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A budding young singer

Posted by Larry Jordan <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Larry+Jordan' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 22, 2014, 10:12 pm

Those of you who know the Jim Reeves story are aware that he got interested in music at a young age, trading a bushel of pears for a beat-up guitar. He was singing professionally by the age of 9 and had a radio show on a small station in Shreveport, Louisiana by the age of 12.

I do believe Cindy Walker was correct when she wrote that Jim was "born to sing." I think there are people who are naturally gifted, and some are wise enough to use their God-given talents.

I recently saw a little 9 year old girl performing at a flea market and was so impressed by her musical abilities. Someone shot some amateur video and she ended up making a national TV appearance on the "Today" show recently.

Her name is Emi Sunshine Hamilton and she is from Madisonville, Tennessee. I think we will be seeing and hearing a lot from her in the future.

I thought you might enjoy seeing this pretty little girl who sings from the heart and even plays guitar. She hits all the notes and puts such soul into her singing that she is just a delight.

Imagine Travis Reeves at the same age and how he must have sounded as a youngster. And we all know he grew up to be one of the world's greatest vocalists.

Click the link below to watch Emi's performance on "Today."

But here are some other songs you should sample.

PLEASE NOTE: The audio is very low volume so be sure to turn up the speakers on your computer.

To hear her yodel, go here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpL-DhXdAuQ

She does an impressive version of "God On the Mountain" here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7INlkuTjKLY

And Emi and her mom even write songs together. This is one they wrote called "Little Black Bird:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aVDhTZw6Tc

I think you'll become a fan just like I have...

Link: EMI SUNSHINE HAMILTON

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by Mike Slater <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Mike+Slater' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 23, 2014, 12:34 am, in reply to "A budding young singer"

Wow! Thanks for sharing those videos, Larry! I just watched them and Emi certainly is a natural, just like you said! She's so cute too! I think we might have another Patsy Cline when she gets older! Very talented little girl, and the songs were very nice too. I really liked the one she wrote with her Mom. Wouldn't it be great if we could hear her on a duet with Jim?

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by David MacBeth <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=David+MacBeth' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 23, 2014, 3:59 pm, in reply to "A budding young singer"

It didn't sound right,a nine year old singing a totally inappropriate song.Having said that,she will either be well known(in Country Music)circles or she will 'sink' without trace within a year or so,we have had 'child stars' here in the UK in the past,very few are able to make it into a lifetime career,maybe she will follow in Shirley Temples' footsteps and go into politics!

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by Mike Slater <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Mike+Slater' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 23, 2014, 5:33 pm, in reply to "Re: A budding young singer"

What was inappropriate about the songs she sang? I thought they were very nice songs and she performed them well. Why not just enjoy the music, David?

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by Anita Lee Cooper <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Anita+Lee+Cooper' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 23, 2014, 5:51 pm, in reply to "A budding young singer"

She's playing a Ukelele,not a guitar.

Anita L. Cooper

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by Shevanthi Perera <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Shevanthi+Perera' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 23, 2014, 6:19 pm, in reply to "A budding young singer"

Larry, she is incredible, beautiful, awesome and definitely uses her God given talent. I sampled her 'Amazing Grace' that she sings with so much feeling and passion. I've always wondered how Jim sounded as a nine year old. Must have been super.

She is beyond any doubt born to sing and is on her way to become the next superstar. Thanks for sharing this wonderful talent.

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by David MacBeth <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=David+MacBeth' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 24, 2014, 1:24 am, in reply to "Re: A budding young singer"

She would probably sound better if she sang 'softer'.I thought that this style of singing was only around in the 50's.
Hope she enjoys it while it lasts.

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by David MacBeth <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=David+MacBeth' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 24, 2014, 1:30 am, in reply to "A budding young singer"

Singing about 'My Baby',she is only a child herself,What does she know about love and romance?
It is only a song I know,but not really appropriate for that age.

