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Page 6 FEBRUARY<br />
News/Feature<br />
Pattie Clay adds grace to country music<br />
Freshman Pattie Clay performs her renditions <strong>of</strong> well-known country songs at<br />
Roxy’s during last year’s Downtown Country. Photo provided by Pattie Clay<br />
Everyone<br />
wanted to sing at least<br />
once when they were<br />
little. Well, freshman<br />
Pattie Clay does just<br />
that. She is just like<br />
any other high school<br />
student. She is a young<br />
woman who has many<br />
bright plans for her<br />
future that is mainly<br />
focused around her<br />
music and singing.<br />
“[I plan to] go<br />
to college, study music<br />
and hopefully become<br />
famous or teach music,”<br />
said Clay.<br />
Clay started<br />
singing when she was<br />
only one and a half<br />
years old. Her family<br />
loves that she has such<br />
a passion for her music.<br />
Her parents want her<br />
to continue with it and<br />
they hope her singing<br />
becomes more than just<br />
a hobby.<br />
Clay’s whole<br />
family encourages her in<br />
every thing she does, but<br />
Clay’s mom has been<br />
the main person who<br />
has helped her become a<br />
musician and reach her<br />
goals.<br />
Clay performs<br />
in various places like<br />
weddings, birthdays<br />
and the NSU playhouse.<br />
She has been in many<br />
diffi cult talent shows.<br />
She has placed fi rst in<br />
almost all <strong>of</strong> them.<br />
The good and<br />
the bad things in Clay’s<br />
life have inspired her in<br />
music. Her motivation<br />
to start singing came<br />
Elegant in evening gowns, freshman Pattie Clay<br />
sings Amazing Grace with accompaniment from<br />
fellow singer. Photo provided by Pattie Clay<br />
from watching the movie<br />
Sister Act.<br />
“Everything<br />
makes me want to sing.<br />
Leann Rimes, Patsy<br />
Cline and Martina<br />
McBride are great<br />
infl uences,” said Clay.<br />
After working<br />
for at Downtown<br />
Country for quite some<br />
time, Clay has learned so<br />
much over the years. She<br />
has met many people<br />
and has learned many<br />
different and valuable<br />
things from each and<br />
every one <strong>of</strong> them.<br />
“You can learn<br />
so much from people<br />
you never thought you<br />
would. I have so much<br />
fun and can’t get enough<br />
<strong>of</strong> it,” said Clay.<br />
Clay has met<br />
many musicians from<br />
competitions and has<br />
become friends with<br />
most <strong>of</strong> them.<br />
Although<br />
Clay doesn’t play any<br />
instruments, she is<br />
learning. And she may<br />
not write her own music,<br />
but she already 6 has six<br />
CDs out. Her fi rst CD<br />
she ever made was only<br />
when Clay was around<br />
seven or eight years<br />
old. She is planning to<br />
make another one soon.<br />
If anyone is interested<br />
in buying one <strong>of</strong> Clay’s<br />
CDs, just ask her for one<br />
or if anyone knows her<br />
mom, they can buy one<br />
from her.<br />
“It’s pretty cool<br />
to make a CD, but it’s<br />
weird to wear those big<br />
headphones!” said Clay.<br />
There are<br />
many different “types”<br />
or genres <strong>of</strong> music in<br />
<strong>this</strong> world. Everyone<br />
has different tastes in<br />
what they listen to, but<br />
if anyone has ever heard<br />
Clay sing they would<br />
absolutely love her.<br />
“[I sing]<br />
country mostly, but I<br />
can sing all types. It<br />
makes me really happy<br />
[to sing]. It makes me<br />
feel better when I’m not<br />
feeling so great. Singing<br />
is how I cope with my<br />
anger and my sadness,”<br />
said Clay.<br />
Clay’s mom,<br />
dad and brother are all<br />
musically talented just<br />
like her. Clay’s parents<br />
are focused on Clay’s<br />
music and want to help<br />
by pushing her to be the<br />
best she can be.<br />
Clay hopes to<br />
become a world known<br />
musician, but if that<br />
doesn’t happen Clay<br />
would love to teach<br />
music at any art school<br />
and hopes that she can<br />
teach kids what she has<br />
learned and make the<br />
difference, even if it’s<br />
just in one kids life. Just<br />
as long as she knows that<br />
she can return the favor<br />
for all the help she has<br />
been given throughout<br />
her music career.<br />
By Hannah Cole<br />
Are you<br />
interested<br />
in being a<br />
member <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Tiger Review<br />
staff?<br />
Come by room<br />
101 and ask<br />
Ms. Willis for<br />
information!