COMMON STRINGS: A BLUEGRASS LOVE STORY FIRST RELEASE, THE RAIN CAME DOWN, PRODUCED BY WYATT RICE, COMBINES CONTEMPORARY BLUEGRASS, WITH AN EDGE \"WOW\" is the reaction most folks give when hearing Vanessa\'s \"warm as wine\" voice hit the first lyric in a song. This \'grassy gal? has it going on vocally - and you will discover a new voice to \"sing you back home.\" \"Common Strings\" has the sweetest new bluegrass project - this side of the OHIO and I\'m in Kentucky!\" Gracie Muldoon - WorldWideBluegrass.com \"\"The band\'s deep roots in the Appalachian storytelling tradition, their joy and sincerity in performance, and their simplicity of arrangement, let them shine like a crystal clear point of light in the world of Folk Music. With a voice like an Angel, lead singer Vanessa Nichols has the uncanny ability to cut straight to the heart of a song and send that message right to the hearts of her audience. Common Strings are one of the fastest rising stars in today\'s Music.\" Scott Shuman - Frontrowmusic.tv BLAIRSVILLE, GEORGIA ?(August 15, 2008) The acoustic vocal group COMMON STRINGS, a true love story for all times, was formed in 2003 when Darron and Vanessa (Nichols) first met. Darron was invited to a jam session with some local bands, one of which included Vanessa. After a few fiddle tunes, Vanessa sang ?Erase The Miles,? a Carl Jackson song, and Darron sang harmony. They both knew there was something there. ?It was one of those magical moments that you wait your whole life for and at that point the whole universe was in perfect harmony,? says Darron. They wed in 2004. Vanessa is a true natural born singer from the mountains of Kentucky; Darron, a ?picker,? is from the mountains of north Georgia; the two found that their ?common strings? were the Mountains and the love of the Music --- hence the name of the band. ?When we started writing together, we found ourselves opening the doors to our hearts and pouring out our souls across the strings of a Martin guitar,? says Vanessa. COMMON STRINGS combines contemporary Bluegrass and Folk. Their foundation is the music of the Appalachian Mountains. They write and record all of their own material and play the same instruments as bluegrass legends but bring a fresh new approach to the style; the main thing being the raw emotion in their songs which comes from deep inside, something that has to be lived. ?When we do a show,? says Darron, ?we want to take our audience on an emotional roller coaster ride. We want them to laugh, cry and walk away feeling that they know us personally.? COMMON STRINGS recently inked a deal with Lou Bell Records/Knoxville, Tennessee. Lou Bell Records and ol Hisser Publishing are owned by Nadeem Siddiqi. whose love of music attracted him to COMMON STRINGS, to take on the emerging group and launch their career in the music industry. Says Nadeem, ?The first project released by Lou Bell Records is Common Strings? ?The Rain Came Down,? slated to be released October 1, 2008 at the IBMA World of Bluegrass. ?The Rain Came Down ? is produced by Wyatt Rice, Darron and Vanessa. Wyatt, who is world famous as a guitarist, brother to the legendary Tony Rice, greatly sought after sessions musician, and member of the Tony Rice Unit, is now making his mark in the recording industry. Some of his producing/playing can be found on the new Steep Canyon Rangers project, ?Lovin Pretty Women.? He has also recorded bluegrass giants such as Dan Tyminski, Adam Steffy, Don Rigsby, Tony Rice and many others. ?The Rain Came Down? contains 13 original and non-standard bluegrass songs written by the band, with love, hardships, lonesomeness and loss storytelling themes that bind them together. The breakout single, ?Mountain Laurel, a story about ??the hardships our ancestors faced when they settled In the Appalachian Mountains, ? says Darron. With no form of travel other than foot, no communication with the outside world, no doctors, or close neighbors, it was a daily fight against the elements and nature for survival. Some made it, some did not, but love still abided, even in those dark and desolate times. ?Mountain Laurel? was released on World Wide Bluegrass.com on August 2, 2008 and will be released to all bluegrass programs on September 1 through Bluegrass Radio Power. A second single, ?Songbird of the Mountain? (recently named ?video clip of the week? on www.bluegrassmusic.dk, a Bluegrass fan site in Denmark), is an homage to Vanessa?s Grandmother Evie Maude Mazingo, a great singer with a high, clear, soprano voice. ?She loved to sing the old hymns, but loved even more to see the family singing and picking together,? says Vanessa. ?I spent many, many hours with Mamaw learning the old songs that you