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MEDIA REVIEWS
March 20th, 2007 - Nashville TN
CD Review - LEAH DURELLE - 9 Days In Nashville Country Music News (countrymusicnews.ca)
Leah Durelle, from St. Albert, Alberta, is now 15 years of age. We've been listening to her music for some five years already... and it becomes real easy to jump on her bandwagon. This young lady is destined for stardom... think we've stated that fact the first time we reviewed one of her records... 9 Days In Nashville just confirms the fact.
Here we get Leah Durelle delivering another bunch of country classics, with several new tunes added to the mix. The country classic route is an obvious path to follow for a young teen to become established and recognized, but Leah Durelle seems ready to take her game to the next level with a full-fledged album of new material, especially crafted for her.
Before that step forward is taken lets enjoy this collection which features Leah Durelle singing classic songs in the same way that LeAnn Rimes first broke on the scene... just pure vocal power, with passion and feeling that few 15 year-old's can deliver. Just listen to her gripping version of the Hank Williams nugget Long Gone Lonesome Blues... she hooks the song like few have before her, and it's been around for half a century. She treats the Freddy Fender hit Before The Next Teardrop Falls and the pop/country classic Unchained Melody with the same vocal intensity. Durelle is equally at ease with the upbeat Heartaches By The Number, popularized by Ray Price, and gives an admirable reading on the Elvis Presley hit, Suspicious Minds.
We also get a taste here of what the future holds for Leah Durelle, when she tackles some fresh material. Best bets among those come in the Larry Wayne Clark-penned Shape Up Heart; and the Sherrie Austin co-write I'm Coming Back As A Cowboy.
And just to prove how versatile Leah Durelle really is, she closes out 9 Days In Nashville with an amazing yodel performance on the Patsy Montana classic, If I Could Only Learn To Yodel.
9 Days In Nashville was produced in Nashville studios by Lee Gibson (presumably over a nine day stretch?)
February 13th, 2007 - Nashville TN
Leah Durelle is 'Not Sorry' to be Climbing Nashville Charts. With three previous albums under her belt, Canadian teen Leah Durelle released "9 Days in Nashville" in late 2006.
The first single from the CD, "I'm Not Sorry" recently leapt into the top 30% of the Music Row Chart, jumping to #64 this week, placing Leah's song ahead of several country artists such as Vince Gill, Kelly Pickler, Jimmy Wayne, Daryl Singletary and Taylor Swift. The song also debuted impressively on New Music Weekly's Up & Coming Chart with 1,049 spins in the first week.
The album was given the honor of "CD Spotlight" on award-winning internet radio station IradioLA and according to station manager, Mark Maverick, it is a "tremendous effort in traditional and pop country. It's a hit all around."
Leah is set to perform at the 2007 North American Country Music Association (NACMAI), Int'l Annual Awards in Pigeon Forge, TN on March 10th. Being a previous award winner, she is returning this year as a featured entertainer. In 2003, she was named Best Female Vocalist, Best Female Entertainer and given the award for Best CD... all at the tender age of 11.
Leah was a past Northlands Park Country Vocal Spotlight winner and is a Global Country Heritage Foundation alumni along side artists such as Samantha King, Brett Kissel, Tiffany Dowhan, Michael Carey and Aaron Goodwin.
This Canadian Teen is making a mark in Nashville and the USA and I'm sure she is definitely 'Not Sorry' if climbing the Nashville charts is an indication.
Canada should be proud of the accomplishments Leah has achieved and the charting position that's she's been able to attain as a Canadian and an Independent artist. To make it as an artist in the American market is quite a feat and Leah is doing it.
January 8th, 2007 - Nashville, TN
iRadioLA Loves Leah Durelle! - iRadioLA can't get enough of country singing sensation Leah Durelle! Mark Maverick, iRadioLA's station manager, believes so strongly in Leah's new CD, "9 Days in Nashville" that he has chosen the release as iRadioLA's "CD Spotlight" this month.
iRadioLA is the only multi-format internet radio station in operation today. Founded in 1998 by Mark Maverick in his home studio, it has grown to a booming station with over 4.5 million streaming listeners annually. iRadioLA was recently declared the "Internet Radio Station of the Year" at the 2006 New Music Weekly Awards held in Hollywood, CA.
"9 Days in Nashville" is the fourth CD from Leah Durelle, who hails from Canada. Leah is a touring veteran at just 15 and has opened for superstar country acts including Tanya Tucker and Leann Rimes. Leah's first single, "I'm Not Sorry," has already been heating up iRadioLA's playlist and will be on traditional radio stations soon.
To find out more about iRadioLA or to listen online, please visit www.iRadioLA.com.
January 2nd, 2007, LEAH DURELLE IS NOT SORRY
Teen Singer Releases New Song to US Radio - With three successful albums under her belt, teen singer/entertainer, Leah Durelle released "9 Days in Nashville" at the end of 2006. The album contains an eclectic mix of traditional Country standards and contemporary originals.
Her first single from the new album, "I'm Not Sorry", is being released to US radio today. Written by Keith Follese and Peter Zizzo, "I'm Not Sorry" delivers killer pop country with attitude. Lee Gibson, director and producer of Hot Skillet Music in Nashville, produced the new project.
Leah's previous CD, "Imagine This", included the two hit singles "That Summer Night" and "God Loves It When We Dance".
