Melanie Torres from Nashville Star to rising star
Melanie Torres isn't just the beautiful girl you remember from Season 4 of Nashville Star, she's also a very talented singer who's poised on the fast-track to stardom. Tonight, Melanie will be showcasing her talents before a crowd of industry big-wigs at a showcase at 3rd & Lindsley.
A New Mexico native, Melanie's family includes four generations or traditional ranchera musicians, but Melanie prefers a decidedly more popular country vibe. That pop/country vibe is echoed in her short-list of early musical influences: Dolly Parton, The Judds, George Strait...and Debbie Gibson & Tiffany.
While studying music at the University of New Mexico, Melanie performed in productions of West Side Story, Oklahoma, The King and I and others. During that time, she also participated in a number of beauty and talent competitions, most notably, she was awarded the title of Miss West Mesa and Miss Albuquerque. As Miss Albuquerque, she competed in the Miss New Mexico pageant. She graduated U of NM as a vocal performance major specializing in opera.
Melanie then decided to pursue her love of music by relocating to the heart of country music, right here in Nashville. She snagged a job singing in Nashville's famed Tootsie's Orchid Lounge--any country fan worth two-cents knows Tootsie's backs up to the Ryman Auditorium and on any given night features impromptu appearances by country's most famous icons.
While performing at Tootie's one night, she was spotted by a local artist manager, and was quickly signed to a management deal. That lead to demos and road gigs, and eventually opening for Gretchen Wilson.
2006 saw Melanie make it into the Top Ten of Nashville Star--country's answer to American Idol. That season, Melanie and the other contestants shared the stage with hosts Wynonna Judd and Cowboy Troy, as well as guest performers and judges, Naomi Judd, Big & Rich, Sara Evans, Kenny Rogers and others.
While her myspace page features songs such as Set It On Fire and Whiskey and Nicotine, who's titles might conjure comparisons to that of 2003 breakout Nashville Star finalist, Miranda Lambert, don't confuse the two. Lambert's tough-girl looks and music have that in-your-face, don't mess with me feel. While Melanie's myspace features these two more rockin' songs, her current set list is a bit subdued. Melanie's beauty queen exterior might draw you in, but she's got that Martina McBride thing going; in that she's so pretty, you know she's trouble, trouble in a good way. When she sings, you discover something else...Melanie Torres is one Nashville Star who, by all accounts, should be the rise.
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