The Stephanie Eason Band captures the spirit of contemporary country music with a flare of bluegrass, rock, traditional country, and pop mixed in. The variety of styles appeals to a broader audience while staying true to Stephanie’s country roots. The band's sound could be compared to that of Lady Antebellum or Miranda Lambert with the classic charm of Patsy Cline or Emmylou Harris. The Stephanie Eason Band draws its influence from many styles of music, and this is apparent in the tracks included in their debut album, "The Red Letter Days". released in May of 2010.
The title of the album, “The Red Letter Days”, reflects Stephanie’s feelings about the recording and this exciting period in her life. Traditionally, schools and churches marked special dates on the calendar such as Christmas or graduation with large, easy visible red ink. These events were called “Red Letter Days”. Stephanie and the band feel that this album is a truly special collaboration, and the title was appropriate as the beginning of what will be a lasting relationship with both the musicians and the audience.
The album was recorded, mixed, and mastered on Nashville’s Music Row at 16 Ton Studios. It was produced by John Rickard and engineered by Mike Esser. 16 Ton Studios, owned by Danny White (formerly of Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers) have also recorded albums for Paul Deakin of The Mavericks, Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes, and many others. The studio provided a very warm and inviting atmosphere and the band drew a lot of inspiration from the memorabilia hanging on the walls and around the studio.
The twelve songs included on “The Red Letter Days” are the culmination of the experiences of all the band members. Each member has a distinctive “voice”, and it is what makes the album and band stand out from the crowd. Stephanie’s almost angelic vocals are the glue that pulls the entire ensemble together. The varying writing styles of the band are apparent.
The band, composed of Stephanie Eason (vocals, fiddle, acoustic), Brandon Kinser (drums), Mike Galli (mandolin, vocals, pedal steel, rhythm guitar), Josh Sampson (lead guitar), and Eric Gilboe (bass, vocals), approached the songwriting process from a group effort, with one of the group bringing in lyrics and a basic chord progression. From there, each member added their “ingredients” to the mix to allow the songs to grow organically.
For tour dates and additional info about the band, visit www.stephanieeason.com
About Stephanie:
Stephanie’s musical journey began in elementary school when she began learning to play the fiddle and piano. Within a few years, she was performing at every opportunity, with her first real taste of success coming in the summer of 2004 when she was a finalist out of more than 4000 entries for the “Gimme the Mike!” challenge. The contest was hosted by KTVK TV in Phoenix and was designed to showcase some of the Southwest’s most talented vocalists.
In June of 2005, Stephanie was invited to perform with Naomi Judd (of the legendary Judds) at the Arizona Women’s Expo. Stephanie was honored to share the stage with Naomi, and it inspired her to continue developing her vocal talents. The Arizona Women’s Expo is one of the top five consumer events (for attendance) held in Arizona each year, and is dedicated to the needs of women and their lifestyles.
In August of 2006, Stephanie was invited to join CMA® award winning radio personalities Tim and Willy as part of their “All Earl” Band. The band does parodies of current and classic country songs as well as original material and is made up of an all star cast of musicians such as Ray Herndon (of McBride and the Ride fame). Stephanie is an honorary “Earlene”, and still performs with them regularly at festivals and events around the Southwest.
In 2007, Stephanie was given the honor of performing at one of the nation’s largest country events…Country Thunder USA. This annual concert event draws nearly 100,000 visitors each year, and is headlined by acts such as Tim McGraw, Montgomery Gentry, Keith Urban, and Alan Jackson. 2010 marked Stephanie’s fourth year performing at the event.
Stephanie has also had the opportunity to open shows for such artists as Randy Travis, Collin Raye, Eli Young Band, Terri Clark, Clint Black, Blake Shelton, Little Big Town and Katrina Elam.
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