Country newcomer Marlee Scott has spent her short lifetime dreaming of becoming an entertainer. After experiencing love and heartbreak, and more than a decade of musical training, Scott is ready to make a big impact on country music. She combines her passion for music, love of songwriting and desire to be a performer, into everything that she does. All things considered, Scott is a born entertainer. Born in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Scott's family moved to St. Albert, Alberta, Canada when she was only 6 years old. Shortly after her cross country move Scott discovered her strong desire to perform, first with ice-skating lessons, then when she discovered the power of music. It's that childhood love of music and the encouragement from her parents that fueled her interest in music from the very beginning. Upon arriving at her first music lesson at age 7 her teacher remembers, "Marlee's mom had called to schedule flute lessons for her. When it came time for Marlee's first lesson I asked her, 'So, you want to play the flute?' She smiled at me and pointed to a pink electric guitar that I had in corner and said, 'No, I want to play that.'"
Guitar lessons continued for many years but Scott's interest in becoming a vocalist began at the young age of 8. She became so intrigued by the vocal groups that she and her sister were hearing on the radio that they decided to form their own all girl group, The Mermaids. The Mermaids provided Scott her first taste of songwriting when her music teacher helped her turn a poem that she'd written for a school assignment into a song. The group was short lived but Scott's desire to write and perform continued to grow. Scott spent her early teenage years continuing her guitar and vocals lessons including several years of classical voice lessons before rediscovering country music in a silver Pontiac Sunfire she shared with her sister when she turned 16. While most of her friends were participating in school activities Scott devoted all of her free time to riding her horse, Sidra, and to her music.
"Country music has always been a part of me. When I was growing up my mom had a Honda Civic and the only station we could get on the radio was country," explains Scott. "When I turned 16 I was listening to pop music with my friends and one day a song we didn't like came on the pop station so we switched to the country station. 'Mountain Music' by Alabama was playing. We liked the groove so we left the radio tuned to country."
Supergroup Alabama may have brought Scott back to her country roots, but it was songs like "Prayin' for Daylight" by Rascal Flatts and "I Should Be Sleeping" by Emerson Drive, that kept the teenager tuned to country music.
"I spent several years when I was a preteen listening to pop music like The Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears," comments Scott. "My music has traces of those pop influences but it's the storytelling and honesty of country music that I hope people hear on my CD. Lyrically this album represents me."
The allure of that pink guitar from Scott's childhood set her on the path that lead to her first CD release, SOUVENIR, (distributed by 306 Records) in October 2005. Her first album introduced Scott to country music fans in her native Canada, but it's her self-titled sophomore album (released internationally by Big Ride Entertainment) that promises to take her to the next level in her career.
"I recorded my first album in June 2004 and it was a great experience for me. Now, four years later, I have grown up a lot. I have experienced love and heartbreak. I moved to Nashville, away from my family and friends, and made a new life for myself in Music City," says Scott. "I was so much more comfortable in the studio this time around and I think that you can hear a new maturity in my music, vocals and skills as a songwriter, that wasn't there when I recorded my first CD." Scott moved to Nashville permanently in the summer of 2007. She spent months writing music for an upcoming CD, unsure of where she would find a home for her music in Nashville. When Scott felt like she had the right songs for her sophomore release, she brought the music to Big Ride Entertainment President, Gerry Leiske. Leiske was intrigued by Scott's music and signed her to a management deal in February 2008.
"The biggest highlight of my career so far has been signing with Big Ride," states Scott. "The entire team is behind me and that is such an amazing feeling. I feel like they have invested the necessary time and taken the proper steps with me as an artist, and for this project, to make it a success. I am looking forward to a long relationship with Gerry and the rest of his team."
MARLEE SCOTT (released November 11, 2008) contains 10 tracks, and 9 of them list Scott as a co-writer. Her second album is packed with emotion and showcases her vast influences. Country fans are sure to love the uptempo songs that show Scott's zest for fun, like "Five O'Clock Dance" and "You're So Sexy", and it's the relationship anthem "Fight With You" that will be her first introduction to country radio in the USA. Heartbreak is represented in the album's first track, "Reality" and touching ballads "Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow" and "I Hold Your Hand" help round out the self-titled collection of songs guaranteeing that there truly is a song for everyone on this hit-packed CD. Growing up in the community of St. Albert, Alberta, the down-home, small town spirit is alive and well in Scott. Her spirit, skills as a musician, songwriter and vocalist and her fun-loving, vibrant personality insure that Scott has a bright future ahead of her.
