Anna Marie

Anna Marie's sound is a refreshing mix of country, rock & blues, which she describes as alternative country. She has a haunting yet powerful voice, energetic personality, heartfelt lyrics and a skillful touch on the guitar. Anna Marie consistently charms her audiences, taking them along on an emotion-filled journey.
Although she didn't know it at the time, Anna Marie’s music career really began in grade school when she found herself listening to Kathy Mattea, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Emmylou Harris. While the rest of her friends were listening and going to see No Doubt and Madonna concerts she was attending Emmylou Harris shows. "My first guitar I had to beg my parents for. They didn’t believe at 12 years old and after seeing one Judd's concert that I was serious about music,” says Anna Marie.
It was during her high school years that she decided to not just play music but to perform and write her own material. “I landed my first gig during an open mic at a local coffee shop. The manager came up to me and loved my stuff and wanted to book me for Friday and Saturday night shows”.
Anna Marie was so intrigued after gigging at the local coffee shop, that soon after she started pursuing more gigs and landed performances almost every single Friday and Saturday night during high school. “It’s where I learned to perform and the sacrifice it takes to do music,” admits Anna Marie. “Instead of spending my time partying with friends I wanted to spend my time playing with great musicians and songwriters”.
Though she wasn’t on the radio, Anna Marie found herself learning more and more about entertaining and writing music. She soon joined the Nashville Songwriters Association International, (NSAI), the Newport Songwriters Association, (NSA) and the California Country Music Association, (CCMA) which she joined as a performer/artist.
In 1999 and 2000 she entered the CCMA (California Country Music Association) yearly competition. She received the awards for Vocalist of the Year, Instrumentalist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year for Starting Over and Never Ending Song (Two Hearts) and Song of the Year for Found Someone. In Tennessee, at the NACMAI (North American Country Music Association International), she was nominated for the Vocalist of the Year, Instrumentalist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, and Song of the Year for Found Someone. “It was such an amazing experience being in Tennessee. There was so much talent there and I was very honored and excited to receive the nominations and the awards,” she says.
Anna Marie invited her sister-in-law, Tina Michelle to play acoustic guitar and sing background vocals and was then able to form The Anna Marie Band. From the small acoustic solo coffee shops gigs to having a full band, Anna Marie booked shows at many Orange County and Los Angeles venues, including; The Coach House, The Galaxy, The Crazy Horse, The Sawdust Festival, The Festival of Whales in Dana Point, The Orange County Fair, The LA Fair and many more. "Getting these gigs opened up a whole new world,” says Anna Marie.
She also landed gigs playing with such acclaimed artist as Hal Ketchum, Ty Herndon, The Oakridge Boys, Zachary Provost (Zachary was Musical Director for Josh Groban), Billy Vera & The Beaters, Songwriter Kevin Fisher, Craig Morgan, Aaron Lines, The Nelson and Sally Taylor. “It was a blast! The energy, the music, the performers, the audience. There’s nothing like it!” explains Anna Marie.
After meeting up with a local producer Anna Marie went into the studio and started recording some music. It was then she was greeted with not just the business side, but the element of music that has truly become her own, the honor of song writing and recording. “When I began to record and take my own writing to task I really felt I was giving the art of songwriting my own feel, I felt I had finally arrived at a point where I knew I had truly grown not just as an artist but as a person”
Anna Marie took some time off in 2006 and 2007 to get married and have her daughter. She couldn’t stay away though. During that time she hosted for two and a half years one of Orange County’s most successful ‘Songwriters in the Round’ in history. “We had all kinds of songwriters from aspiring new songwriters to award winning songwriters. It was one of the best experiences I’ve had musically. Not to mention the chance to meet some amazing friends and be involved in great music,” tells Anna Marie.
Anna Marie has an established band of highly talented musicians, songwriters and singers. She is working on new material all the time and loving every minute of it. She is always anxious to keep performing. Anna Marie’s music touches and tugs at the hearts of all. She has mastered the most important ingredient of good music… feeling. “Music is in my blood, it will never go away. I write and sing about what I feel, see and know is real” Anna Marie shares. “I set out to take my audience on an emotional roller coaster. One that will always leave them wanting more!”