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by Mike Slater <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Mike+Slater' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 24, 2014, 7:07 am, in reply to "Re: A budding young singer"

David, how about young Michael Jackson and Donny Osmond? They sang love songs too. There isn't anything at all suggestive in the lyrics, so I don't see anything wrong with it. I also like that her style of singing goes back to the '50's. I prefer the older music anyway, and I wish more of that style would come back.

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by Jay Perry <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Jay+Perry' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 24, 2014, 10:48 am, in reply to "A budding young singer"

What a great little singer with a remarkable "on Key" voice. Thanks to the backup musicians. You can actually hear her. No blasting electric guitars or pounding drums like today's country. I wish someone would realize how today's country bands are drowning out vocal performances. Thanks Larry for realizing this when you did all those wonderful Jim Reeves CD's.

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by Larry Jordan <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Larry+Jordan' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 24, 2014, 4:21 pm, in reply to "Re: A budding young singer"

David you are SO NEGATIVE about everything. She is a gifted young lady who has good control of her pretty voice. If you view several of her videos you will discern she has a lot of dynamic range -- meaning loud as well as soft. On her "Today Show" performance she sang with appropriate vocal restraint. I wouldn't be too sure if I were you that she will be a "flash in the pan." She obviously has commitment, and that's what it takes besides talent, to succeed.

I called attention to Emi because she is so unique in the context of the plethora of UNtalented young singers out there. (Miley Cyrus comes to mind; not only can she not sing, she seems hellbent on becoming more vulgar every day, and her relationship with her father, Billy Ray, is downright WEIRD). Whomever the Cyrus' agent is deserves a helluva a lot of credit for selling this no-talent pair to DISNEY. Walt must be turning over in his grave...

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by Mike Slater <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Mike+Slater' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 24, 2014, 6:24 pm, in reply to "Re: A budding young singer"

I agree, Larry - although I thought a few of Miley's early country style songs were pretty good. However, she made a complete change in her style, her music and stage performance, so she can be vulgar and second rate like the rest of the music today! A complete waste! I think young Emi really has what it takes to make it big, and she is a REFRESHING change from all the crap that's out there today that they have the nerve to call music!

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by David MacBeth <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=David+MacBeth' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 25, 2014, 5:25 am, in reply to "Re: A budding young singer"

We have had a few 'child stars' here as well,I don't know if you have heard of Lena Zavaroni,she was around 13 when she hit the UK charts,with a 'cover' of 'Ma,He's Making Eyes At Me',the song originally done by The Johnny Otis Show back in 1958 I think,well, Marie Adams she certainly isn't I thought her voice was ear-splitting enough.she only lasted two years in the business,but even she wasn't as piercing as this Emi,I hope she does have a long and successful career,I would like to hear her again in ten years or so.
As for Miley Cyrus,I saw her 'Unplugged' concert on TV recently,I thought she has a good voice especially when she sings ballads,I wouldn't dash out and buy her entire back-catalogue,but it was entertaining,and since she is over 21,the 'Adult themed' songs she sang were more 'acceptable' than a 9 year old singing songs that were totally 'inappropriate',How can she sing songs about 'My Baby' surely she is far too young for that kind of material,that kind of subject could wait a few more years.Hopefully,she will enjoy a long career in music,and be successful,but I won't be buying any of her records until her voice matures,then we'll see.

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by David MacBeth <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=David+MacBeth' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 25, 2014, 5:37 am, in reply to "Re: A budding young singer"

Even now when I hear the introduction of 'ABC' or 'I Want You Back' I either have to turn the radio off,or tune to another station,terrible songs,baddly sung,but I did like his later stuff,he was an amazing entertainer,even if you didn't like his music his talent was obvious.
Donny Osmond was 15 when he released 'Puppy Love', so he was six years older than this Emi,and may have experienced 'Young Love',but his voice was 'double tracked',so he sang in harmony with himself (just like Gene Pitney used to).

