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Karen Pendley I'll Be There |
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Karen is a native of North Carolina, born and raised in the Yadkin County area located very close to Winston-Salem. From a musical family, her father - Carl Joyner, also an accomplished fiddler - plays fiddle at various events and festivals and her mother plays piano and sings. Karen cites her parents as being very influential in the early development of her musical career. While still in High School, she was a member of one of the first all female Bluegrass Bands and performed in a variety of Bluegrass competitions and festivals throughout the Carolinas and Virginia. Karen has appeared as opening act for Reba McEntire, Tanya Tucker, Lori Morgan, Emmylou Harris, Steve Wariner, Ronnie Milsap, Gene Watson, Sawyer Brown, Bellamy Brothers, Marie Osmond, Billy Joe Royal, Carlene Carter, Tom T. Hall, Connie Smith, Ronnie McDowell, Mel Tillis and Sweethearts of the Rodeo to name a few. Karen has also been a featured singer with the “Nashville Swing Band” with the legendary fiddler Buddy Spicher, who was a very influential part of her current CD, and has backed up artists such as: Jack Greene, Connie Smith, Jim Ed Brown, Bill Anderson, Johnny Russell, Jeanne Pruitt, Jeanie Sealy, Little Jimmy Dickens, Billy Walker, Box Car Willie, Vern Gosdin, Porter Wagoner, Jan Howard, and Ricky Van Shelton among others.
She is now working in the bands of Julie Reeves and Mindy McCready
as harmony vocalist, fiddle and acoustic guitar player, as well as
appearing at the Ryman Auditorium. The
album kicks off with the title track, a great version of the Ray Price
hit, "I'll Be There." I just
love the staccato she adds in the line "If you're ever gonna
lo-o-ove me." Next up is a western/swing version of "A Fool Such As I," with some great fiddle playing from Karen. This has to be one of the best versions I've heard of this much covered song.
Other western/swing tunes on here are the mid paced,
"Misery." a song that has her telling her man, he'll
be sorry one day for walking out and leaving her, the very catchy
"You Take Me For Granted" is a wonderful ditty, in waltz time, that many women could probably relate too. Men take heed! "If I Needed You" see's her team up with none other than - "The Voice" - Vern Gosdin for a fine version of this classic, Townes Van Zandt song, while "Blackberry Blossom" is a jazz flavoured instrumental tune, that allows Karen to show her exceptional prowess on the fiddle.
Other tracks on the album include the love ballad,
"Until Now,"
and three tracks that just didn't work for me.
"In Care Of The Blues" isn't a bad song, but I don't
think it is a right choice for Karen, as with John Conlee's
"No Relief In Site" and the jazz standard,
"My Funny Valentine." 9 out of 12 tracks can't be bad for a debut album, or any album if it comes to that, and there is no doubt, Karen is a very talented lady with a big future ahead of her. I
have no hesitation in recommending Karen Pendley, or this album, especially
if you have a liking for western/swing, which is where I feel Karen
excels. |
