Vicki Blankenship profile picture

Vicki Blankenship

Love is like a guitar

About Me


Singer songwriter Vicki Blankenship put out her debut CD in 2003 and started to pursue her music career full time in 2004 and followed up with her second CD release "Horizons" in January 2005. She then founded Indie Music For Life , a nonprofit organization that raises money for cancer research and an eductional awareness program on music and laughter as therapy for cancer patients and in May 2005 Indie Music For Life, Inc became an official 501(c)3. Indie Music For Life works with Indie artists all over the world to produce compilation CDs and to organize concert benefits. In October 2005 Vicki took over the Indiegrrl organization from her songwriter friend Holly Figueroa O'Reilly who wanted a much needed rest. In 2006 Indie Music For Life added Indiegrrl as an entity of the non profit and in 2007 added another entity Laughs For Life that works with comedians to raise money in the fight against cancer.
Vicki has put a lot of personal energy into the non profit and in promoting Indie artists in general and now sits on the board as an advisor. Vicki's dedication to the growth of Indiegrrl in promoting women in music as well as putting focus on the organization joining the fight against cancer, shows her commitment to raising awareness to both women in the arts and finding a cure for cancer.
Both of her CDs have garnered critical praise and have been featured on various radio shows in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia, including Sirius Satelite Radio. Winner of several songwriting awards and honors, Vicki toured coast-to-coast in 2004, 2005, and 2006 promoting both CDs and appearing in over 300 different venues, festivals, and conferences as both a performer and guest speaker. She has appeared in some of the most notable top acoustic venues including Eddie's Attic in Decatur, GA, Main Street Cafe in Homestead, FL, The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, TN, World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, PA, The Knitting Factory in New York City, Club Passim in Cambridge, MA and The EMP in Seattle, WA. Her list of festival and conference appearances include impressive showcases at the Rockrgrrl Conference, National Folk Alliance Conference, The Ohio LBA Festival, The Virginia Women's Festival, The Southern Women's Festival, MACRoCK Conference, Festival For Change, Swiftwaters Women's Music in the Mountains Festival, Provincetown, MA Women's Week and numerous Indie Music For Life events in 9 different states.
At times she was joined on stage by the very talented musicians, Cindy Adler, Les Scarborough, Gabe Pline, Steve Mays, Leslie Berry, Vange Durst, Rich Kulsar, Jen Lowe, Melissa Massey, Phyllis Free, Steve Wolfe, Allison Tartalia, Kit Holmes and more playing duo, trio, and full band performances that were always high energy shows that featured her wide range of vocal talents and musical arrangements.
Register to showcase and attend the 2008 Indiegrrl Women in the Arts Conference
Purchase the new 2008 Indie Music For Life Compilation CD projects by going to their website retail store at http://www.indiemusicforlife.org The children's music CD features 22 artists and sales for $10 and the regular CD is a double disc set this year that features 37 Indie artists from around the world and sales for $12. That is a STEAL ! ! !

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 4/17/2005
Band Website: spottedkivaproductions.com
Band Members:

Love is like a guitar. The music stops every now and then but the strings always remain.

CURRENT MOON lunar phase:

Get 'Running' to purchase Vicki's CDs and go directly to these links.

Don't Forget To Breathe .

Horizons .

I love chicks that dance ! !

Vicki Blankenship is that rare artist that comes along from the shadows of nowhere and blows away everybody that hears her perform. Her voice can hit a high pure pitch and then growl into the depths of rock and roll in the next breath. It is that great diversity that have many comparing her to the great Janis Joplin or the haunting images of Stevie Nicks. But sometimes the country girl shines through in comparison to the spunk of Mary Chapin Carpenter and the pure vocals of Patsy Cline. She is a writer of great depth not only in songs but poetry and blogs. She gets right to the heart of things with an insightful mind that examines truth and presents it in a simple, honest, touching, direct, and a most poignant manner. She is complex and has a deep inner drive. She is a self confessed workaholic in need of more play time.

Vicki's songs move people, her life inspires people, and her blogs inform people. Meeting her in person is an energy charge. Hearing her perform live will glue you to the edge of your seat, hanging on to every lyric. But by the end of the night you will be dancing if you get to experience the energy she throws from the stage when performing with her full band. Her songs will hit you dead in the heart and stick to your mind.

Vicki is also joined on stage at times by some very talented musicians as she tours around. Here are a few that have shared stage with Vicki. Les Scarborough (guitar), Steve Mays (bass guitar), Gabe Pline (drums), Leslie Berry (keyboards), Rick Mithcell (bass guitar), Cindy Adler (bass guitar), Jen Lowe (percussion), Melissa Massey (drums/percussion), Kit Holmes (keyboards), Vange Durst (guitar), Rich Kulsar (drums and percussion), Allison Tartalia (keyboards), Phyllis Free (drums and percussion) and many more. Her performances whether solo, duo, trio, or full band are always energy driven and captivate the audience.

