From the The Lebanon Reporter, 2001
On the road to Nashville …
Westside teen releases
third album since age 8
By David C. Lannan
cnhimedia Writer
INDIANAPOLIS — She has sung the National Anthem for two of Indiana’s professional sports teams —the Pacers and the Fever — as well as the AAA Indianapolis Indians. She’s sung at fairs, festivals, weddings and fund-raisers. She’s competed in the True Value Country Music Showdown and will appear in the next round of competition at the Indiana State Fair in August.
Since the age of 8, she’s even managed her money to the point where she has purchased her own trailer, sound system and stage clothing from money she’s made off her first two recordings and her many public appearances.
Shonda Sue Moore recorded her first country album at the age of 8, a gospel album at the age of 10, and, now at the age of 13, has released her first Nashville project. Her third album is called “Girl Thang.”
“I’ve always sung, since I was tiny,” Shonda Sue says.
When she was only 8, she entered the True Value Country Showdown and, in the process, worked with a local production studio to produce a demo. She said the owner of the studio agreed to work with her but warned that she would have to make a lot of sacrifices.
Shonda Sue has made those sacrifices and they have paid off in aces.
While she may not get to spend time with her friends as much as she would like or to do other things girls her age enjoy, Shonda Sue is doing what she loves — singing.
“The only time I have really been nervous is when I first performed the National Anthem for the Pacers,” Shonda Sue says.
Last year Shonda Sue performed at about 40 venues. She says she performs when and wherever she gets the chance.
“I just like singing, especially when the audience is into it,” she said. She occasionally unintentionally entertains neighbors by going out back to sing with her wireless microphone.
Shonda Sue’s mother, Kimberly Moore, says, “It’s not unusual for the neighbors’ kids to climb on top of the swing sets so they can watch her.”
Her step-grandfather, Thorntown resident Paul Youkey, was involved in the music business for about 30 years leaving the business behind when the last band broke up. “I thoroughly enjoyed my years of playing and this is my opportunity to get involved in the music business again,” Paul said. His wife, Sue, says she’s Shonda Sue’s biggest fan. “We’re there every time we can be. We’re very proud of her.”
“God has blessed her with her talent.” Sue added, “I always want her to remember that if she puts God first in her life then all her dreams will work out.”
Some of Shonda Sue’s singing has been featured on small town radio stations in Jasper and North Vernon, areas where she has performed. Now that she has a recording out of Nashville, on an independent label, she’s hoping her exposure to air time will grow. She said the producers on the independent label are working with her in pursuit of a major label recording contract.
“I want to be famous, be recorded on a major label, be seen on Country Music Television (CMT),” Shonda Sue said. “I really want to make music videos, and I want a bus.”
Shonda Sue practices singing two hours a day, spends four to five hours on school work and just started home schooling.
She traveled to and from Nashville where the background music, vocals, background vocals and final mixing of the latest project took place. Shonda Sue said she was present even for the background vocals so the background vocalists could get a sense of her style.
Since leaving Traders Point Christian Academy to be schooled at home by her mother, Shonda Sue says she hasn’t really noticed much difference in her school work.
Moore says the home schooling allows her daughter to have a more flexible schedule. This way, she says, Shonda Sue can do her homework right after “class” rather than using time later when she could be practicing. On the other hand, Moore admitted, she sometimes hears Shonda Sue singing and has to ask if she’s finished with her lessons.
Shonda Sue says practicing is one of the hardest aspects of having a singing career.
“It takes a lot,” she said. “I love performing, but singing is not an easy job. It’s a serious commitment.”
While she’s never had voice lessons, Shonda Sue has had a stage teacher help with pitch and breathing. As for her stage performance, she has eight years of dancing under her belt.
Shonda Sue has been taking piano lessons for about a year and has written some lyric ideas but has never performed her own music — yet.
“I would rather be singing than writing,” she says. “It’s pretty exciting. It’s what I have been wanting to do all my life.”
“Girl Thang” consists of country music and includes five original songs that she picked out herself.
“I liked mostly the upbeat songs,” Shonda Sue said. “It was hard to find a selection of songs for a 13-year-old.”
Moore agreed, adding, “We listened to more than 300 demos. Shonda picked five she wanted to perform.”
“Girl Thang” is now available by calling the Moore home at 280-8063. Compact discs sell for $10 and the cassettes sell for $8.
She’s considering putting a band together, tentatively by winter.
Shonda Sue’s music career is a family thing for the Moores. While her mother takes care of children during the day, she also acts as promotions manager — setting up shows and getting the word out. Her father, Craig, is a full-time quality assurance manager and spends his free time running the sound system and helping wherever else he is needed. Her 10-year-old brother Cody, nicknamed “The Roadie,” serves that function when Shonda Sue is traveling to performances. Her grandparents have helped some with financial backing and Kim’s stepdad, Paul, may very well be the lead guitarist when and if a band is formed.
Upcoming appearances, all tentatively scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., include the Putnam County Fair on July 25, the Hot Dog Festival in Frankfort on July 27 and the Morgan County Fair on July 30.
What does Shonda look forward to in the future?
“All I want to do is sing,” she says, which is why her first recording, “I Love to Sing,” was a fitting start to her career.