Published: December 12, 2008 09:00 pm      

Area singer inks recording deal

By KANDACE MCCOY

kandace.mccoy@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — After years of hard work and dedication, Bluford native Brittany Clarke has signed a record deal with Foremost Records in Nashville, Tenn.

Clarke says she has had a love for music “since a little baby,” recalling that her first “real” performance was in kindergarten when she sang “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth.”

Throughout the years, she continued to sing, including performing the National Anthem at numerous events beginning in the third grade. At the age of 14, she participated in a contest at Bobo’s Pizza and won a prize to travel to Knoxville, Tenn., to record a 10-song CD.

Clarke will start recording her new single in December, which is set to be released mid-March. The record will be produced by Chris Dodson and Jeff Tweel, whose credits include Vince Gill, Billy Ray Cyrus, Merle Haggard, Terri Clark, B.J. Thomas, Keith Whitley and Sam & Dave.

“I always hoped I would make it,” she said of signing the record deal, “but it’s hard to believe a person from Farrington would get the chance. It hasn’t all caught up with me yet. I’m crossing my fingers and hope the song [in March] goes well when it’s released.”

“This is pretty exciting,” said Brittany’s dad Scott. “She’s been singing in the area for a while and we’re just proud that we’ve been able to help her out.”

Brittany said her parents Scott and Sandy have been “very supportive and take me everywhere,” and said without them “I couldn’t have done it.”

She said trying to get her songs on the radio has been like a job and takes a lot of work.

“We go twice a month to Nashville and meet up with my talent scout,” she explained. “It’s like a job, but it’s a job I actually like and wanted to do. My goal is to be a positive role model [like Carrie Underwood] for younger kids.”

Brittany says she has had a number of significant moments leading up to signing her record deal which have been special, but signing the ink on the contract ranks No. 1 in her life right now. “If you want this, you have to work, a lot of people think it’s easy. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do,” she said.

“It’s kind of scary,” Scott Clarke admits. “Our radio man in Nashville is really supportive and he tells us she’s going to be a big thing — and that’s scary. But we’re all together.”

“People think you can go down there [Nashville] and be a success over night, but it takes years and hard work,” Sandy Clarke noted.

Brittany and her family also attribute her band Raz’n Cane — which consists of local musicians Russ Sanderson, Tim Grenade, Mark Mathis and Kevin Sides — with her success.

“These guys are awesome musicians,” Scott said.

And meeting other musicians in the music industry has also been a highlight in Brittany’s life, recalling a moment when Taylor Swift came and watched her perform. “She gave me the thumbs up. I’ve met so many people, including Brooks and Dunn ... they’re really down to earth people and really cool,” she said.

Brittany and her family leave next week to begin recording her new single.

For more information, you may visit her Myspace page at www.myspace.com/brittanyclarkemusic.