Eli Young: Miranda Connection

You know the Eli Young Band for their big hit “Crazy Girl.” And Miranda Lambert is the Female Vocalist of the Year.  But there was a time when both were struggling artists back in their home state of Texas.  Country Countdown USA host Lon Helton asked the Eli Young Band when they first met Miranda: “It was at a place called Love & War in Texas, a little restaurant in Plano outside Dallas. It was an open mic night.  The next time we saw her was at Bill’s Records & Tapes, it’s a Friday afternoon radio show where people come out for pizza & beer.  It was the four of us and Miranda, we played that afternoon.  Then she went off and did Nashville Star.  After that, she did a showcase at Gypsy Tea Room in Dallas, and she invited us to open the show.  Her record producer, Frank Liddell, was there that day, and he saw us, liked us, and helped develop us.  We had four songs, and he helped us with our first record.  Over the last few years, he’s developed the band.”

So what were their earliest recollections of Miranda?  What stood out in those early days?  Mike Eli said: “Her voice was really unique.  You hear a voice like that, for me as a singer, I look for a unique voice, you hear it on the radio and you know who it is.  Then she did Nashville Star, and she made a lot of fans through that..  James Young added: “She’s real, and writes great songs, songs that are relevant to her listeners, and her voice performing them is the key.  If you make music that’s unique, eventually somebody will be out there listening.  It’s been fun for us watching her every step of the way, having that connection in our history.”

Tags: eli young, miranda

Category: Audio