Influences: Vicki's influences are wide and it shows as she writes in many genres of music. She grew up with a great grandfather that was a banjo player and was surrounded by blue grass and country music, and also a grandfather who was a jazz and big band drummer. She then staked claim on loving the rock and roll era of the 60's and 70's while attending Franklin County High School in Rocky Mount, VA and with the disco era and the dance music infusion while attending Elon University in North Carolina. So her songs show a fusion of different genres of music but her lyrics are from her heart only.Vicki self professes to listen to mostly Indie artists now although some of her favorite label signed artists and bands are Carol King, Etta James, Patsy Cline, Emmylou Harris, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Alison Krauss, Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks, Heart, Sting, Billy Joel, Crosby-Stills-Nash and Young, America, Doobie Brothers, Steve Miller Band, The Beatles, Marvin Gaye, Billie Holiday, Bruce Springsteen, and Melissa Etheridge who she also admires for her fight against cancer and raising awareness and money to fight the disease.

Visit Indiegrrl

The Baby that stole my heart.

Kiva rules the travel van.
Sounds Like:

Weapon of Choice

Second Weapon of Choice

.. "Les Scarborough Lead Guitar.. "Gabe Pline DrummerNew band family member Little Miss Grace Pline and proud parents Gabe and Melissa. Grace is going to be the future percussionist of the group... "Steve Mayes Bass Guitar.. "Leslie Berry KeyboardsVicki Blankenship & The Posse Band
Record Label: Spotted Kiva Productions
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

In Search Of........

Yes once again I have been searching the internet for alternate therapies to help in fighting cancer because traditional meds and chemos wreak havoc on the immune system and body. I feel like I am 10...
Posted by Vicki Blankenship on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:52:00 PST

2008 Indiegrrl Conference Announces Keynote Speakers

First Annual Indiegrrl Conference Announces Influential Keynote SpeakersBonnie Bramlett, Molly Neuman to share music industry expertise with conference attendeesFor immediate releaseMay 28, 2008 M...
Posted by Vicki Blankenship on Sun, 01 Jun 2008 09:53:00 PST

Vicki Genfan video & MP3 for cancer

Sometimes you just have to give a shout out to one of your songwriting friends and today I do that for Vicki Genfan.  Her new song "Cause of You" will put a tear and a smile on your face.  A...
Posted by Vicki Blankenship on Sun, 11 May 2008 02:55:00 PST

Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there and may this day be a special day full of memories.  I have the pleasure of having two great moms in my life.  My mother Mary Ann who is 67 and m...
Posted by Vicki Blankenship on Sun, 11 May 2008 07:51:00 PST

4 days left to submitt to showcase

Four Days Left.................... To get your submissions in to showcase at the Indiegrrl Conference.  If chosen to showcase you get your conference pass at half price which is only $50 to atten...
Posted by Vicki Blankenship on Sat, 26 Apr 2008 03:41:00 PST

Thank You

Thank you to everyone who came out and supported the Indie Music For Life fundraiser at Paris Decatur last night.  The crowd was great, lots of happy people left with some really nice raffle priz...
Posted by Vicki Blankenship on Sat, 26 Apr 2008 09:15:00 PST

Showcase Submission Deadline 4/30 for Indiegrrl Conference

Not since the 2005 Rockrgrl Conference has there been a conference dedicated to showcasing women.  Indiegrrl Women in the Arts is producing their first conference on August 21 to 24 in Spencer, V...
Posted by Vicki Blankenship on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:24:00 PST

My Horoscope Today

OK I do read my horoscopes sort of as an amusement thing.  But today's horoscope is a blessing and it really cheered me up. "People are drawn to you now and while you may not need everyone all at...
Posted by Vicki Blankenship on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:56:00 PST

Cancer Does Not Discriminate

Today in a matter of minutes my moods shifted all over the map.  I went from happiness playing with my dog and enjoying a morning cup of coffee on my deck enjoying the blooming trees, azalea bush...
Posted by Vicki Blankenship on Sun, 20 Apr 2008 10:58:00 PST

Spring Flowers for Everyone

Hi Everyone, Go plant yourself a virtual cyber Spring Flower Garden. Have FUN ! ! ! ! !  http://www.procreo.jp/labo/flower_garden.swf  Copy and paste this link in your brouser and design yo...
Posted by Vicki Blankenship on Sat, 19 Apr 2008 12:25:00 PST