Anna Marie: Reviews/Awards

CCMA - 2000 California Country Music Association
State Competition
Vocalist of The Year
Youth 17-20

Song of The Year
Youth 17-20
(Co-written by
Kimberly Payne)

Song Writer Of The Year Youth 17-20

CCMA - 1999 California Country
Music Association State Competition
Song Of The Year
Youth 17-20

Song Writer Of The Year
Youth 17-20

CCMA State Competition 1999
Instrumentalist of The Year
Youth 17-20

California Country Music Association OBS Competition

1998
Female Vocalist Of The Year (OBS)

Instrumentalist Of The Year (OBS)
Youth 17-20

1999
Female Vocalist Of The Year

Entertainer Of The Year
Youth 17-20

Song Of The Year for "Starting Over"
(Co-written by Kimberly Payne)

Song Writer Of the Year for:
Found Someone
Starting Over
Never Ending Song

BEST FEMALE VOCALIST AND INSTRUMENTALIST

A RISING COUNTRY STAR FROM FOUNTAIN VALLEY

Los Angeles Times....

November 1999

Calendar Weekend

"Best Bets" 11-27-1999

A CELEBRATION OF WOMEN

Zeora, Laura Coyle and Anna Marie

SINGER/SONGWRITERS RELATIVELY PLUGGED...

Debi Champion hosts singer/songwriter at the Broken Spoke, Anna Marie, Marc-Alan Barnette & more...

REVIEWS... News Archives...Reviews The Crazy Horse Concert Review with Hal Ketchum June Issue 2003   Live Magazine, by Bob Leggett

The future face of country and one of its elder statesmen combined to show a packed house that country music is alive and well at the Crazy Horse. The show opened with Anna Marie, an up and coming 22-year old phenom who has been playing guitar since she was a small child under the tutelage of Rich Gordon, Eddie Montana and Mark Wood, and with the songwriting chops to match. Anna Marie could very well have won the recent Nashville Star competition but for some serious weather conditions, but that’s another story. Anna Marie kicked off the party with the rocking song “Million Reasons to Lie,” written by her sister and band member Tina Michelle. She continued her set with “Pickin’ Up the Pieces,” also written by Tina, before playing what I consider a sure radio hit, “Little Things,” which Anna Marie wrote. Showing that she can sing them slow just as well as fast, she gave us “Take the Clock Off the Wall,” a true “tears in your beer” country tune, which she co-wrote with Tina. Next was “Starting Over,” co-written with Kim Payne, followed by what could be another radio hit, a song written by Steven McClintock and Victoria Shaw (“Let’s Talk About Me”). Anna Marie continued her set with “Better Half,” another song co-written with her sister, and concluded with “Not Alone,” a touching gospel song that could also easily receive serious radio airplay on the local Christian station. Anna Marie showed us that she definitely BELONGS on the stage, and the wizardry of her band, especially her fiddle player Michael Kelly, and the amazing harmonies of Tina Michelle combine to produce a sound that belongs in Nashville. The band shows such chemistry on stage that they are a sheer joy to behold. Anna Marie is a talent not to be missed. Watch for her playing at a venue near you soon. As far as the headliner - Hal Ketchum. What can you say about his performance except, WOW! When a performer starts off his set with one of his biggest hits (“Past the Point of Rescue”), tells jokes, and sings like Hal does, you know that he came to play. Hal even pulled out the harmonica on “Evangeline,” and performed an awesome cover of “Five O'clock World.” This was an amazing evening. I can hardly wait for the next one!/p

Kulak's Woodshed Review By Bobby Bensley (Deal): 1-17-02

Watching the web cast now and really enjoying the show. Strong impassioned songwriting and great musicianship all the way around, though you really should have made the Mando Player plug in. Peace, Bobby Deal

Kulak's Woodshed Review The Mark Romano Show with special guest Anna Marie Hey Y'all !

