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Here's the low down on Nancy Apple From her original material to her live performances, NANCY APPLE inexplicably reminds her audiences how special it is to be in the presence of such individuality. From classic country tunes to memorable ballads and honey-flavored cheatin' songs, Nancy rocks-and-rolls with a twist that is twangled up in the blues. It's genuine y'alterna-honk that is outside the lines and far from ordinary. Her journey to the present has been as eclectic as she is. Born and raised a Navy brat, Nancy Apple's immense talent became clear at a very early age, she went from crawling to dancing to Fats Domino. She plays drums, guitar and dabbles in the accordion, and has played in several notable Memphis bands and even did a road stint with blues man Willie Cobb's on drums. Her own band was selected as one of the top three regional bands years ago in the Memphis Flyer Stand By Your Band Contest. She's played at Todd Snider's What the Folk Fest, and now hosts a Memphis Songwriters Stage each month, in addition to a weekly Pickin' Party (when she is in town) that gives newcomers a place to perform and chance to play with seasoned pickers. She is also a top draw for area festivals. Her songwriter nights have become so popular that she was invited to host and evening in the round at the Bartlett Performing Arts Center for their 2001 season finale. Nancy and her group got a gig in a feature film that was released May 1999 on CINEMAX. Finding Graceland stars Harvey Keitel and Bridget Fonda - look for Nancy and her band backing up both stars in the movie's show stopping Elvis Impersonator contest scenes. Much of Nancy's latest release was recorded fast and live, going for feel and fun. Nancy spent two days in October of 1999 laying down basic tracks at Sounds Unreel in Memphis with friends Reba Russell and Dawn Hopkins of Blue-Eyed Bitches Productions co-producing with her. Going for spontaneity, some of the songs were so new that the band (nor co-producers) had not even heard them. They slammed through 8 songs in 2 days. Nancy then took her canvas to friend and neighbor Keith Sykes to finish everything at his studio, The Woodshed, conveniently right next door to her home. Nancy's band (Jay Harrington/guitar, Roy Brewer/guitar, fiddle, mandolin, Ronnie Vandiver/bass, guitar and Jason Hatcher/drums) outdid themselves. They had fun, and you can hear it in the songs. Reba Russell (Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison) added background vocals and Keith Sykes (John Prine/Todd Snider, Jimmy Buffett) even lent his talents on a couple tunes on guitar and baritone guitar. There is also a guest appearance from George Bradfute (Paul Burch) on the title track, and Nancy's old drummer, Robert Hall took time off from playing with Jerry Lee Lewis to join in on a couple songs for old times sake. All but three songs were written or co-written by Nancy, and she is proud of her friends who co-wrote with her on this album. They did not set out to 'Write for the next record,' but just hang out and write from the heart, and Nancy picked her favorites. Co-writers include Duane Jarvis (Lucinda Williams, Greg Trooper), Carla Taylor (Curb Records), Joe McLeary (Nervous Wrecks), James Eddie Campbell (aka Lamar Sorrento), Joe Sanders (Memphis Sheiks). She even managed to work in writing with her long time friend Deb Smith... and even has a tune she wrote with her ex. Prominent DJs and critics (as well as several seedy weasel types) have commented that Apple could be just a record away from making a huge impact on the Americana/roots scene. Who really knows, but she doing something that is fresh and entertaining. Take note of Nancy Apple. She is the real deal, she plays your heart strings and leaves you feeling energized, encouraged, refreshed. And she still likes to dance to Fats Domino. More About Nancy Apple Films Finding Graceland - starring Harvey Keitel and Bridget Fonda / Cinemax 1999 Played band leader/guitar player that backed up both Bridget and Harvey in several scenes Great Balls of Fire - starring Dennis Quaid - Played several characters as local color in four scenes Television / Video The Food Network - Nancy Apple featured performer for Extreme Cooking show on Memphis BBQ Cook-off 1999 Elvis, the Early Years - Played several characters as local color in six episodes The Library Channel - 15 minute feature on Nancy Apple 1998 Action News Five - Nancy Apple's career featured in Women In Music Series 1998 Action News Five - 15 minute segment over 4 days called Fame featuring Nancy Apple 1997 Action News Five - Live from Nancy Apple's CD Release Party 1996 The Access Channel - music video for 'What's The Deal' Linda Gail Lewis - background singer in band on three 1991 live music videos / TNN Albums / Recordings Outside The Lines - 2000 (Memphis), 2001 (Nationally) Ringo Records Cadillac Cowgirl-High On The Hog - 1996 Cadillac Cowgirl With Her Back Door Men Tijuana Tapes - 1994 Cadillac Cowgirl With Her Back Door Men Background Vocals 'One of These Days' - The Moonshine Cherrys Moonshine Cherrys