Artists Against Hunger &
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national artist
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Carly Goodwin
Carly Goodwin (carlygoodwin.com) was born in Glens Falls, New York, but grew up in the American West. As might be expected of someone named for pop singer Carly Simon, the younger Carly developed an early fascination for music. When she was three years old, her family moved to Los Angeles. Carly began singing as early as she began talking, and it was soon apparent that she had true talent. For her seventh birthday, Carly asked for and received the gift of vocal lessons. Her talent blossomed under professional guidance. In fact, just over a year after starting her lessons, she was offered the pivotal role of young Cosette in the Broadway production of Les Miserables. She was unable to accept the offer, but it was still a concrete recognition of her singing ability.
While living in L.A., in addition to singing, Carly made television commercials for Hallmark and Kodak and made a guest appearance on the popular series The Wonder Years. Carly's family relocated to Park City, Utah, where Carly spent her high school years, during which time Carly played the lead in every school musical, and many local musical productions. She gained renown for singing The National Anthem, regularly singing it at Utah Jazz basketball games, world class ski events in Park City, for the Boston Celtics, and many other events. In 1993, Carly's family bought a ranch in Montana where she spent many days truly "communing with nature". It was one of the most beautiful places in the world and it touched her deeply. The family sold Dreaming Bear Ranch to finance Dreaming Bear Music, so its influence on her life continues.
After high school, Carly enrolled at the University of Utah. Later, she transferred to the University of Michigan, where she graduated with honors in 2003, majoring in English. Carly's musical influences were wide, ranging from the Beatles, the Eagles, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow and Coldplay to Patty Loveless, Trisha Yearwood, Garth Brooks and the Dixie Chicks. Inevitably, she says, she was drawn to country music. Carly is idealistic and feels that she can really put significant messages in the words of her songs.
In June of 2003, Carly paid her first visit to Nashville during the annual Fan Fair event and she was hooked. . In August, she moved to Nashville. Through a friend of her grandparents, Carly was introduced to and worked with some great songwriters, including Carl Jackson. The multi Grammy award winning producer agreed to produce Carly's debut CD.
A few days after Carly had moved to Nashville she heard a segment on her car radio in which soldiers' wives were sending messages to their husbands in Iraq. It was so touching that Carly pulled to the side of the street with tears in her eyes. She decided to write a song that would give voice to both the loneliness and pride these women felt and to give them some of the recognition she deserved. The result was Baby Come Back Home, co-written by her mother, Gail, and songwriter Gerald Smith.
In January, Mark Victor Hansen, originator of the bestselling Chicken Soup For The Soul books, discovered Carly and was captivated by her and greatly moved by the song. Mark had Carly sing at some of his seminars and connected her with some key people to help her development. One of these was an Internet "guru" who helped Carly create an "audio postcard" of Baby Come Back Home to spread the song around the world.
The response was astounding. "Women and men from military bases all over the country started e-mailing, thanking her for expressing their feelings so well and asking her to come sing for them," resulting in performances several Army bases. The big achievement, though, was Carly's three-day series of appearances at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in April, and a return engagement in late September. The groundswell also earned her guest spots on regional TV shows, two appearances on Fox & Friends national broadcast, and Glenn Beck's nationally syndicated talk show, as well as network affiliates throughout the country. Baby Come Back Home was added to the Armed Forces Network's play list of songs. Carly continues to receive e-mails from around the world in praise of her and her song.
Soon after Carly arrived in Nashville, she was introduced to some of Music City's top songwriters. Before long, she was co-writing with many of them, co-writing several of the songs on her debut album. One of these songwriters was Carl Jackson, a top-flight singer/songwriter/musician/producer whose songs have been recorded by everyone from Garth Brooks to Ricky Skaggs, and now Carly Goodwin. Jackson is one of the best producers in country music, having won two Grammies for Country Album of the Year. Impressed by Carly's extraordinary musical gifts, Jackson agreed to produce her first album. He says she is one of the best singers he's ever worked with. Their collaboration on the Carly Goodwin album has resulted in a true masterpiece.
Willie Nelson heard Carly's rendition of his classic hit, Crazy, and invited her to perform with him in Los Angeles. From there, Willie and Carly decided to do Crazy as a duet and include it on the debut CD. Carly has since performed with Willie at several other venues, including Farm Aid in mid September.
Carly's self-titled debut album contains eleven original songs plus the beautiful duet of Crazy with Willie Nelson- the first time ever that Nelson has performed a duet of his classic song on a county album.
"I really want to add my voice to so many others in expressing a positive message for change and hope in the world," says the idealistic Carly. "I think music is the best way for me to do that, and that's why I'm here. I am so very grateful to have a family that supports my efforts and a team of like minded professional who have already achieved so much." And with her positive "THINK BIG" attitude and the persistence of her team, we believe she will succeed in record time.
- Nov. 15, The Rodeo Bar, New York, NY, benefit for WHY
