By David Humphrey
For The Herald Bulletin
PENDLETON — Only a short time ago, Casey Jamerson was getting line-drive hits for the Pendleton Heights softball team.
Now, the 19-year-old Pendleton native is working on hits of a different kind.
Last January, the country singer moved to Nashville, shortly after her 19th birthday. She gave up a spot as an Indiana University outfielder to work with legendary record producer Paul Worley.
Worley produced the Dixie Chicks’ Grammy-winning albums “Fly” and “Wide Open Spaces,” and has worked with Big and Rich, Jo Dee Messina, Highway 101 and Ricky Van Shelton.
In September, Jamerson began recording with Worley at Warner Chappell Studio on Music Row. Living in Nashville has been an exciting and exhilarating experience for the up-and-coming star.
“The first eight tracks of my record will be completed by the beginning of 2010,” Jamerson said. “Recording is an amazing experience. We have used some of the best musicians in Nashville to play on the record. It is very tedious work but very rewarding.”
For the past nine months, Jamerson has kept a busy schedule in Nashville.
Songwriting appointments, guitar and vocal lessons, writer’s nights and meetings with management fill her agenda. Jamerson managed to attend the 2009 CMT Awards last June with her brother, Jason, and spent an afternoon hanging out with Grammy nominee Taylor Swift. However, the rest and relaxation didn’t last long.
Fans and critics alike know that Jamerson has an amazing singing voice, but she is also meant for the stage.
Between breaks from the recording studio, Jamerson returned home to perform at the Cool Creek Concert Series in Carmel and most recently at the 8 Seconds Saloon in Indianapolis.
“I’ve been the main act before,” Jamerson said, “and I played for almost four hours. It’s a long but fun night.”
Besides her legion of faithful fans from Pendleton, nearly every patron at 8 Seconds Saloon took notice when Jamerson started to sing.
One member of the audience was Clint Newsom, who plays lead guitar for country artist Billy Currington. Newsom made a special trip from Nashville to Indianapolis to see Jamerson perform a few weeks ago and didn’t walk away disappointed.
“I didn’t know at first what to expect,” Newsom said. “Casey blew me away from start to finish. With her powerful voice, great stage presence and her talented band, she is destined for success.”
“Casey owns the stage like a seasoned pro,” he added. “She has something that other artists in Nashville don’t have: the complete package.”
The night after her show at 8 Seconds Saloon, Jamerson took in a basketball game at Pendleton Heights, where she talked with old friends and members of the school faculty. But the following morning it was back to Nashville where she resumed work in the recording studio.
During her time in Music City, Jamerson has sat in on recording sessions with James Otto, the Randy Rogers Band and Lady Antebellum. It was a great experience for Jamerson and she left the sessions feeling like she had found her place in Nashville.
“Everyone in Nashville is so nice,” Jamerson said. “They are willing to accept me as a new artist.”
