Maren Morris

At first glance it's easy to dismiss a singer-songwriter who seems to have just appeared on the music scene; especially a young female. In the case of Maren Morris that would be a mistake on several counts. Mention "teen singer" and eyes roll and stereotypes spring to mind, but one phrase sung with this vocalist and all that evaporates.

Maren has been performing live for many years and recorded her first CD titled "Walk On", at age 14. She also writes and performs her own music in her band. The Arlington, Texas high school student released her second record of all-original tunes in October 2007 titled "All That It Takes".

Her style transcends Rock, Country, Blues and Pop styles, with soulful vocals that invite yet defy comparison to current and past musical performers. Maverick Magazine (UK) said Maren "...conjures Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt and Natalie Maines" while the Fort Worth Weekly called her "...a tiny hurricane of blue-eyed soul." Whatever you call her Maren's innate vocal phrasing, intuitive writing and solid guitar performances stun audiences at live shows and shine through in her recordings.

Maren attended the first ever Grammy Camp, presented by the Recording Academy, as the only Texas artist invited - helped by an introduction through the Texas Music Project - among 43 students from across the nation. The Camp teamed her with other songwriters, musicians and music industry greats such as producers David Foster and Paul Williams. She is also a voting member of the Academy.

The singer/songwriter has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with such talent as Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Cheyenne Kimball, Bob Schneider, Monte Montgomery and the Randy Rogers Band. She was named 2007 Songwriter of the Year and the 2006 and 2007 Female Vocalist of the Year by the Fort Worth Weekly and Rising Star of the Year at the 2005 Terry Awards. A tour of England in the summer of 2006 marked Maren's first foray outside the United States, consisting of five live shows and three BBC appearances with a trip to France coming in the summer of 2008.

Maren Morris has been paying her dues for years and is finally earning the respect of her peers and others across the music industry. Those who might once have viewed her as a novelty must now reckon with the fact that she has grown in all areas of music. Her writing, vocal ability and guitar playing have all come of age.