Jessica Ridley

Jessica Ridley
Born (1985-03-14) March 14, 1985
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Genres Country
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Years active 2007-present
Labels Independent
Website www.jessicaridley.com

Jessica Ridley is a Canadian singer/songwriter who won Bud United presents The Big Time, a reality show that aired in North America on ABC and its affiliates internationally.[1]

Career

Jessica Ridley was born in Calgary, Alberta and grew up in the bedroom community of Airdrie, Alberta. She plays the piano, guitar and mandolin.

Although Jessica had performed in school plays as a youngster, she didn't believe that a future in professional music was an option until a music producer happened to catch her singing in church one week.[2] A series of follow up meetings led to the decision to create a 5 song demo to see where things would head. From that first trip to Nashville, Jessica was hooked on trying to make this work. Working with the duo of Don Somerville and Billy Simon, the first set of songs came together over three trips to the Music City. That included the first single to Canadian airwaves "Hit and Run" which was released to Canadian radio in the spring of 2009.[3] That first song made its way onto the Country Music News Top 100 CanCountry chart where it topped out at 91.[4]

The full album was scheduled to be released on EMG Universal in the fall of 2010 [5] but issues with Fused Management delayed it again. Because of the delay, though, another song was able to be recorded and added to the album. “Flaming Red” was written by Bob Carlisle and Dennis Patton and destined for a female country voice and it found a home with Jessica. In the spring of 2011 it became the first song released to American radio[6] where it reached the 62nd spot on the Billboard Top 100 Country Chart and in Canada it was a top 50 song on the Canadian Country Chart.

When the album did make its appearance in stores and digitally it received great reviews from around North America including Nashville's Music Row Magazine,[7] Canada's Country Music News,[8] Showbiz Junkies[9] and the Airdrie Echo [10]

She has also released a holiday season tune named "The Spirit of Christmas" which was a duet with CMT's "Can You Duet" finalist Chris Cline. That reached the mid-80s on the holiday charts in both Canada and the United States.[11]

In total five singles have been released; Hit and Run to Canadian and European radio, Flaming Red to Canadian, American, European and Australia radio; The Spirit of Christmas to Canadian and American radio, Bluer Than Bluegrass to Europe and Australia and most recently The Highway to Canadian and American radio.[12] With Bluer Than Bluegrass reaching #4 in the UK during November 2011.[13]

Jessica Ridley has also written a pair of songs that were recorded in Korea and another being cut in Canada.

In late 2011, Jessica auditioned for a new social-reality show created by Bud United to air on ABC in 2012. "The Big Time" [14] was a competition show that featured a different genre each week. She was a cast member for the music episode going head to head with Nashville's Justin Nault and England's Laura Jeanne. The four round competition set in Las Vegas, Nevada featuring the contestants battling through singing their national anthems, then writing a radio jingle, followed by a live performance before the grand prize of being the opening act for the 2011 iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand in front of 17,000 fans. The show featured guest judges Narada Michael Walden, the famed Whitney Houston producer and Julie Pilat from Los Angeles' KIIS FM.[15] The show aired January 21, 2012.

As of May 11, 2012 Bluer Than Bluegrass was at #17 on the Belgium Chart[16] and #32 on the ECMA Pan-European Chart.[17][18]

The summer that year brought another series of performances including being part of CMA Fest held annually in Nashville, Tennessee.[19] In the fall, Ridley was part of the UK Country Throwdown.[2] JessJunkies was launched as a fan club for Jessica's fans around the world.[20] Also the first cut from the upcoming and untitled album, "The Highway", was released digitally world wide, "The Highway" music video was directed by Eugene Brown.

In the spring of 2013 she opened up for fellow Canadian George Canyon.[21]

2015 brought a trip to the United Kingdom as tour support for Ward Thomas for 18 dates.[22][23] In the fall she opened for Michael English for three dates.

