Tara La'Dell
Bio & Album Profile for, "New Way Out"
Written by - Edward Morris, Senior editor & writer for Country Music Television.com
There are singers who interpret songs as if they're performing them on an award show- all very assertive and oratorical. Of course, there's absolutely nothing wrong with this approach. It's produced a wealth of show-stopping tunes. But it's not Tara La'Dell's way. Listen to any of her renditions on New Way Out and you'll feel you've drifted into a private conversation, one in which she's sharing her joys, dreams and anxieties only with you. It's country music sung with the subtlety of jazz.
What you're less likely to detect in La'Dell's voice is the fact that she's a down-to-earth Georgia girl who grew up belting out gospel music in her home state, Georgia. That's one story. The other is how she invaded Nashville from New York.
La'Dell was born and raised in Rome, Georgia, where her father still pastors a church and her mother plays piano. "From the time I was around eight," she recalls, "I sang with my mom and dad in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. I grew up surrounded by southern gospel, bluegrass and country & western music."
Before he became a minister, La'Dell's father was a choir director, "he could get everyone in the entire church to sing their best every time." Her mother, she proudly asserts, can "play the keys off a piano and sing with anybody. I put her right up there with Vestal Goodman. My mom and dad were always playing music from Elvis, the Stamps Quartet, Blackwoods, Ray Price, Willie Nelson, Alabama etc...such great stuff. Growing up with parents like mine was a real treat. They will always be not only my first but most precious inspirations."
There were ample musical influences beyond the one's her parents played, La'Dell says, chief among them Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles and Wynonna Judd. When her older sister married a man from New Jersey, La'Dell fell under the sway of eminent Garden Stater's Frank Sinatra and Bruce Springsteen along with New Yorker, Billy Joel.
"I have an affinity for sad songs," La'Dell admits. " They seem to draw me in everytime. I can listen to Roy Orbison singing, 'Only The Lonely' or Hank Williams Sr. sing, 'Someday You'll Call My Name' anytime. Those men had the rare gift to reach through the speakers and rip your heart out. I admire artists who can make that connection. To be able to evoke emotion in another person through music is one of the hardest, but most rewarding attributes an artist can possess."
La'Dell's prime inspiration, however, was a different artist from above. "I remember like it was yesterday," she begins. "I was driving down the road and this song came on. It was Vince Gill singing, 'When I Call Your Name'. It was vocal and lyric perfection. He's got that lonesome tenor voice and phrasing that seems to fall out of his mouth effortlessly. "
Even though Gill rocked her world, La'Dell never visualized herself having a career in music. She rarely performed outside of churches and private circles, and when it came time for college, she put her music behind her. "There were a couple of reasons for this," she says. "First, I didn't know anybody in the business, and I felt sure I needed to. Then, my mom was going through two major surgeries that saved her life. So I felt I needed to stay close to home."
There followed a brief marriage that, sadly, ended in divorce. "After that, I needed a change in my life," La'Dell says. "So I moved to Manhattan. There, you run the race or get run over. And I think I won. I had a successful career, met and married my husband, Christian and had a great time soaking up the scene."
Making an album was the last thing La'Dell had on her mind the morning she waved goodbye to her husband, Christian, as he departed for a business meeting in Washington, D.C. Later that day, he was on the golf course when a playing partner asked what his wife did. Christian explained that she worked with him in the family's financial services business. He went on to say that she was "a great singer" and that he'd often tried to convince her to record an album. "So," says La'Dell, picking up the story, "the guy told him he knew someone in Nashville that he'd like to introduce me to. Christian came home and said, "I want you to do this. It's now or never." And I said yes."
That 'someone in Nashville' was producer and music publisher Terry Choate, a man who had helped guide the careers of Tanya Tucker, Anne Murray, T. Graham Brown and Garth Brooks, among many others. As head of the Nashville Songwriters Foundation, Choate had also distinguished himself as a songwriter's advocate.