background vocals 1999 'Draggin' Me Down' - Jay Harrington Ruffins background vocals 2000 'Elenor' - Jay Harrington Ruffins release background vocals 2000 'Drivin' You Away' - Jay Harrington Ruffins release background vocals 2000 'Silver Angel Promenade' - Jay Harrington Ruffins release background vocals 2000 'Time For You' - Jay Harrington Ruffins release background vocals 2000 'Eight Miles High' - background vocals for Todd Snider with Dan Baird - Universal Pictures 1998 'Rainy Day Girl'- background vocals for Todd Snider with Dan Baird - Universal Pictures 1998 'The Joker'- background vocals for Todd Snider/Dan Baird - Universal Pictures 1998 'Please Don't Lead Me On' - Reba Russell Band Buried Treasure background vocals 1998 'Tool Box' - Reba Russell Band Buried Treasure background vocals 1998 'Volcano'- Keith Sykes I'm Not Strange Reissue background vocals 1997 Mark Lindsey - (Lead singer Paul Revere and the Raiders) Background vocals 1993 Kiva sessions Press Memphis Magazine - featured as one of Memphis' Top 40 musicians 1997, 1996 High On The Hog - 1996 Cadillac Cowgirl With Her Back Door Men CD reviews in The Memphis Flyer, Arkansas Democrat, Country Standard Time, 3rd Coast, Nightflying, American Music Magazine (Sweden). Featured Stories (that we know about) - The Commercial Appeal, Memphis Magazine, Arkansas Democrat, Mid South Women's News, Fugi Flyer (Japan), Horizons (Japan), Japan Update (Japan), Tori Teller (Japan), Skywriter (Korea), The Herald (Clarksdale, MS), Spotlight (St. Louis). Awards and Nominations Just Plain Folks - National songwriter organization, nominee for Country Song of the Year 2000 for Cadillac Man Memphis Songwriter Association - awarded honorary Lifetime Membership 1999 Premier Player Awards - nominated for Outstanding Community Service 1999, 2000 Premier Player Awards - nominated for Songwriter of the Year 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 Premier Player Awards - nominated for Female Vocalist 1996 Stand By Your Band - Memphis Flyer readers poll named one of Top 3 bands in Memphis 1993 Taco Bell Sponsorship - Proud Sloppy Second place for Memphis region Taco Bell Sponsorship 1994 Memorable Tours / Festivals / Gigs Impromptu set with Thursday night house band - Automatic Slims, Oshkosh, Wisc. 2000 Woodstock 99 - Talent staff impromptu Burn Baby Burn Wrap Party 1999 Twang Festival - St. Louis 1999 Depot Friday Festival - Clarksdale, Mississippi Keith Sykes Songwriter Showcase, 1994, 1996 Beale Street Music Festival - Memphis, 1996 Southern Folklore Festival - Memphis 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 Arts in the Park Festival - Memphis, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 Pink Palace Crafts Fair - Memphis, 1997 Road to Graceland - Extras Thank You Party and later Wrap Party Department of Defense Asian Tour For Our Troops - 1996 What The Folk Festival - Memphis, 1995 Cooper Young Festival - Memphis, 1994, 1996 Mid South Fair Main Stage - Memphis, 1996 Taste of St. Louis - St. Louis 1996 Crossroads - Memphis, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 Atlanta Music Festival - (With Willie Cobbs) 1990 Has Opened Up For or Gigged With Who really cares about this crap? Here ya go anyway... The Bottle Rockets The Derailers The Exhusbands Cordell Jackson Duane Jarvis Phil Lee Jerry Lee Lewis Linda Gail Lewis Omar and the Howlers Reverend Horton Heat Todd Snider Keith Sykes Webb Wilder The V-Roys Reba Russell Band Has Performed At Who cares about this stuff either? I bet you are impressed now!!!!! Alfred's - Beale Street / Memphis Automatic Slims - Neenah, Wisc. Automatic Slims - Memphis The Antenna - Memphis Black Diamond - Beale Street / Memphis Blind Willie's - Atlanta The Blue Monkey - Memphis Blues City Cafe - Beale Street / Memphis CBC's - Oshkosh, Wisc. Center For Southern Folklore - Memphis Jack's Bar - Nashville, TN Joyce Cobb's - Beale Street / Memphis Elvis Presley's Memphis - Beale Street / Memphis The Gin - Oxford, Mississippi High Point Pinch - Memphis Hernando's Hideaway -Memphis Hobson's Preservation Hall - Clarksdale, Mississippi The Library, Oxford, Mississippi The Map Room - Memphis Murphy's - Memphis The New Daisy - Beale Street / Memphis Newby's - Memphis Off Broadway - St. Louis Poor Reds - Memphis The Poplar Lounge - Memphis The South End - Memphis Tell 'Em Philips Sentcha - Memphis Willie Mitchell's - Beale Street / Memphis Bottom Line - Memphis Kudzu's - Memphis 616- Memphis Every G-dunk in Japan, Okinawa,  South Korea, Johnston Island, The Marshall Islands and a few VFW's, truck stops, and parking lots BLUES, PUNK and GARAGE BAND YEARS Freak Mountain - singer 1994 Mark Lindsey of Paul Revere and the Raiders - background vocals, 1992 The Cadillac Cowgirls - drummer, guitar, songwriter, vocals 1989 Mississippi Bluesman Willie Cobbs - drummer 1988-1989 Apple/Sides - drummer, vocals, songwriter 1984-1989 The Hellcats - drummer fro a very short time and 2 gigs 1987 Tino and the Teetotalers - drummer 1986 The Ex-Wives - my first all girl garage band drummer 1984 I won't go back any farther than that because I already look old as hell.