met some incredible musicians, including Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, John Cowan and Pat Flynn of New Grass Revival. I also had the pleasure of meeting the Father of Bluegrass himself, Bill Monroe.”
Little did she know it, but these encounters would help shape and influence her songwriting later on.
As her musical influences broadened, Cher Lynn became a house musician at several venues in the Northwest Florida area. She built a loyal fan base the old fashioned way-- with hard work and dedication. In 2001, she joined a bluegrass band where she gained more exposure to local musicians' styles and influence, and it impacted her immensely. “I learned so much playing bluegrass music. It is incredibly technical and fast-paced. I had to re-learn to play the guitar. I loved working out the harmonies—the vocal melodies and instruments blend perfectly.”
She began taking a serious interest in songwriting in early 2006, and it was then that the floodgates opened and she found her passion. “I write about anything that influences me, friends, family, emotion, anything that strikes me in a particular place in a particular time. I try to keep my notebook with me always, but I have been known to scrawl lyrics on a Tastee-Freeze napkin, a paper bag, or on my arm, for that matter. Then, it’s a mad dash to get home and get my hands around a guitar. I write my best songs in a mad rush. Sometimes I feel like I get a waterfall of ideas and I can’t write fast enough. My grandparents recently bought me a cool digital recorder that I keep with me always. I think they were a little concerned for my safety and didn't want me to drive and write at the same time!"
Cher Lynn continues to write songs and pursue her music career, and has recently inked a record deal with the development division of Universal MCA, Platinum Plus Universal Records in Nashville. Her debut album is entitled Nothing But My Earrings On, and Cher Lynn wrote the music and lyrics to the entire album herself. It is currently available on iTunes. You will be hearing her first single release, Blue Collar Wife, on the radio soon, so get those dialing fingers ready!!!
Cher Lynn had the privilege of performing at CMA Fest 2007 in Nashville, and she also was invited to perform at the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival in November 2007. “I am extremely proud of what I have accomplished so far. Honestly, its like a dream. I can't believe the things I have seen and done, and the people that I have met already--and I am just getting started!! I am so grateful to be given a voice to be heard. I have worked with some of the most talented musicians on earth, and I am appreciative and blessed to have crossed paths with them all. I hope to be able to continue to do this for a long long time. This truly makes me happy.”