Choate recently was involved with production on a gospel album for Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers which was nominated for a Grammy. He's also finished a DVD project that features the Grammy nominated Western Swing band, The Time Jumpers. When speaking with Choate as to how he decided to get involved with La'Dell's project he explained his decision making process. "When I'm considering whether or not to produce a particular artist, I listen for two things. First, a voice that is unique and second, singing that is emotionally believable. Tara's pure voice emerges from the speakers in a subtle and refreshing way and her delivery of a lyric comes from within. She's not trying to dazzle you with vocal acrobatics and licks or force any issue, she simply wants to share with you what she feels when she sings and have you believe her. The most amazing part of the process for me was the way we were instantly drawn to the same songs. We both couldn't wait to record these songs. My job was to surround her with the best musicians, engineers, and arrangers and then let her sing on "both sides of the road" and just guide her away from the ditches !! Recording Tara was a true and special pleasure."
True to La'Dell's taste in music, several of the songs she wound up recording have a distinctly wistful edge. The title cut, "New Way Out" for example, wonders if there's a gentler way to break up a relationship. "Better Off With My Broken Heart" concludes that it's best not to give a lover who's wounded you once a chance to do it twice. "Going Down In History" concedes how difficult it is to sweep an old lover out of your mind. "I Will Be O. K." surveys the difficulty of swimming upstream against a rejection. "There Must Be A Highway" searches for a route that leads away from day-to-day domestic routine.
But there is cheerier fare, too. "Only Always" and "For Your Love" pledge eternal devotion."Thirst" is a flat out declaration of attraction and need. "Lovin' One Woman Well" observes how true love focuses a man's attention (and sharpens his amatory skills). "The Will Of The Wind" advises a calm surrender to forces larger than you. "Soul Deep" expresses a profound contentment with the state of one's love.
The final cut, "Who Did You Love?", is tinged with gospel as it asks "Judgment Day" question, "Who did you give more to than you took from?" But it's very much a here-and-now song as well in suggesting a universal standard to live by.
Listeners will find in Choate's deft production and La'Dell's agile vocals a treasury of rich melodies and finely nuanced emotions.
La'Dell released, "New Way Out" on her own imprint, CastleLion Entertainment in association with The MAGNET Music Group. La'Dell currently resides in Nashville to oversee her musical efforts. She currently is touring all over the country along with writing original songs.
As La'Dell was completing New Way Out, Choate surprised her by taking her backstage at the Grand Ole Opry to meet, Vince Gill. Gill was feeling under the weather that evening, she recalls, "but he still brought many in the crowd to tears when he sat alone on stage with his guitar and sang, "Go Rest High On That Mountain." After the performance, Choate ushered La'Dell over to meet Gill just as he was walking offstage. "He was unbelievable", she marvels. "There he was sick with everybody trying to talk to him, and he took the time to stop and have a conversation with me. Once I could form words, I told him how much he'd inspired me. He proceeded to lean against the wall as if he had nothing else to do, and we talked for 10 minutes. He could see I was a little nervous, so he said, "That's OK, honey. I'm just a hillbilly from Oklahoma."
And that was all a hillbilly from Georgia needed to hear.
www.TaraLadell.com OR http://www.myspace.com/taraladell
MUSICIANSHIP INFORMATION FOR 'NEW WAY OUT':
Below is a list of the musicians and harmony singers that Terry Choate enlisted for Tara's album, 'New Way Out'. They're some of the best in the music industry and Tara was honored to have them play and sing for her debut album. After their name is the instrument they played for Tara's album followed up by a list of some of the other artists they've played or sang harmony for.
Eddie Bayers- Drums & Percussion.
Credits Include: John Denver, Ricky Scaggs, George Strait, Vince Gill, Dolly Parton, Glenn Campbell, The Judds, Alabama, Reba McEntire, Randy Travis, Rodney Crowell, Lyle Lovett, Tammy Wynette, Kenny Rogers, Waylon Jennings, Patty Loveless, Alan Jackson, Conway Twitty, Willie Nelson, Sara Evans, Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams, Jr., George Jones, Toby Keith, Marty Stuart, Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, Trisha Yearwood, Clint Black, Linda Davis, Elton John, Wynonna Judd, Julio Iglesias, Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, Billy Currington, Peter Cetera, & The Beach Boys,
Craig Nelson- Bass.
Credits Include: The Judds, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Randy Travis, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Patty Loveless, Charlotte Church, Trisha Yearwood, James Taylor, Little Big Town, Gaither Vocal Band, Amy Grant, & JoDee Messina.
Dirk Johnson- Piano, Keyboards & B3 Organ.
