Outside the Lines by Nancy Apple

She's played at Todd Snider's What the Folk Fest, and now hosts a Memphis Songwriters Stage each month, in addition to a weekly Pickin' Party (when she is in town) that gives newcomers a place to perform and chance to play with seasoned pickers. She is also a top draw for area festivals. Her songwriter nights have become so popular that she was invited to host and evening in the round at the Bartlett Performing Arts Center for their 2001 season finale.

Nancy and her group got a gig in a feature film that was released May 1999 on CINEMAX. Finding Graceland stars Harvey Keitel and Bridget Fonda - look for Nancy and her band backing up both stars in the movie's show stopping Elvis Impersonator contest scenes.

Much of Nancy's latest release was recorded fast and live, going for feel and fun. Nancy spent two days in October of 1999 laying down basic tracks at Sounds Unreel in Memphis with friends Reba Russell and Dawn Hopkins of Blue-Eyed Bitches Productions co-producing with her. Going for spontaneity, some of the songs were so new that the band (nor co-producers) had not even heard them. They slammed through 8 songs in 2 days. Nancy then took her canvas to friend and neighbor Keith Sykes to finish everything at his studio, The Woodshed, conveniently right next door to her home.

Nancy's band (Jay Harrington/guitar, Roy Brewer/guitar, fiddle, mandolin, Ronnie Vandiver/bass, guitar and Jason Hatcher/drums) outdid themselves. They had fun, and you can hear it in the songs. Reba Russell (Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison) added background vocals and Keith Sykes (John Prine/Todd Snider, Jimmy Buffett) even lent his talents on a couple tunes on guitar and baritone guitar. There is also a guest appearance from George Bradfute (Paul Burch) on the title track, and Nancy's old drummer, Robert Hall took time off from playing with Jerry Lee Lewis to join in on a couple songs for old times sake.

All but three songs were written or co-written by Nancy, and she is proud of her friends who co-wrote with her on this album. They did not set out to "Write for the next record," but just hang out and write from the heart, and Nancy picked her favorites. Co-writers include Duane Jarvis (Lucinda Williams, Greg Trooper), Carla Taylor (Curb Records), Joe McLeary (Nervous Wrecks), James Eddie Campbell (aka Lamar Sorrento), Joe Sanders (Memphis Sheiks). She even managed to work in writing with her long time friend Deb Smith... and even has a tune she wrote with her ex.

Prominent DJs and critics (as well as several seedy weasel types) have commented that Apple could be just a record away from making a huge impact on the Americana/roots scene. Who really knows, but she doing something that is fresh and entertaining.

Take note of Nancy Apple. She is the real deal, she plays your heart strings and leaves you feeling energized, encouraged, refreshed. And she still likes to dance to Fats Domino.

More About Nancy Apple

Films

Finding Graceland  - starring Harvey Keitel and Bridget Fonda / Cinemax 1999

Played band leader/guitar player that backed up both Bridget and Harvey in several scenes

Great Balls of Fire - starring Dennis Quaid - Played several characters as local color in four scenes

Television / Video

The Food Network - Nancy Apple featured performer for Extreme Cooking show on Memphis BBQ Cook-off 1999

Elvis, the Early Years - Played several characters as local color in six episodes

The Library Channel - 15 minute feature on Nancy Apple 1998

Action News Five - Nancy Apple's career featured in Women In Music Series 1998

Action News Five - 15 minute segment over 4 days called Fame featuring Nancy Apple 1997

Action News Five - Live from Nancy Apples CD Release Party 1996

The Access Channel - music video for "What's The Deal"

Linda Gail Lewis - background singer in band on three 1991 live music videos / TNN

Albums / Recordings

Outside The Lines - 2000 (Memphis), 2001 (Nationally) Ringo Records

Cadillac Cowgirl-High On The Hog - 1996 Cadillac Cowgirl With Her Back Door Men

Tijuana Tapes - 1994 Cadillac Cowgirl With Her Back Door Men

Background Vocals

"One of These Days" - The Moonshine Cherrys Moonshine Cherrys background vocals 1999 "Draggin' Me Down" - Jay Harrington Ruffins background vocals 2000 "Elenor" - Jay Harrington Ruffins release background vocals 2000 "Drivin' You Away" - Jay Harrington Ruffins release background vocals 2000

"Silver Angel Promenade" - Jay Harrington Ruffins release background vocals 2000

"Time For You" - Jay Harrington Ruffins release background vocals 2000 "Eight Miles High" - background vocals for Todd Snider with Dan Baird - Universal Pictures 1998

"Rainy Day Girl"- background vocals for Todd Snider with Dan Baird - Universal Pictures 1998

"The Joker"- background vocals for Todd Snider/Dan Baird - Universal Pictures 1998

"Please Don't Lead Me On" - Reba Russell Band Buried Treasure background vocals 1998

"Tool Box" - Reba Russell Band Buried Treasure background vocals 1998

"Volcano"- Keith Sykes I'm Not Strange Reissue background vocals 1997

Mark Lindsey - (Lead singer Paul Revere and the Raiders) Background vocals 1993 Kiva sessions

Press

Memphis Magazine - featured as one of Memphis' Top 40 musicians 1997, 1996

High On The Hog - 1996 Cadillac Cowgirl With Her Back Door Men

CD reviews in The Memphis Flyer, Arkansas Democrat, Country Standard Time, 3rd Coast, Nightflying, American Music Magazine (Sweden).