Currently she tours with a band consisting of Chris Rodriguez (Guitar - formerly of Keith Urban, Shania Twain, Faith Hill), Boh Cooper (Keys - formerly of the David Foster and Friends, Rascal Flatts), Bobby Blaizer (Drums - Nashville Alternators), Brian Mayes (Guitar) and Justin Kudding (Bass).

Personal life

Most of Jessica's childhood was spent growing up in Airdrie, Alberta. As a youngster she played hockey and baseball in the community and played on the high school varsity volleyball team earning Most Improved honors. During her growing up years she worked at McDonald's and saved up to buy her first car - an orange 1974 VW Beetle. She graduated from Airdrie Koinonia Christian School in 2002.

A year after high school, she married Kent Ridley and together they have four kids. He works in the sports industry as a football scout.[24] In 2011 they moved to Nashville, Tennessee where they currently reside.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Year Single Album Highest Chart Position
2010 "Hit and Run" (Canadian Release) Fit To Be Tied 91 (Canada Country Chart)
"Spirit of Christmas" (Canadian/American Release) (single) 63 (Canadian Holiday Chart)
2011 "Flaming Red" (American Release) Fit To Be Tied 62 (Billboard - Country)
"Bluer Than Bluegrass" (European Release) 32 (ECMA Chart); 3 (Italy Chart); 4 (UK Chart); 15 (Belgium Chart)
"Fit To Be Tied" (Canadian/European Release) 15 (Belgium Chart)

Music videos

Year Title Director
2011 "Hit and Run" Blake Faucette
2011 "Undone" Blake Faucette
2012 "Flaming Red" Blake Faucette
2012 "The Highway" Eugene Brown

Awards

Won ABC's "The Big Time"[25]

References

  1. ↑ "Jessica Ridley Wins The Big Time On ABC". Ninenorthrecords.com. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  2. 1 2 To, Sukie (2012-10-01). "Introducing... Jessica Ridley". ukCOUNTRYmusic.NET. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  3. ↑ "Out of the Blue" (PDF). Jessicaridley.com. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  4. ↑ "Jessica Ridley's Hit and Run". Countrymusictattletale.com. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  5. ↑ "Rising Country Star Jessica Ridley to Release Debut September 20th". Newmusicreviews.net. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  6. ↑ "Jessica Ridley". Musicrow.com. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  7. ↑ "Jessica Ridley : MusicRow – Nashville's Music Industry Publication – News, Songs From Music City". Musicrow.com. 2011-02-21. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  8. ↑ "Jessica Ridley : Fit To Be Tied Review" (PDF). Jessicaridley.com. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  9. ↑ Rebecca Murray (2011-09-18). "Jessica Ridley Biography and Songs". ShowbizJunkies. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  10. ↑ "Jessica Ridley : Out of the blue" (PDF). Jessicaridley.com. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  11. ↑ "Christmas Music From Cameron Tilbury". Camerontilburypublicity.com. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  12. ↑ "Cameron Tilbury Publicity". Camerontilburypublicity.com. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  13. ↑ "ECMA Charts". Artgomperz.com. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  14. ↑ "The Big Time". Variety.com. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  15. ↑ "Jessica Ridley Wins the Big Time". Todayscountrymag.com. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  16. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20130719095938/http://www.spotoneventsdirect.co.uk/entertainers/radio-beiaard-106-3-fm/. Archived from the original on July 19, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2015. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. ↑
  18. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20130925085105/http://www.spotoneventsdirect.co.uk/entertainers/ecma-top-100/. Archived from the original on September 25, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2015. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  19. ↑
  20. ↑ "Jessica Ridley : Website" (PDF). Jessjunkies.com. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  21. ↑ "George Canyon Live! Poster" (JPG). Jessicaridley.com. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  22. ↑
  23. ↑
  24. ↑ "Ridley Scouting Who Are We?". Ridleyscouting.com. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  25. ↑

External links

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