New Artist Spotlight: Fanny Grace

New Artist Spotlight: Fanny Grace

By Tamara Saviano

Here is the tale of an Irish Catholic refugee seeking his musical destiny in Los Angeles, and a bright and talented California girl who, together, leave the Mecca of the entertainment world to find fame and fortune in Oklahoma.

Paul Reeves and Carmen Mejia formed Fanny Grace more than a decade ago. In that time, the band released five independent albums, bused coast-to-coast and played the main stage at Lilith Fair.

They've been profiled on scores of television broadcasts, played a major national political rally and have performed at some of the biggest radio stations in the country without a nationally released album.

Fanny Grace won The Album Network and Los Angeles Country radio station KZLA's "Most Promising New Unsigned Artist of 2002" honor in a contest judged by David Foster and Clint Black. Since then, they have performed on the same bill as Chris Cagle, Kenny Chesney, Lonestar and Willie Nelson among others. Their songs have appeared on TV series "Dawson's Creek," "Felicity" and "The Shield," as well as Showtime's "Resurrection Boulevard."

The culmination of this journey is 321 Broadway, the first nationally distributed and promoted album from the band with a 10-year overnight success story. The Windswept Records album featuring "Sweet Tea and Cadillac's" is set for release this summer.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

Who is your musical hero?

Mejia: "Linda Ronstadt."

What do you sing in the shower?

Reeves: "Jim Reeves' songs."

What song do you wish you had written?

Mejia: "'I Will Always Love You' by the Queen of Country Music Dolly Parton."

What moment in your life would you relive if you could?

Reeves: "The day I found out I was dyslexic and not dumb."

Who is your dream duet partner?

Mejia: "My future husband Keith Urban."

When they look back on your life 50 years from now, what do you hope people say about you?