Credits Include: Keith Whitley, Alan Jackson, Gaither Vocal Band, Bill Anderson, Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, & Florida Boys.
Kirk “Jelly Roll” Johnson- Harmonica.
Credits include: Randy Travis, Reba McEntire, Kenny Rogers, Trisha Yearwood, Shania Twain, Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, Etta James, Lee Ann Womack, The Judds, Gaither Vocal Band, Travis Tritt, & Gary Allen.
Mike Johnson- Pedal Steel Guitar.
Credits Include: Bill Anderson, Dierks Bentley, Big & Rich, Trick Pony, Shannon Brown, & Aaron Tippin.
Paul Leim- Drums & Percussion.
Credits Include: Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, The Monkees, Amy Grant, Wayne Newton, Tom Jones, Roy Orbison, Whitney Houston, Reba McEntire, JoDee Messina, Montgomery Gentry, Barry Manilow, Randy Travis, George Jones, Conway Twitty, Ronnie Milsap, Hank Williams, Jr., Glen Campbell, Martina McBride, Shania Twain, Kenny Chesney, David Foster, Kenny Chesney, Trisha Yearwood, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Neil Diamond, Ricky Skaggs, Linda Davis, & Lyle Lovett.
Tommy Harden- Drums & Percussion.
Credits Include: Reba McEntire, Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers.
Larry Paxton- Bass.
Credits Include: Alabama, George Strait, Tom Jones, Glen Campbell, Kenny Rogers, Reba McEntire, Chet Atkins, Alan Jackson, Willie Nelson, Ricky Skaggs, Roy Orbison, Conway Twitty, Wayne Newton, Roy Clark, George Jones, Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans, Kris Kristofferson, & Martina McBride
Curtis Young- Harmony vocals.
Credits Include: George Strait, Patsy Cline, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Garth Brooks, Ricky Scaggs, Dolly Parton, Conway Twitty, Clint Black, Lee Ann Womack, Tammy Wynette, JoDee Messina, Faith Hill, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Randy Travis, Kenny Rogers, Hank Williams, Jr., Glenn Campbell, Tim McGraw, Merle Haggard, Kenny Chesney, Patty Loveless, Neil Diamond, Keith Urban, Sara Evans, Brooks & Dunn, Willie Nelson, & Toby Keith.
Cindy Walker- Harmony vocals.
Credits Include: Randy Travis, George Jones, Ronnie Milsap, Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Clint Black, JoDeeMessina, Kenny Chesney, Lorrie Morgan ,& Gregg Allman.
Kris Wilkinson- Violin,Viola, & String Arrangements.
Credits include: Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Glen Campbell, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Michael McDonald, Jewel, Dixie Chicks, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Marty Stuart, Keith Urban, Randy Travis, Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton, Martina McBride, Big & Rich, & Trace Adkins.
John Willis- Acoustic Rhythm Guitar, Gut string guitar, & electric guitar.
Credits Include: Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney, Jewel, Brooks & Dunn, Billy Currington, George Jones, Jo Dee Messina, Ronnie Milsap, Gary Allan, Blake Shelton, Van Zant, Wynonna Judd, Le Ann Rimes, John Rich, Faith Hill, Shania Twain, Toby Keith, Glen Campbell, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, Randy Travis, Kenny Rogers, Gretchen Wilson, Gaither Vocal Band, Aaron Neville, Clay Walker, Alabama, & Blackwood Brothers.
Dennis Wilson- Harmony vocals.
Credits Include: Kenny Rogers, Reba McEntire, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Brooks & Dunn, Dolly Parton, Randy Travis, Hank Williams, Jr., Garth Brooks, Marty Stuart, Clint Black, Martina McBride, Emmylou Harris, Conway Twitty, Shania Twain, Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, Trisha Yearwood, Neil Diamond, Ricky Scaggs, LeAnn Rimes, Vince Gill, Sara Evans, George Strait, Faith Hill, Willie Nelson, Chicago, Lee Ann Womack, Blake Shelton, Glen Campbell, & Trace Adkins.
Lisa Silver- Harmony vocals.
Credits Include: Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, Ronnie Milsap, Randy Travis, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Hank Williams, Jr., Glen Campbell, Marty Stuart, Trisha Yearwood, Tom T. Hall, Don Williams, Ray Charles, Lee Ann Womack, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Martina McBride, & George Jones.
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