Kathy has been in the music business for over 35 years. She has performed as a solo artist and in several duos, along with 25 years as rhythm guitarist and vocalist for Seattle Band, City Zu performing on the Nevada casino circuit and at Northwest casinos, clubs and private parties.
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Seattle native, Woody Carr is indeed the Heart and Soul of the Pacific Northwest. Throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s Woody performed with his bands, Woody & The El Caminos, Woody & the Entertainers and the band Noises & Sounds. He also was a studio singer in the infamous Audio Recording in Seattle, resulting in a number of West Coast hit records.
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Merrilee was schooled by the great R&B acts such as Ike and Tina Turner and raised with the great rock sound of the Pacific Northwest. As countless groups and artists came and went, Merrilee endured. The literal millions who have seen her perform live stand witness to her stellar record of achievements, including Number one single in seven countries’, decades of sold out shows, appearances on network television shows including American Bandstand, The Johnny Cash Show and The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour. Merrilee’s many talents continue to earn great praise and high awards. But for those who have been blessed by her music, the highest place she could ever hold is that very place she has held for so long – a place in our hearts.
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Growing up in a small town in the late ‘50s, Brian’s love for music began listening to 50s and old country artists like Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash. But when he heard The Beatles at a neighbor’s house on her 45 RPM record player, his world got a whole lot bigger. Mom noticed, bought him and his brother guitars at Monkey Wards and paid for lessons. In Jr. High, on a ski trip a “blonde girl” played her guitar and sang John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High” and he fell in love, mostly with the “blond girl”, but also with that beautiful guitar and voice. So, Brian saved his money from work and bought a new guitar at age 15 for 89 dollars and started concentrating on artists like Cat Stevens, John Denver, Noel Paul Stookey, America, the Beatles and James Taylor. Brian’s first gigs included Young Life Club in high school, worship bands weddings and some memorials.
In the 80s Brian earned his master’s degree and spent the next 33 years as a high school counselor. During this time he began writing songs. “I’ve written hundreds of songs in my life, some good, some not so good, but I’ll keep trying. Music influences me, moves me, stirs my soul, communicates in ways nothing else does. As long as I have breath and am able, I’ll be playing my guitar. My life really began when I discovered that God loves me and really likes me too. He’s blessed me with an amazing woman and 40 years of marriage, two incredible children who also play, sing and write music, a beautiful daughter-in-law and two happy, smart and beautiful granddaughters. Life is full, I’m so grateful and music helps connect us all.”
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Britt’s earliest memory of music was her father singing and playing guitar to her before bed. She started performing with her father at churches and schools before she was 7 years old, with a highlight of performing for the U.S. Ambassador and other delegates for United Nations Day in Athens, Greece, where she lived for two years.
After moving back to the states Britt fell in love with music from artists such as James Taylor, Brandi Carlile, Fleetwood Mac, and more and continues to be inspired by them to this day.
Britt currently resides in South Florida. Far away from her home and her father, she taught herself to play the guitar and began writing her own original songs. Inspired to create she built her own recording studio in her new home in Florida where she continues to chase that love and inspiration for music and song writing.
After making the move from her home town in Washington State to Bakersfield, California, Jackie graduated from Business College and worked as a bookkeeper in Santa Barbara. Influenced by Elvis, Linda Ronstadt, Heart, Pat Benatar and others she began singing in Bakersfield clubs with the Wayne Seaton Band, the group that also played on some of the tracks from the album. In addition to club work, doors opened for her to sing at Rodeos, leading worship for Cowboy Church and helping many worship teams through the years. Eventually she became one of the lead vocalists to a street ministry in Bakersfield called Crossfire. There she served for over a decade, holding monthly services at The Mission at Kern, Teen Challenge Mens Ranch in Shafter, Keepers of the Cross (motorcycle ministry) in Oildale, Ca, and Church Without Walls in the heart of Oildale, California.
Jackie now lives with her husband Jim, and three children in Grants Pass, Oregon, serving on a worship team at LifeLink Church.
The son of country singer/guitarist Merle Travis, Thom Bresh was born in Hollywood, California. Beginning at a young age, he acted in films and recorded his own music. Later he also worked as a movie stuntman. He moved to Seattle in the late 60s and became a studio musician at the infamous Audio Recording for producer Tex Hughes. He also continued to record his own tracks including the 1971 solo single “D.B. Cooper” which told the story of the famous airplane hijacker.
In 1976 Bresh landed his first charted single, “Home Made Love” recording for Kapp Records. It made number six on the Hot Country Songs chart. That same year he was nominated by the Academy of Country Music as Top New Male Vocalist. He went on to record for ABC Records including ”Kicked Back” in 1977 and “Portrait” a year later, both produced by Jimmy Bowen.
Thom hosted a weekly television variety program, “Nashville Swing” and made regular appearances on the Merv Griffin Show. He played no less than nine instruments, including the tuba and the steel guitar and also sang. He was a celebrity impressionist that led him to a couple of HBO specials with Rich Little.
Thom was taught his famous “finger-picking” style of guitar-playing by his dad, Merle Travis. He was inducted into the “Thumbpickers Hall of Fame in 2001.
Bresh was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2021 and died in Nashville on May 23, 2022. Thom was 74 years old.
Desert Diamond Records 