Jazz and Blues Vocalist. Songwriter. Actress. Artist. Storyteller. There are defining moments that shape the unique story of our lives. Carrie loves to share her story through musical performances, interweaving known jazz and blues standards with her versatile, award-winning original material. Whether taking a “Sentimental Journey” while reminiscing on her album “Home” or singing the blues on her latest album “Waves”, Carrie, a recent breast cancer survivor, shares hope, joy, struggle and peace through music.
Born to a musical family, Carrie studied classical piano beginning at age 7. She was performing Mozart by age 9 at her local church where her father was the pastor and her mother was the choir director. Feeling somewhat encumbered as a child by having to play “only the notes that other people told her to”, she began writing her own compositions, never realizing where the journey would take her.
By college Carrie was performing on stages across the east coast. An experienced traveler (thanks to several moves around the country) as well as an observer of life and people, Carrie’s writing expressed everything from faith to simple stories of everyday life. Carrie lived in Nashville for four years, which allowed her the privilege of fully studying the art of songwriting under the tutelage of world-class songwriters. She worked as a session singer and performed at many clubs across the city. She also recorded and released her independent CD project “Redemption”, garnering a semi-finalist award with the UK International Songwriter’s Competition for her song,“When Love Was Green”.
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Carrie moved to North Carolina in 2008 and quickly adapted to her new musical home; singing and writing jazz and blues. By 2010 she had won singer/songwriter of the year from the NC Songwriter co-op for her vocal jazz original song, “Queen City”. By 2012, she was named North Carolina’s Top Charlotte Vocalist by the Carolina Entertainment Network. Carrie joined forces with several top musicians in the Carolinas, performing a blend of her jazz, blues, and original music in music festivals and events across the Carolina’s, including such notable events as the Democratic National Convention, Theatre Raleigh Songwriter Series, Knight Theater with the Tosco Music Party, The Blumenthal Theater with Jazz Arts Initiative, Durham's Centerfest, and many more. While in Charlotte she wrote and recorded her jazz inspired album in 2013 entitled “Home”, featuring original songs in the style of the Great American Songbook. Produced by legendary drummer Jim Brock (Indigo Girls, Amy Ray,Kathy Mattea and many more) Home features her song, “Thoughts Unspoken”, which also won the top Ten Finalist award with the UK International Songwriting Competition in 2014.
In 2015, Carrie moved to Raleigh, NC to become the songwriting instructor, vocal coach, and company member at Moonlight Stage Company. In addition to growing her private lesson studio at Moonlight, Carrie has written and produced three, full-length teen/family-friendly musicals with her Moonlight songwriting students. She also composed the musical score and theme song for the 11 time award-winning feature film, “Changeover” (currently on Amazon Prime), produced and directed by Moonlight’s founder, Estes Tarver. Nominated twice for Best Musical Score, she won Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of the role of “Kacy Davis” in “Changeover” at the Love International Film Festival in Los Angeles in 2017.
In the fall of 2018 Carrie returned to the studio with producer/engineer Jason Richmond (Avett Brothers, Nnenna Freelon) to record 20 new songs. The result of these sessions produced a holiday album and a jazz & blues album entitled “Waves”, released in Feb 29th, 2020. Featuring all NC musicians, “the music ranges from passionate bluesy explorations to quieter ballads, from rockish romps to moments of spirituality. “ (Scott Yanow, LA Jazz Scene)
2020 brought many changes, as it did for all. Carrie battled health issues with what she now calls “The Triple C”: A Concussion in January, Covid in July and then a breast Cancer diagnosis in September. Her album Waves was aptly named! With each new wave and seeming setback, Carrie found herself to be soaked, but not completely submerged! 2021 brings with it a renewed hope and optimism, made all the more poignant because of the struggles. She is grateful to have the opportunity to share this with audiences through music.
Awards
2017 Nominated for Best Musical Score, Love International Film Festival, L.A.
2017 Best Supporting Actress, Love International Film Festival, L.A.
2012 Top Charlotte Vocalist
2010 Songwriter of the Year
2014 UK Songwriting Competition Finalist
2008 UK Songwriting Competition semi-finalist
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