Kayleigh - Dawn Larter (Kay'D') was born just 19 years ago, in Lowestoft, Suffolk. Far from being steeped in country music during her formative years, when she began to sing, it was the songs her parents loved - 1960's pop and rock and roll. Kay'D' started looking into country more and more and discovered that as well as being something that really moved her, it was music that suited her voice. "That was that" she says. "As I neared the end of my school years, I began to plan my musical future. I started out on a showcase spot at the Stradsett Country Music Festival in 2006 which proved to be very successful and resulted in me doing a second spot later in the weekend."
From this Kay'D' appeared at many other festivals as showcase in 2006 and began to get booked back for 2007 and 2008. Slowly, clubs, festival organisers and audiences learned of Kay'D', her talent and her love for the music. The turning point she says, was in 2007, at the south will rise Again festival, where she had a fantastic reaction to both her voice and her choice of music.
As well as the positive reaction to Kay'D' as a soloist, there was alot of feedback which suggested she could be even better if she had her own band. late in 2007, she began recruiting musicians to form what would become the "Redneck Rodeo". The line up was finalised as a 5 piece, with "Harley Dave" on lead guitar, Chris Senner, pedal steel, David Ord, bass, Frankie Raydell on drums and of course Kay'D, lead vocals and rhythm guitar.
Kay'D's first band CD, "One For the Rodeo", was recorded in november 2007. It was intended at first to be just a demo, but once in the studio, Kay'D' decided to go all out for a full length album, despite band availabiliy limiting studio time to a mere 3 days. "Luckily, I didn't know what i was trying to do was nearly impossible. I didn't realise you couldnt record, mix and master an eleven track CD in 3 days, so on sheer determination, we went ahead and did it anyway." She laughs. "The producer and the rest of the band knew but they just kept quiet untill we'd finished!" The end result is a fine piece of work, with the studio limitations adding a satisfying grittiness which could well have been lost if there had been more time available. As well as lead vocals, Kay'D' plays all the acoustic guitar parts on the album, a feature of which she is immensley proud. Her talents dont stop there, with the CD's 5th track, "Love Left Me a Long Time Ago" being one of Kay'D's self-penned country songs. "I put in so much hard work before we went in the studio," she says "and it really paid off, because my live playing is so much better as a result. I didnt want to be a country singer with a guitar hung around my neck just like jewellery."
Audience response these days is phenominal, and with Kay'D' taking the country music scene by storm, herself and the band have been booked to play the British Country Music Awards in February 2009 at the Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green, Camberley, Surrey.
Kay'D's energy and enthusiasm for her music is limitless. At her first band gig in March 2008, at the end of her 3rd 45 minute set, she was asked if she felt tired. She just grinned, "Nah. I feel like doing another hour and a half!" She said. Its that approach which communicates itself to audiences in clubs and at festivals all over the country, and which, combined with Kay'D's determination, and, last, but not least, that astonishing voice, will take her as far in country music as she wants to go.
While there's no doubt that Kay'D's career is important to her, more important still is her love for country music and her desire to take it to a wider audience. "We need a break-through act in Britain to boost the country music profile. I'd like to have a part in it. Everyone wants fame and fortune but the limelight isn't that important to me. Even if i wasn't recognised, but i'd played a part in making it happen, that'd be enough for me." - As someone remarked about the little girl from suffolk recently. "She's not just going to be big. She could be important to British Country Music." To tell you the truth, that's exactly what she deserves.
