Local Country Star on the Rise

If you haven't heard the sweet angelic voice of EB Reece, well then, you are most certainly missing out. A senior at Gilmer High School, Reece has been singing since she was a child, beginning in church and moving up to the GHS advanced choral group. Now, she has produced her own CD of songs, co-written by CD producer Irene Kelly and Reece herself.

The CD, entitled "Big Time Stuff," is a ten-song collection of music that means something to Reece. And it should, because she spent over a year writing, composing, singing and putting the finishing touches on the CD. "I just started to cry," stated Reece, when she first stepped into the studio to record her vocals.

The task was daunting. Since she was still in school and the studio was in Nashville, Tenn., it limited the time that she had to work on the album. But once a month, she joined Kelly in Nashville to hash out song lyric, vocals and make appearances at local venues, such as Lyrics Café.

Recording at Parlor Productions, Reece, with the help of Kelly and co-producer Scott Newbert, plowed through the songs with the help of a wonderful bass player named Dave Rowe. Rowe once played with Johnny Cash.

Reece, only 17 years old, feared what the producers and studio musicians would think of her music and lyrics, a natural feeling for a young talent, but she found the entire staff warm and supportive of her music.

But the sacrifice has paid off. Reece has a collection of music she can be proud of and shortly will be holding her first CD release party. Her parents, J.D. and Michelle Reece, and her two brothers, Trey and Colby, couldn't be prouder of Reece. "Daddy got me a guitar," Reece smiled, thinking back to the first guitar she was given. Without lessons, she learned to play, but as she states, "only two or three chords really."

She also credits her high school chorus teacher, Brian Barrentine, with mentoring her. "He is always willing to help." Reece states that Barrentine opened her up to this whole new way of hearing music and that he brought theater into chorus, which will no doubt help Reece with her stage performance.

Reece is not only an excellent singer, but an excellent student as well. Her accomplishments are long and varied. She is senior class president, GHS prom and homecoming queen, president of the thespian troupe, a member of Beta Club, Math Honors Society, chorus and was in several plays performed by the drama class, including "Grease" and "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."

She is currently planning the annual GHS talent show, which will feature 18 acts ranging from raving glow stick performers to local band "Burn City Burn." She is also one of Toyota's community scholars. Reece plans to attend Belmont University, in Nashville, because, as she states, "I need to be in Nashville."

After a year-and-a-half of traveling back and forth from Nashville, Reece has a CD in hand to share with the world. She has planned a CD release party for Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Overland Trail model home. CDs will not be sold until that date, but you can preorder them on her Web site www.myspace.com/msebreece. She hopes to have local businesses help promote the sale of her CD, including a tentatively planned placement at Hummingbird Embroidery. But for now, fans can stop by her myspace page and take a listen.