It's your ever faithful Rovin' Reporter here, with my monthly review of everyone's favorite guitar & gun toting cowboy's May 17th show at the cozy confines of Kulak's Woodshed! To start out a perfect evening of music and merriment, having gotten to the club early to grab myself a comfy couch, I was surprised & pleased to witness another of Mr. R's talents of which I had no idea he possessed, when he sat down at the piano before the show and played this incredible song! No vocals, just a beautiful, sweet piano melody that blew we early birds away! Who knew?? (Okay, yeah, he plays the accordion, that should'a been my first clue)! But, I'd never seen him play the piano during a set! (One hopes, he'll add more piano to his shows in the future)! Hey, and that was just one of the musical surprises for the evening.. But, more about that later... The nights lineup was a tad sparse, as, sadly, one of Kulak's favorites (and mine) JEFF KOSSACK wasn't able to make it out! (Not sure why, but if it's due to illness, we send him our wishes for a speedy recovery!) To help fill-in Jeff's slot, we were treated to wonderful extended set by the lovely and talented ANNA MARIE with her talented and lovely sister-in-law, TINA MICHELLE. I gotta say that if these two, truly gifted singer/songwriters do not touch your hearts with their melodies, y'all would just plain have'ta not have a heart! Their sweet harmonies are reminiscent of an era in country music which hasn't been heard on the radio for much too long! Hopefully, these girls will help fill that "airway void" soon! (Dixie Chicks, Who?) Playing along with Anna & Tina this night, on the "fiddle" (and MAN, can this guy play that THANG!) A newcomer to Kulak's, MICHAEL KELLY! Yeehaw! What's the old lyric to that Alabama song? "Can't be from Texas if ya haven't got a Fiddle in the Band!"...well, I don't know if this gent's from Texas, but, I'd be willing to bet any band, in any state would be thrilled to have him join in! (which, by the way, he did just that, for Mark's set)! More about that later... Playin' percussion for the girls (and also for Mark's set, yep, you guessed it.. more about that later..) was another newcomer to Kulak's, on drums the talented rhythms of, JEFF URBACH. No doubt about it, this was a great set! If you missed it & would like to hear more about these talented folks, be sure to check in at Anna Marie's new web site. Well, that's the nights show..hope y'all enjoyed it as much as me..... Oh, wait... I'm forgetting something, huh? Hmm...now what was I going to tell ya about later? ...... HA! As if this, parched soul, could ever forget that tall, cool, cowboy hat wearing drink of water, who quenches my musical thirst every month! Yep, the "More about that later" portion of my review is finally here... Marks official set started (after his little tease on the Piano) with him back on his guitar, add a tip of his hat, a roguish grin, a tune I'd never heard, and he'd set our toes to tappin'! I didn't catch the title to the new tune, but the lyrics tell of needing only "a place to lay his head, the road, the sky and Mary." Uh, unfortunately, Mark found out not long after, that he "might" be needing at least, ONE more little thing because... During his next song, the sweet ballad "A Thousand Miles Away" his "D" string broke! But, never fear! Always the consummate professional, our hero continued the song without missing a single beat! (and was applauded by the audience for doing so)! A quick change of the string (with some able assistance from one of his sweet fans in the audience). A few jokes while he changed the string (in record time) and he was Good to go! Mark invited MICHAEL KELLY (you remember that Awesome fiddle man from before) to join him for the rest of the set, and, in addition to Michael, DAVID STONE (another talented Kulak's favorite) stepped up for a song or two on drums, where later, he gave the talented JEFF URBACH another chance to show his skills! Now, don't think those were the only musical surprises, because later in the set we were treated to more sweet harmonies from ANNA MARIE & TINA MICHELLE on Mark's "Prairie Sky" and "Shut-Up"! (OK, is it just me, or do y'all sometimes feel like you need a scorecard to keep track of all the talented players at Mark's shows?) Later in the set, Mark played "Bound For Nashville," a real pickin' and grinin', foot stompin', hand clappin' bluegrass gem! Yow! Watch the man's fingers fly on this one! Incredible! And the fun didn't end there! Per requests from the audience, Mark played several more fun songs like, "Gorilla My Dreams" and "It's Cold". Around the end of the evening the set took on a more serious feel. Mark took a minute to share with us a little about his parents & the fact they were celebrating their "60th" wedding anniversary. He also spoke of how very much they mean to him. (The pride and love clearly showing in his face). He then told us about his Dad's days as a pilot in WWII, which lead us into the beautiful, heartfelt and heart touching ballad he'd written about his Dad's feelings of those days "Daddy Was a Pilot". If there was a dry eye in the house when he finished, I couldn't spot it. (admittedly, the fact my eyes were slighted misty may have had something to do with that). But, Mark, being the ever caring host, appreciating that he touched us, yet, not wanting to leave us on too serious a note, gave us one more for the road, with the always fun & upbeat "LouieVille Slugger". He then thanked us for coming and wished us "safe home". Welp, that's it Folks! I know I tend to go on a bit about this Cowpoke, (a bit? Hard to believe, I barely know him, isn't it)? But, if you're reading these rather long winded reviews I pound out every month, and you've seen this man play, then you know exactly how hard it is to put his show's down in just a few quick paragraphs! If you haven't seen him play, DO! It's the only way you'll understand why we Mark Romano fan's can't wait for every show. (And why we're all champing at the bit waiting for that new CD to be released!) A Happy Anniversary to Mr. and Mrs. Romano on your very special day! (And, thanks for having such a great son!) Till next time, This month & always, please remember to Hug those you can & think loving thoughts of those you can't... RR Thanks for your support!