“Sarah Tollerson reminded me of a young, extremely happy, Joni Mitchell. Sarah has the unique ability to exude simultaneous cheer and cynicism in the same song. In an industry that dishes out more of the latter, this is a girl to whom I have a feeling it just won't matter. She'll keep on getting better and better and writing the songs with which her fan base connects.â€
-Cindy Lou Harrington, President, Georgia Music Industry Association (2001-2004)
Paying the rent on time might be accomplishment enough for most twenty somethings, forget a burgeoning music career. But not for Athens, Georgia's own songstress Sarah Tollerson. Music is in her genes.
Sarah, who has been compared to artists such as Sheryl Crow, learned guitar from her father while she was still in middle school and it's been sweet music ever since. She counts Jump Little Children, The Counting Crows, Sara Bareilles, and No Doubt among the influences for her pop and blues driven acoustics. She’s graced the stages of countless venues across Georgia including The Georgia Theatre, Tasty World, Red Light Café, 106 West, Nuci’s Space, DT’s Downunder, and Flicker Theater where she shared the stage with artists such as Kyle Patrick (The Click Five), David Mead, and Bain Mattox. She was also awarded first place at the 2004 Athens MUSIC Project Open Mic Competition.
Along with playing numerous venues, Sarah has also made several live radio appearances. First appearing on Atlanta's 99X Morning Show 'Your Big Break with Barnes, Leslie and Jimmy', Sarah performed her fast-paced and upbeat hit “Freaks Like Me.†She branched out a few years later, performing two originals, “This Old Jacket†and “Natural Star†for Milledgeville's Z97’s Sunday ritual, Almost Famous—a gig that put her in frequent rotation on the station.
If there’s one thing to be said about this songbird, it’s her ability to work a crowd. "Her song 'Natural Star' says it all... when Sarah is on stage, she grabs the attention and respect of everyone in the audience with her catchy riffs and lyrical stories,†says Athens Open Mic representative Alec Wooden. She already has a great fan base that just keeps growing. “I love my fans,†says Sarah, “they’re crazy, they’re loud, and they sing along.â€
After several years as a solo act, in 2005 Sarah decided to take on a band: Trevor Wooden (guitar/vocals) Alec Wooden (bass/vocals) and Joe Bleakley (drums), fondly known among their fans as "The Big Fantastic." Despite the band's tremendous success in Georgia, Sarah made the decision to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston where she relocated in January of 2006. She continues to turn heads in her captivating live performances and in August 2007 independently released her debut full length album, "Keeping Old Love Letters."
The road ahead looks promising for budding star Sarah Tollerson.
Samantha Kirby
"Keeping Old Love Letters" Trailer
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