Album Notes

*A nice clean acoustic guitar.¨

That is Shannon Reigns favorite accompaniment. The new voice rising in country music is not in Nashville, but in Oregon. And it belongs to Reigns. Just like that acoustic guitar, Reigns' voice delivers clean and clear whether she is singing Country, Christian or Gospel.

Born in Los Angeles California, this Oregon resident is a true artist having written or co-written all of the songs on her debut CD, "A Place In My Heart." The words have been with her since high school, but it wasn't until she matured some that she felt the thoughts needed to be brought to life through music.

"My lyrics come from personal situations," she says. "But the experiences of my friends and family also provide me with a lot of inspiration. Sometimes those experiences lead to frustration, an emotion to which everyone can relate. But that only makes the lyrics very effective in communicating with the listener."

Reigns has fronted bands whose styles range from early rock-n-roll to bluegrass, but she could never escape the church-influenced country music that coursed through her. She continues to write and perform worship and gospel songs in her church. With many more songs in the works, Reigns hopes to produce a gospel CD before the year's end.

"Christianity is just a big part of my life," Reigns says. "I really just want to portray Christianity in my music as much as I can. It's who I am."

Her music recalls the classic and contemporary country hits that are a part of her repertoire. But it is Reigns' voice and presence that captivates her audience's hearts and minds.

A finalist in many regional singing competitions, her style is a unique blend of traditional country sound and modern country songwriting. Her mid-range alto is sometimes Rosanne Cash, sometimes Anne Murray and sometimes Karen Carpenter.

"My plan is pretty simple,¨ she says. "I am not setting out to become the next big country music star. I am no diva. I just want to be able to make a living playing music."

Oregon may not be Nashville, but for now it is the perfect accompaniment for the career for Reigns, her words and her voice.