Country girl Pam has honest sound (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Country girl Pam has honest sound

11:03am Friday 17th April 2009

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AMERICAN country singer and songwriter Pam Tillis is looking forward to coming to Basingstoke as part of her first UK tour.

Touring Britain for a month, an excited Pam, who has just released a new album, Rhinestone, said: “I have been to England to write but in 17 years of touring, I’ve never been there to perform, so I’m looking forward to it!

“And I’m really just promoting me – bringing my music over and doing songs from all my albums.”

The singer, who is the daughter of country legend Mel Tillis and whose hits include It’s All Relative, added: “I do original music and covers. I do appreciate people who only do their own material but there are song-writers out there who don’t want to be in the spotlight or don’t have the voice, and it would be a crime for their music not to get out there.”

Influenced by artists such as The Everly Brothers, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones and especially the Beatles, Tillis enthused: “I told my husband we are definitely going to Liverpool.

“I got to sing with Ringo when he came to Nashville and when I talked to Mr Starr he said The Beatles loved country music and loved my dad – how cool is that!”

Speaking about her father – who had a string of hits in the 1970s – she said: “I was influenced by osmosis. He didn’t sit me down and say this is how you write a song or put on a show. I learned by watching, just by being around it.

“I grew up with country music, but for a while I didn’t want to be type-cast and I tried some other styles because I love all kinds of music.

“As a recording artist, they want to know what bin to put you in. I’m so glad I didn’t just go into country, and had years of going through pop, rock, R ‘n’ B and Jazz.”

Tillis added: “I never cared that much about being a star and did whatever it took to do the next gig or demo, or record the next record, but after a while my songwriting led me back to country.

“It’s honest for me to do that. It’s in my blood so it’s the way it’s supposed to be.”

Pam Tillis is performing at The Anvil on April 28, and tickets, priced at £22, can be booked at the box office, on 01256 844244, or via the website anvilarts.org.uk.

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