Angela Easterling brings modern country sound to library Sept. 9

Angela Easterling Nationally known singer and guitarist Angela Easterling, who is currently starring in two national commercials and is the featured singer on one of them, will bring her modern country sound to Gaffney on Tuesday, Sept. 9, when she performs in a Music Sandwiched-In concert at the Cherokee County Public Library from12:15-1 p.m. A free lunch will be provided by The Friends of the Library.

Easterling was raised in the South Carolina foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the daughter of a Baptist minister. Much of her childhood was spent on the farm that has been in her family since 1791. While country roots run deep for the Taylors native, it wasn't until she moved to Los Angeles that the country calling in her soul became a siren's song.

A performer all her life, Easterling had begun playing guitar and writing songs while studying at Emerson College in Boston. More and more, her music returned to the place her heart called home. As she began honing her writing skills and playing live shows, other artists began to spark her imagination, including Emmylou Harris, Loretta Lynn, the Carter Family and Johnny Cash.

Taylors native Angela Easterling will perform a Music Sandwiched-In concert on Tuesday, Sept. 9, at the Cherokee County Public Library. All those honky-tonk Saturdays and gospel-drenched Sundays have paid off for Easterling, who has embraced her heritage in a big way on her debut album, Earning Her Wings.

Working "bit by bit" over two years at various Southern California studios, she amassed a lot of material. In 2006, she took all of the pieces to James O'Connell, drummer and producer of West Coast Grand and owner of Silverlake's Monkeyden Studios. Together, they waded through her tracks, recording new songs and remixing old ones.

"This record represents such a slice of my life for the last few years," Easterling said. "The songs and the recordings are a visceral piece of me. My friends helped me make this album. It was a real family affair and I think you can hear that in the final product."

Tracks include River Jordan, about the music that's "in my blood." She wrote The Accordion with Shawn Davis, but the story is true: "My dad really did trade a truck for an old accordion. That's so country I had to sing about it." The 1940's-era When I Wake Up, is the only non-original on the album. Easterling had cherished the song for years but only recently discovered that it was written by distant relative - and prolific gospel song writer - Marion Easterling.

Angela Easterling embraces her Southern heritage in a big way on her debut album, Earning Her Wings. Having established a recognizable name in the vibrant West Coast music scene, Easterling says she hopes to bring her music to an even wider audience. "I want to uplift people. Music has the ability to do that and that is my ultimate goal."