When Kanye West was on “The View” last week, he mentioned two genres of music we’d never associate him with: Broadway show tunes and country. He even a few bars of “Heartless” as if it were a country song (twang and all). For most of us, that is the extent to which we think about our folks and country music (besides the fact that Dolly Parton sang “I Will Always Love You” before Whitney). There is of course, one notable exception: Darius Rucker (of Hootie & The Blowfish fame) is having a fair amount of success as a solo country artist these days. (Let’s face it Charlie Pride may have been before your time). Well, there’s one sister who is hoping to join Darius on the country charts soon. Her name? Liz Toussaint.
The Chicago Tribune had a great story on Liz (the niece of noted musician Allen Toussaint) today. She’s a Chicago native, essentially an urban chick, who hid her love of country music from her family and friends before she summoned the courage to tell them and the world. Her brother urged her to follow in the footsteps of Mary J. Blige instead. But Liz would not be moved.
She is set to release a new CD later this summer called “My Name is Liz” in which she sings from her unique vantage point. You can listen to several cuts from her “Country Soul” CD here. So far the country music community hasn’t exactly welcomed her with open arms. I don’t think that’s a big surprise to any of us. If fact, even when she has tried to get a gig folks won’t listen to her music once they see her headshot. Yes, they’re that blatant with the hateration. With determination she’s starting to have some breakthroughs in getting some bookings in the Midwest.
But the Midwest dates don’t give her street cred among Nashville’s inner circle. However, Liz keeps plugging at it. She isn’t the first to try (there have been legions before her) but she may get further than anyone expects. Especially now. Sheila E. not only appeared on CMT’s show “Gone Country” she actually won the competition earlier this year. Sheila’s first single, “Glorious Train” is already out. And because Kanye West believes he can do just about anything he might starting twanging too. Even if he doesn’t I suspect that country music will be infused with shades of brown soon and very soon. Good luck Liz!
Here’s Sheila E’s video one of Liz’s recent performances:
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