A native of Canada, Leah Durelle was a 2005 winner in the International Fan Club Organization (IFCO) talent contest, has performed at the historic Ryman in Nashville and has opened for the likes of Tanya Tucker and others in performances around the globe. In 2006, she headlined a stage at the Minot, ND HostFest, North America's largest Scandinavian festival, her third appearance at that annual event, and traveled to France to perfrom at the Equiblues Festival.
Check out the MUSIC section of this site to hear samples of Leah's songs and to order your own copy of her latest CD "9 Days in Nashville". It's also available from other online sources including CDbaby.
December 12th, 2006 - News @ Musicrow
Robert K. Oermann reporting from Nashville.
What one of the most influential country music critics has to say about Leah's new single I'm Not Sorry:
"Very nicely produced pop-country. She sings with verve, and the melody is just yummy."
November 18, 2005 - News @Musicrow
LEAH DURELLE/God Loves It When We Dance
Writer: Mark Marchetti/Stephanie Jones; Producer: Tom Paden; Publisher: none listed; JR Music (track) (www.leahdurelle.com)
Durelle’s Imagine This CD is about equally divided between classics (“Singin’ the Blues,” “Cowboy’s Sweetheart,” “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” “Crying in the Chapel”) and new Music Row tunes. Her single is a terrific mix of acoustic mandolin, fiddle and guitar with a punchy rhythm track. Judy Rodman and Samantha King provide scintillating harmony support. A winner.
August 30, 2005, Nashville, TN
Fans of good ol’ country music, take note. “A Tribute to Classic Country,” starring an impressive array of musical talent, is being planned and promoted by independent record label, JR Music, and the Nash Ramblers. Slated for 2:00 p.m., November 13, 2005 at the Horizon Stage, Spruce Grove, Alberta, and the program is a benefit for two charities.
The Michael Cuccione Foundation raises funds for childhood cancer research and is a favorite charity of teen star, Leah Durelle, who is among the performers for the show. The iHuman Youth Society uses various forms of art to reach and help at-risk youth considered by others to be beyond help.
At just 13, Leah Durelle has already released 3 CDs and her performances have included Nashville’s Troubadour Theatre, the world renowned Ryman Auditorium, where she thrilled audiences at the International Fan Club Organization (IFCO) show, and concert openings for Tanya Tucker, LeAnn Rimes and Tommy Overstreet. The young star recently returned from France where she performed at the Equiblues Rodeo & Country Music Festival. Her single, “God Loves It When We Dance” is destined to be a standard.
August 27, 2005, Nashville, TN
Tens of thousands attend North America’s largest Scandinavian Festival every year and in 2005, Norsk Høstfest celebrates its 28th year of honoring Scandinavian culture and entertainment. The event is held annually in Minot, ND.
Returning to entertain attendees this year is teen star, Leah Durelle, whose 2004 Høstfest appearance was sponsored by Dr. Darrell Williams of Trinity Regional Eyecare, Williams Centre. Durelle’s 3rd CD, “Imagine This” is available now and includes the singles, “God Loves It When We Dance” and “That Summer Night” which have enjoyed medium market airplay throughout the USA. The Canadian native recorded the album in Nashville, Tennessee.
Durelle will perform two shows daily from Wednesday, October 12th through Saturday, October 15th at Reykjavik Hall. For schedules, tickets and general festival information, visit www.hostfest.com
May 8, 2005
Canadian Teen Winning U.S. Hearts ...one song at a time! On May 6, 2005 at the Fargodome, 13-year-old Leah Durelle opened for Tanya Tucker, another star who hit it big at a young age. According to Sue Wiger of The Forum Newspaper, "... our attendee surveys give (Leah) high marks and lots of people commented that they'd like to see her return for another one of our events."
July 13, 2004
12-Year-Old Country Singing Sensation Leah Durelle Nation-wide Release of the Single “That Summer Night” Nashville, TN
Twelve-year-old Canadian Leah Durelle continues to wow country music fans with her amazing voice and engaging personality, both of which shine through on her newly released album titled Imagine This.
"Imagine This" was recorded and produced in Nashville, where Leah was accompanied by some of the industry’s top musicians. The single “That Summer Night” will be released to American country radio stations July 14, 2004 via CDX, volume 348 and promoted by Galaxy Entertainment.
The young singing sensation has been turning heads for some time and is proving that she is a talent to be reckoned with. She has won numerous awards, including three International awards for Best Female Vocalist, Best Entertainer and Best CD. Leah delivers the songs with a flair and vocal uniqueness that belies her tender years. More and more country music fans are taking note of her incredible talents. Most recently Leah was featured in Music City Spotlight, a TV show, produced by Galaxy Entertainment, which aired during this year’s Fan Fair.
"Imagine This" is Leah’s third album. Her debut album Classic Country was released in 2002. A follow-up collection titled Classic Country "Encore"" was released last year.
This summer will see Leah performing at numerous State Fairs, Festivals and a Radio tour throughout the United States. Details can be obtained from her website, www.leahdurelle.com
Galaxy Entertainment - Eric Straton - Nashville, TN
Phone: 615-312-7211 or Fax: 615-312-7212
Call your local radio station and request the full version of Leah's songs OR you can request her songs at iRADIO LA, your favorite internet radio.
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