don?t hear much anymore. She also taught me the harmony parts. Then she would sing lead and put me to work to see if I could get it. These were good times. I think she would be proud to know that I never forgot and that I?m trying to carry on what she taught me. Not only in music but in life.? Blake McDaniel joined the group over two years ago. He brings amazing instrumentation and vocals. His musical influences range from jazz to classical, from rock to blues, he brings a fresh style to old music. Ethan Walker, the youngest and newest member of CS has quickly become a seasoned musician. His talent has not been fully tapped, and he will soon be a name mentioned along with the great bass players of bluegrass. ?A wonder collection of original songs in an acoustic format. Darron and Vanessa have a magical blend vocally and together they command a fabulous sound. Vanessa\'s heartfelt vocals with Darron\'s tasteful mandolin playing makes this CD a delight to listen to\" Rickie Simpkins, Grammy winner, Emmy Lou Harris Band BIOS: Vanessa Nichols - Vocals, Guitar Vanessa, a warm, soft soprano with a verified voice like an angel, has been singing ever since she could talk. Some of her earliest memories are of sitting in the floor in front of an old cabinet type stereo with her ear pressed up against the speaker, listening to old 8 tracks and albums of bluegrass and gospel music. \"I just couldn\'t get close enough as I would sit there and imagine that was me in there singing.\" Knowing how to pick and sing, though, is just something that comes natural to Vanessa\'s family. Darron says, \" There\'s a soul in her voice that can\'t be taught.\" Those Sunday after church, ?pickins\'? was a big part of her life growing up in northeast Tennessee. She later moved to Kentucky where she continued to sing in her family\'s band as well as some local bands and trying to make ends meet working in a grocery store. Then she met Darron and something just clicked. \"We even breathe at the same time,\" Vanessa says of their singing. \"Especially when performing live. We feel each other\'s next move before it even happens.\" So now after five years their hard work is starting to pay off.? Darron Nichols - Picker and Harmony Singer Darron started playing music around the age of eight. \" I don\'t remember a time when music was not a part of my life.\" Darron grew up in the mountains of North Georgia. Seven generations ago his ancestors brought the music, now called Appalachian or Mountain music, and stories from across the sea, Ireland, to the land where he lives today. Darron was always around bluegrass, but never took an active role in it until he and his friends formed a bluegrass band, Low Gap Quartet, in the early nineties. \"I love Harmony singing and bluegrass music, and this was the first time that I tried to play mandolin, but I loved the sound and spent hours with my ears glued to Doyle Lawson and John Duffy.\" That was the start, and now Darron and Vanessa?s music work together like a well-oiled machine. \"Our harmonies just click, we don\'t think or plan it, its just feelings.\" When Darron is not playing music, he loves spending time with his family. Vanessa and Darron live in Blairsville, Georgia, with their family: Jess, 15; Carver, 11; and Carrie Beth, born in 2007. The other members of COMMON STRINGS are: Blake McDaniel - Vocals, Banjo, Dobro, Guitar and Mandolin Blake started playing guitar at the age of seven. At 11 he was also playing banjo. He joined his first bluegrass band as a young teenager, but soon ventured off into other styles of music. From rock to classical, blues to jazz, Blake played them all until a few years ago when he responded to an add \"Banjo Player Needed.\" And so here he is, the Keith Moon of bluegrass. \" Blake stepped into the group and brought with him a sound and style of playing that has come to be one of the defining parts of Common Strings\" according to Darron. Blake now plays Dobro, Banjo, Mandolin and Guitar, and is the instrumental powerhouse of the band. He also sings lead and harmony. He lives in Ellijay, Georgia. Ethan Walker - Guitar, Bass Ethan is the newest and youngest member of Common Strings. He stared learning guitar around the age of 14. Ethan attends the same church as Darron and Vanessa and one Sunday morning Ethan\'s family sang and Ethan played guitar. Darron told Vanessa after church \" That kids gonna make a picker.\" Darron talked to Ethan after church and ask him if he had ever played bass. He said no, but said he would be happy to give it a try. At the ripe old age of 18, he has already sat in the studio behind the same mics as Tony Rice and other bluegrass greats. Ethan lives in Blairsville, Georgia.