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Biography
 Jennifer
doesn't like to hold back, on or off the stage. She is real and honest,
on and off the stage. If you ask her a question, she will give you an
answer. She says she used to live life on the inside, and now just wants
to live it out! She laughs and confesses that writing has been so much
more cleansing and way cheaper than therapy with a shrink. Her lyrics
reflect her life, and those around her. Her vocals are bold and full
of emotion, raw and clean. You can't help but watch her perform as she
delivers a piece of her soul. "When I sing, it's like another place
for me, for a moment, I get lost."
LOVE ETC. (2009) was heavily pop influenced, "My primary style
is rock/soul and blues, but you're going to hear so many genres in my
music, simply because I love, appreciate and enjoy a lot of styles."
Featured on this album are of few of her loved and, what some would
call, "controversial" songs like "BBW" (Big Beautiful
Woman), "Thick & Thin", and "Good Thing", which
pressed on the issues of weight, and self worth. "You gotta love
yourself, be proud of what God gave you!"
One of her favorite songs would be Way Down. She says, "Way Down
tells my story in a nutshell, growing up in Louisiana was unbelievable,
but from the first time I came to Nashville I just couldn't picture
living anywhere else. This song for me is about growing up and learning
to live for myself."
Jennifer Friend (Jen Friend) is a singer/songwriter, born in Shrevep
ort, LA. She currently resides in Nashville, with her pooch (Tinker).
While pursuing her own career as an artist, Jen also writes, produces,
and sings backup for other various artists. She plays guitar and piano.
Early
Life
From an early age Jennifer knew music was her true expression.
At 3 years old, Jen grabbed a microphone and sang out to her family
like a pro. As a 7 year old she knew singing in choir was not going
to be enough. By the time Jennifer was 9 years old, she was on stage
by herself singing with various country and bluegrass bands across the
south.
After writing and recording her first album around the age of 14, she
decided to pursue her ambitions in Nashville and started saving for
the much anticipated move after graduation.
Jennifer kept her promise and moved to Nashville, recording another
album titled
No Excuses, this album broke away from her country roots. Jen says,
"I wanted to push out of the box and explore more options with
music. It's been such a learning and growing experience." Jen also
confesses when one of her albums reached #4 on the Holland charts, she
was floored, and excited.
Jennifer has performed at many festivals, venues, and Opry houses, with
recording artists such as Charlie Daniels, LeAnn Rimes, and a few others
to date. She has volunteered and performed at numerous benefits like
STEPS Telethon, Jerry Lewis Telethon, Stars of Tomorrow benefit, and
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Benefit.
Performances
1988 1st place, 4-H club talent show
1989 1st place, Walnut Hill Talent Show
1989 1st place, Jr. Vocalist for northern parishes of Louisiana @ La.
State Fair.
1992 1st album, interviewed on KWKH"Breaking into Music",
and "The Daily Demo"
1993 Album 4th on charts in Holland for several months
1993 2nd interview on KWKH, Fire Dept. Benefit
1994 Grapevine Opry with LeAnn Rimes
1997 1st place, Stagecoach Days, Marshall, TX
1997 Isle of Capri Casino with Charlie Daniels
2003 1st Runner up @ Isle of Capri Casino competition
News Articles
Coast to Coast Country 12/95, May/98
Metroplex Entertainment News 1997
Shreveport Times
The Forum
S B Magazine
Telethons & Benefits
Truckers Appreciation Show broadcast by KRMD Radio station
STEPS Telethon, Radio Air Play @ State Fairgrounds
