A BIO:
Erinn Bates was born and raised in Nashville, TN and is the last of four siblings. She started playing piano by ear at age 6 and was picking out her own melodies to her own songs soon after. At 13, she became involved in musical theater and was cast as the lead role, “Mariaâ€, in The Sound of Music. In high school, she was cast in every play and musical, picked up the guitar, and began to focus on her songwriting. After graduation, she stayed close to home attending Belmont University and started networking with songwriters on Music Row with the help of her friend and Country Radio veteran, Buzz Ledford. While attending Belmont, she interned for Hamstein, Capitol Records, was a part-time DJ for a secondary radio station, and was introduced to the Judd’s producer, Brent Maher. At his studio, she sang demos and met hit songwriters, Mark Selby and Tia Sillers. They helped her find songs that fit her unique country style and soon after, she recorded her first demo with Maher and Selby producing.
With a few of those songs, cover tunes, and songs she had written alone, she and her band opened for country stars, Confederate Railroad and Sammy Kershaw that summer. Several months and a few gigs later, her demo found its way to artist manager, Dale Morris, and he played it for the former Sony Nashville VP, Mark Wright. With two guitar players backing her up in a full A&R panel audition, she scored an artist development deal in the spring of '05. That year she continued to perform, write and record with Mark Selby and Tia Sillers, and played songwriter venues. She recorded her demo for Sony that fall, however; it was never heard by A&R. The company was merging with BMG and in January of '06, Wright told her to come back in a year. When the time came to go back, Wright had ended his contract with Sony. Since then Erinn moved to Las Vegas, performed briefly with a country show band, and wrote over 200 songs. The west gave the singer a new prospective on her music, writing, and life in general. She has never been more ready to make her mark on this town. Great things are in the works for this Nashville native.
A NON BIO:
Hi! I’m a country singer and a southern girl born and raised in Nashville, TN. My parents are from Hohenwald, TN---exactly how it sounds when pronounced correctly. My mom is an unbelievably talented Southern cook and had an interesting upbringing. Her father, grandfather, and great grandfather were moonshiners. One went to prison. My dad is a computer genius and a die-hard traditional country fan. We have Cherokee Indian blood. I am the baby of the family--age differences are 20 yrs, 18 yrs, and 13 yrs. Very much the baby.
My life is music. I write my own songs and record
some of them in my house. A few that are on the pop-side have been on Guiding Light, the soap opera.
I'm a Belmont University Graduate.
My favorite thing to do besides music is drive, or at least ride in a car for long periods of time. I love to see new places and faces.
My musical style is traditional country with quite a bit of my own soul.
I lived in Las Vegas for a year and a half. Sang in a country show band. I can proudly say that I sang in the coolest dive bar in the desert.
My name means “peace†in Irish Gaelic. My best friend’s name is Hope. If I could have dinner with anyone it would be Dolly Parton.
My guitar is purple.
My favorite song to play live is “What If We Flyâ€. My favorite song that I have written is "Colorblind To All But Blue".
I am an Aquarius and true to the sign.
My hair is naturally very curly.
I love songs about cowboys and Jesse James.
My favorite sound is a steel guitar.
I live to write and write to live (well not yet exactly on the last part). One day. Oh yeah, I'm a total optimist.
XOXOXOXO--Erinn Bates
My journeys have included performances in Tennessee at The Bluebird Cafe, D&T Pub in Franklin!, Jesse Zane's Nashville Nights, 95.5 WSM FM, 99.7 FM Sportstalk, Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, Belmont University, The Wildhorse Saloon, Gaylord Opryland Hotel, Stars in the Smokies Music Festival, Downtown Bristol, Hall of Fame Lounge, Douglas Corner, Bellevue Community Church, and many more to come!
This layout was handmade with love by the folks at My space or yours? using original artwork by Marah Johnson. Go get one!