Featured Stories (that we know about) - The Commercial Appeal, Memphis Magazine, Arkansas Democrat, Mid South Women's News, Fugi Flyer (Japan), Horizons (Japan), Japan Update (Japan), Tori Teller (Japan), Skywriter (Korea), The Herald (Clarksdale, MS), Spotlight (St. Louis).

Awards and Nominations

Just Plain Folks - National songwriter organization, nominee for Country Song of the Year 2000 for Cadillac Man

Memphis Songwriter Association - awarded honorary Lifetime Membership 1999

Premier Player Awards - nominated for Outstanding Community Service 1999, 2000

Premier Player Awards - nominated for Songwriter of the Year 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000

Premier Player Awards - nominated for Female Vocalist 1996

Stand By Your Band - Memphis Flyer readers poll named one of Top 3 bands in Memphis 1993

Taco Bell Sponsorship - Proud Sloppy Second place for Memphis region Taco Bell Sponsorship 1994

Memorable Tours / Festivals / Gigs

Impromptu set with Thursday night house band - Automatic Slims, Oshkosh, Wisc. 2000

Woodstock 99 - Talent staff impromptu Burn Baby Burn Wrap Party 1999

TwangFest - St. Louis 1999

Depot Friday Festival - Clarksdale, Mississippi

Keith Sykes Songwriter Showcase, 1994, 1996

Beale Street Music Festival - Memphis, 1996

Southern Folklore Festival - Memphis 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999

Arts in the Park Festival - Memphis, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000

Pink Palace Crafts Fair - Memphis, 1997

Road to Graceland - Extras Thank You Party and later Wrap Party

Department of Defense Asian Tour For Our Troops - 1996

What The Folk Festival - Memphis, 1995

Cooper Young Festival - Memphis, 1994, 1996

Mid South Fair Main Stage - Memphis, 1996

Taste of St. Louis - St. Louis 1996

Crossroads - Memphis, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996

Atlanta Music Festival - (With Willie Cobbs) 1990

Has Opened Up For or Gigged With

Who really cares about this crap? Here ya go anyway...

The Bottle Rockets

The Derailers

The Exhusbands

Cordell Jackson

Duane Jarvis

Phil Lee

Jerry Lee Lewis

Linda Gail Lewis

Omar and the Howlers

Reverend Horton Heat

Todd Snider

Keith Sykes

Webb Wilder

The V-Roys

Reba Russell Band

Has Performed At

Who cares about this stuff either? I bet you are impressed now!!!!!

Alfred's - Beale Street / Memphis

Automatic Slims - Neenah, Wisc.

Automatic Slims - Memphis

The Antenna - Memphis

Black Diamond - Beale Street / Memphis

Blind Willie's - Atlanta

The Blue Monkey - Memphis

Blues City Cafe - Beale Street / Memphis

CBC's - Oshkosh, Wisc.

Center For Southern Folklore - Memphis

Jack's Bar - Nashville, TN

Joyce Cobb's - Beale Street / Memphis

Elvis Presley's Memphis - Beale Street / Memphis

The Gin - Oxford, Mississippi

High Point Pinch - Memphis

Hernando's Hideaway -Memphis

Hobson's Preservation Hall - Clarksdale, Mississippi

The Library, Oxford, Mississippi

The Map Room - Memphis

Murphy's - Memphis

The New Daisy - Beale Street / Memphis

Newby's - Memphis

Off Broadway - St. Louis

Poor Reds - Memphis

The Poplar Lounge - Memphis

The South End - Memphis

Tell 'Em Philips Sentcha - Memphis

Willie Mitchell's - Beale Street / Memphis

Bottom Line - Memphis

Kudzu's - Memphis

616- Memphis

Every G-dunk in Japan, Okinawa,  South Korea, Johnston Island, The Marshall Islands and a few VFW's, truck stops, and parking lots

BLUES, PUNK and GARAGE BAND YEARS

Freak Mountain - singer 1994

Mark Lindsey of Paul Revere and the Raiders - background vocals, 1992

The Cadillac Cowgirls - drummer, guitar, songwriter, vocals 1989

Mississippi Bluesman Willie Cobbs - drummer 1988-1989

Apple/Sides - drummer, vocals, songwriter 1984-1989

The Hellcats - drummer fro a very short time and 2 gigs 1987

Tino and the Teetotalers - drummer 1986

The Ex-Wives - my first all girl garage band drummer 1984

I won't go back any farther than that because I already look old as hell.

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