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by Mike Slater <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Mike+Slater' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 25, 2014, 11:10 am, in reply to "Re: A budding young singer"

David, I can appreciate some of what you're saying, but I think you're taking all this a bit too seriously. I don't see anything inappropriate about a young girl like Emi singing benign lyrics like "my baby". What's the big deal? It's just a song. I liked the older Donny Osmond and Michael Jackson better too, although I was never a big fan of either one. I did like a few of their records though. Still, I thought Michael had a great voice for a child singer, and most of his records probably had far more "grown up" lyrics in them than anything that Emi is singing - and yet, no one seemed to find anything offensive in his recordings. In fact, they were all huge hits.

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by Larry Jordan <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Larry+Jordan' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 25, 2014, 2:58 pm, in reply to "Re: A budding young singer"

Ms. Cyrus has been caught doing lip sync during live concerts and also is helped through auto-tune -- sophisticated software that brings even the most out-of-tune singer on pitch in a microsecond as they sing live.

She was a role model for many teen girls who saw her on the Disney show in which she starred with her father. Then when she got a little older she started acting as slutty as she could, I guess to draw attention to herself and boost her flagging career.

Someone like Emi Sunshine is cut from entirely different cloth. That's obvious.

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by Larry Jordan <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Larry+Jordan' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 25, 2014, 3:02 pm, in reply to "Re: A budding young singer"

Let's not forget Tanya Tucker, who was singing songs that had heavy sexual overtones when she was very young. Now THAT was inappropriate. Incidentally, Tanya and her parents visited Mary Reeves at the Reeves home in Madison to seek career advice. Tanya was very impressed with Mary's knowledge and helpfulness.

When Tanya grew up I got dragged unwillingly to a concert of hers in Florida by my then-girlfriend, and I did not expect to like Tanya. We had "back stage passes" and to my amazement, Ms. Tucker was a thoroughly enjoyable entertainer who had matured a lot vocally and in knowing how to work a crowd.

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by David MacBeth <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=David+MacBeth' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 25, 2014, 3:48 pm, in reply to "Re: A budding young singer"

Don't know that much about Miley Cyrus,never saw 'Hannah Montana' (not really a man's show!),but I heard her on the radio before I saw her on TV,and I loved her speaking voice,that made me curious about her music,I also liked some of the stuff she came out with,but I agree,she has gone down the wrong road,I guess she wanted to 'kill off' her image as Hannah,so she felt she had to go to the other extreme,Dolly Parton said as much on a recently broadcast interview,she is Mileys' God-mother,and she hoped that Miley would 'tame her ways'.
Who knows about Emi?She may go the same way,after all,Wasn't Miley once a sweet,innocent actress/singer?

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by Mike Slater <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Mike+Slater' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 25, 2014, 5:49 pm, in reply to "Re: A budding young singer"

Yes, Larry, I think it's outrageous that some of today's performers, like Miley, lipsinc on stage during what is supposed to be a live concert. The ticket prices these days are astronomical too, and why should anyone pay these kinds of prices to hear recorded music?! You may as well stay home and listen to the records. It's also true what you said about how the voice can be altered to give it the right pitch, etc. In Miley's defense though, I do have to say that I've seen her do a few songs that she sang with just her voice and guitar, which were very nice. These didn't seem altered in any way. Of course, I'm talking about the earlier Miley, before she took on the slutty image she's showing off nowadays. She did a song called "The Climb", which had very nice lyrics, and she sang it beautifully. There was also another song, which was sort of a country type ballad called "Butterfly, Fly Away" which was beautiful! These were recorded during her Hanna Montana days, but I'm not ashamed to say that I thought some of her songs back then were very nice.

