Melissa Carper

Carper, born into a music-loving family, was raised on roots music, immersing herself in a family record collection that featured Hank Williams Sr., Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and more. The public school music curriculum in her home state of Nebraska gave Carper an opportunity to learn upright bass. Along the way, Carper’s father gave her a collection of Jimmie Rodgers recordings, which made a defining impact. “He combined country and blues and jazz,” she recalls. “All of those elements, and the rawness of those recordings...I can’t quite put a finger on it, but I was obsessed.” Carper earned a music scholarship to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. College didn’t quite take, but while there, she spent hours in the music library, drawn to jazz vocalists like Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra, and she discovered seminal blues artist Lead Belly.

You’ll hear all of these influences in the music Carper has made over the years as a member of numerous touring acts and as a solo performer. Classic country and Western Swing sounds come to the fore on Daddy’s Country Gold, Carper’s 2021 album. Country roots and old-time jazz are at the heart of ‘Ramblin’ Soul’ too, but the album also ventures confidently into R & B and Soul territory. Those albums helped Carper establish a growing fan base and earn accolades from music reviewers.

Perhaps the most meaningful praise for Carper’s music has come from the world-class musicians she’s worked with onstage and in the studio. One is multi-instrumentalist Chris Scruggs. He’s a veteran of Nashville’s studio world, has played with influential roots-country-rockers BR-549, and currently tours as a member of Marty Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives. Scruggs has been proud to contribute to Carper’s albums, including her recent ‘Borned In Ya’ sessions. “She’s as good as it gets,” he said, “She has a quality that really transcends time and fashion.” It was Scruggs who dubbed Carper “Hillbillie Holiday” – an admiring nod to her marriage of country and jazz vocal styles. “ I stand by that,” he said. “She can sing Hank Williams and then handle these old pop tunes, and the great thing is how natural she is – she doesn’t even really change her delivery.”

‘Carper’s enigmatic voice sounds familiar and alien all at once, making Ramblin’ Soul a truly original set of songs.’ — Rolling Stone

‘She’s as good as it gets. She has a quality that really transcends time and fashion.’ — Chris Scruggs

‘Ramblin’ Soul replicates the effortless cool from Daddy’s Country Gold. Carper’s relentless creativity spins our grandparents’ music into something immediate and familiar.’ — No Depression

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• Next month, 28th September, 07:00 pm, Dar Williams (USA) in Shipley
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• This October, 5th October, 07:00 pm, Sam Carter in Shipley

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