Biography
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Carla Van Hoose sings Bluegrass with some folk and blues thrown in for flavor. She loves to share the breadth of feeling, rhythm and stories this music offers. Her soothing, smooth vocals are to the music what Mom's home cooking is to the Sunday dinner. Carla focuses on the human condition in all of us. She supports Kentucky composers and musicians, giving her performances a down home feel. She performs solo or with The Kentucky Traveler Band, her back-up group, featuring fiddle, bass, guitar and mandolin or banjo as needed. She brings to mind singers like Eva Cassidy, Patsy Cline and Michelle Shocked.
Carla began singing before she went to school. During her formal education, she sang in church choirs, concert choirs and performed at special events. In Lexington, she was one of the founding members of SisterSound, a women's chorus. She has been a member of the First Presbyterian Church choir for 14 years. In that choir she has studied with Dr. Gary Anderson, choral director at Transylvania University, Dr. Everett McCorvey, founder and director of the international touring American Spiritual Ensemble, and Marlon Hurst, formerly with the Robert Shaw Chorale.
Some of Carla's talent came from her mother, Jean, and her grandmother, Effie McPherson, who were singers, also her aunt, Francis Marie McPherson Stewart, who composed, performed and taught music theory and piano at EKU for 27 years. Many evenings and holidays were spent on piano, in guitar lessons or singing around the fireplace with her gifted family members.
Her debut album "Old Times and Memories" was released in 2001. Her second CD, "Kentucky Home" was released in 2003. The third album, "Moonlit Mountain Road" was released late in 2007. Each album held challenges and new accomplishments. Carla shared the studios with local, national and international musicians such as, Peter Rhee, former backup violist for Chakka Khan; Richard Bennett, Bluegrass guitarist/singer/songwriter; Nashville musicians Ernie King and Vince Emmett; Gerry Gillespie, former touring bassist for Kathy Mattea; Paul D. Williams, mandolin player for No Tools Loaned; Kati Penn, performer and recording artist; Raliegh Dailey, UK jazz piano professor; Warren Iulg, KY singer/songwriter; Ken Holbrook, multi-instrumentalist, teacher and performer; Daniel Carwile, performer, national violin champion and Nashville studio musician; Orville Hammond, international pianist; singers: Van Berry, Leatha Lightsey and Vivian Lasly-Bidds. Working with these extraordinary talents has added experience and depth to Carla's ability and performances. The CDs have received airplay in 10 states. She has had internet sale in Holland, Germany, Canada, South Africa and Japan.
Carla has appeared in Kentucky, Colorado, Missouri, West Virginia, Tennessee, Texas and Canada. Some of her high light performances are: J. D. Crowe Festival, Woodland Art Festival and Jubilee, Mayfest, Woodsongs Coffee House, Governor's Breakfast, Meade Co Summer Series, Capitol Expo, Cheshire Cat, Mountain Opry, Kentucky Crafted: The Market, Americana Cross Roads Live and KET-II, Mixed Media, WUKY Curtains@8!, WKYT-TV Afternoon Show.
Thanks to Carwile String Studio and Tater Knob Pottery
For bookings :
mail: 110
Louisiana Ave., Lexington, KY 40502
email: carla@carlasings.com