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by Paul <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Paul+Bertils' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 26, 2014, 8:45 am, in reply to "Re: A budding young singer"

With respect to Emi I am not going to take sides in this mini debate that is taking place on the forum but I do have a comment/question or two about the songs that are sung by young singers(children)as they try to find their place in the world of music.What type of songs would JR have been singing growing up as he did in a part of Texas that appeared to be focussed on classical country music.What was Brenda Lee singing when she won awards for her singing at about the age of 10 and then later on the Ozark Jubilee when she was still a child.Finally,how about a young lady from my home town (Eileen by name) later known as Shania to many of you who was singing in bars at the age of eight(illegal but she was trying to earn money to support her family).I doubt that she was singing "children's songs" to the patrons. Shania of course is presently in Vegas some might say doing the same thing.Whether Emi eventually makes it or not in my mind is really not the issue.Time will solve that debate.However,I appreciate that their choice of music may be problematic to some but no doubt is somewhat limited at that age level as well depending on the environment they are "working" in (home,town,county,city,friends, etc etc). Cheers

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by David MacBeth <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=David+MacBeth' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 26, 2014, 4:20 pm, in reply to "Re: A budding young singer"

Didn't Jim also (try to) lip-synch on some TV appearances,not because he wanted to,because he wasn't too good at it,but because he was told to for various reasons?

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by Larry Jordan <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Larry+Jordan' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 26, 2014, 6:01 pm, in reply to "Re: A budding young singer"

Very good points, although I would also note that Emi has a fondness for songs with a spiritual meaning. So I would surmise that's really where her heart is. It would appear she is from a poor family as she has been trying to raise money through the sale of some CDs and get some sponsors. I just hope she retains her innocence for as long as possible and does not come under the influence of people who would take her down the wrong path.

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by Mike Slater <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Mike+Slater' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 26, 2014, 7:10 pm, in reply to "Re: A budding young singer"

Larry, one can only hope that Emi's family would not allow her to be led down the wrong path in order to make more money. Of course, once she is old enough, she will be able to choose for herself which road she wants to take. Hopefully, she won't choose the wrong one.

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by David MacBeth <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=David+MacBeth' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 27, 2014, 6:20 am, in reply to "Re: A budding young singer"

I don't find the songs 'offensive',my point is how can they sing 'Adult' songs while still a child and have no real experience of life.
Must admit,I am not keen on young children singing,they usually sound too shrill for me,and I hear even children screaming and yelling at work (I work in a Supermarket!).

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by David MacBeth <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=David+MacBeth' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 27, 2014, 6:25 am, in reply to "Re: A budding young singer"

Personally,I don't agree with child stars of any kind,they may earn fame and fortune,but at the expense of their childhood,look at MacCauley Calkin

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by Mike Slater <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Mike+Slater' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on April 27, 2014, 12:05 pm, in reply to "Re: A budding young singer"

David, a child star that earns fame and fortune doesn't automatically mean that their career will suffer. It all depends on how they choose to handle it. There have been many child stars who had long, successful careers that weren't ruined because they grew up with some values. Shirley Temple is a shining example. She had a legendary movie career, and later in politics. If she had chosen the same path as some of the young stars of today with all the partying and the drugs, her life may have ended up like MacCauley Calkin's, Lindsay Lohan's or any of the others. Success or failure in life depends on the decisions we choose to make.

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by Manendra Pedris <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Manendra+Pedris' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 31, 2014, 8:45 pm, in reply to "Re: A budding young singer"

David,

Perhaps she, and all kids, should be prevented from listening to or singing such Jim Reeves songs as:

- Don't Let Me Cross Over
- Love is No Excuse
- I Can't Stop Loving You
- Rosa Rio
- Am I Losing You
- He'll Have To Go

... And the list goes on and on.

:-))

Re: A budding young singer

Posted by Manendra Pedris <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/jimreeves/info/user=Manendra+Pedris' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 31, 2014, 9:26 pm, in reply to "Re: A budding young singer"

I like Miley's rendition of Jolene.

[url=

]Jolene - Miley Cyrus - MTV Unplugged

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