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation televised from Shreveport, LA
Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy televised from Bossier City, LA
Stars of Tomorrow Scholarship Benefit, Municipal Auditorium Shreveport,
LA
KWKH Benefit
KWKH 4th of July Celebration
National Anthem - Nashville, Shreveport, Keithville, Marshall, Benton,
Monroe
Community
Art Break, Sponsored by Shreveport Arts Council 1993, 94, 95
Miss River Cities Pageant Hurley Auditorium, Centenary College
Downtown Neon Saturday Nights by Arts Council
Louisiana State Fair
Southwood Beauty Pageant
Wilson County Fair
Mrs. Louisiana International Pageant
Miss Shreveport Pageant sponsored by Shreveport Arts Council
General performances
1989-2010
Nursing Homes, Hamels Park with, Keithville Jamboree, Jimmie Dean True
Value Contest (2nd Runner-up), Louisiana State Fairs, Fire Ant Festival,
Ocean Opry in Panama City, FLA, Colombia Country Jam/Waldo, AR, Cross
Timbers Opry in Stephensville, TX, Celeste Opry/Celeste, TX, Oklahoma
Opry/Oklahoma City, OK, Opry/Gilmer, TX, Gladewater Opry/Gladewater,
TX, Dixie Jamboree/Ruston, La (old theater), Oaklawn Opry, Texarkana,
TX, Burleson Jamboree, Burleson, TX, Mesquite Opry/Mesquite, TX, Pleasant
Jamboree/Mt Pleasant, TX, Wylie Opry/Wylie, TX, Grapevine Opry, Ashdown
Jamboree/Ashdown, AR, Cross Timbers Opry/Stephensville, TX, Polk Salad
Festival/Blanchard, LA, White Elephant Saloon/Ft Worth, TX @ stockyards,
Alco Country/Haughton, LA, Ken's Country/Many, LA, American Rose Center/Marshall,
TX (Christmas show), Coon Hunters Association (1 in Louisiana and 1
in Texas) and 4th of July Festival in Many, Louisiana, AR-LA-Tex Roundup/Shreveport,
LA, Gusher Day Festival/Oil City, LA, Onalaska Opry/Onalaska, TX, River
Bottom Days/Logansport, LA, Greenwood Pioneer Days and Christmas Festivals,
Rockin on the Red, River Country, Exit 8 Trade Days, Baileys, Whiskey
Bent Saloon/ Nashville, Sunny Side Jamboree, Downtown Neon Saturday
Nights, The Stage/ Nashville, Nashville Night: Nashville, Red Rooster:
Nashville, Blue Rooster, Blue Bird: Nashville, Blue Bar: Nashville,
Tootsies Orchid Lounge: Nashville, anthem for Nashville basketball team,
and Shreveport basketball team, High Lonesome Saloon in Rome GA, Cajun
Steamer, Dan McGuiness: Nashville, BoneShakers Madison, TN, Wilson County
Fair: Lebanon, TN, Louisiana State Fair, Newport News, VA, 3rd and Linsley/
Nashville, The Rutledge: Nashville, Limelight: Nashville, The Pond:
Franklin, TN, Christopher's Pizza, 12th and Porter: Nashville, Mickey
Roos/Nashville, Brew-n-Cue/ Nashville, Rockin Rodeo, Whites Creek Fall
Festival, Losers, Johnnie High Show, The Listening Room/ Nashville,
The Commodore: Nashville, La petite Louisiana, B.J.'s Roadhouse, 12
South Tap Room/ Nashville, Dougie Rays/ Nashville James Gang Co, Jimmy's
Roadhouse/ Lebanon, TN, Bourbon Street: Memphis, Mt Tremblant, Head
Jamz Festival, Bunganut Pig/ Nashville, and a few others to date.
Influences
Janis Joplin would top the cake... My list is long, eclectic, and still
growing! ~ ...Here we go... ~ Beth Hart, Crosby Stills Nash and Young,
Carol King, Bread, Collective Soul, Blood Sweat and Tears, Bonnie Raitt,
Heart, Mariah Carey, The Doors, The Beatles, NIN, Cold Play, Black Crowes,
Patsy Cline, Jewel, Alanis, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, MIKA, Blues Traveler,
Erykah Badu, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan, Radiohead, James
Taylor, John Mayer, Damien Rice, Grateful Dead, Aerosmith, Sublime,
Sigur Ros, Lenny Kravitz, Fiona Apple, The White Stripes
www.JenFriend.com
www.reverbnation.com/jenniferfriendmusic
www.facebook.com/jennifer.friend.music
www.myspace.com/jenniferfriendmusic
www.twitter.com/jenifriend1980
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