Published: August 26, 2008 10:41 am         

Area’s rising star leaves for Nashville

DANVILLE — Kayla Brown is a 24-year-old singer from Champaign who has sung in many places in Danville such as Fatman’s Warehouse, David S. Palmer Arena, Vermillion County Fair, Danville Stadium, The Friendly Tavern, Main Street Pub and Shovelhead Saloon.

Brown also plays in Champaign at places such as the Highdive, the Cowboy Monkey, Mike ‘n’ Molly’s, the Canopy Club, Krannert outdoor concerts and Biaggi’s.

The evening of Aug. 16 was Brown’s final Danville performance before moving to Nashville. Brown was accompanied by Mike Ingram, who sings and plays guitar with her, as part of the duo, “Kayla Brown and Mike Ingram.”

“Mike is my booking agent for all practical purposes,” Brown said, “but most of all he’s my good friend and band mate. We met over four years ago at an open mic night in Champaign.”

The full band was there for Kayla’s send off, including James Treichler, drummer, and Tyler Bundy, bass player.

Treichler said, “Her move to Nashville is a good one, and we are all supportive. Her deep voice is strong and full, and is a lot of her appeal.”

Kayla sang a range of songs for her final Danville performance, including “Bad Moon Rising,” “Sweet Home Chicago,” “Gimme One Reason to Stay Here,” “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” as well as several independent tunes she and Ingram wrote together. Brown even sang a song one patron had requested months ago — “Mercedes Benz.” Brown said she had finally learned it, so she had the patrons keep a clapping beat as she sang it a cappella.

Rachel Wadley has followed Brown and Ingram for some time and said, “I have been going to see them for the past few years and they always bring out the best in the crowd. I have a really good time.”

Wadley’s statement rang true as several people came out to dance to the music.

Brown said her move to Nashville is to further her career.

“I want to learn more about what I do and the people who share that same lifestyle and interest. I’m young yet, and have a lot to learn about the music world, and what better place to start than Nashville.”

Brown began singing in kindergarten, then in the church choir. She later moved on to musicals throughout school.

Brown plays guitar, violin, viola and the ukulele, and listens to old soul, rhythm and blues and rock and roll. She writes her own music.

“I try to focus more on writing original material,” she said. “I get a lot of inspiration from people like Etta James, Stevie Nicks, Bonnie Raitt and Nina Simone.

“I have a wonderful boyfriend by the name of Rhett. He is a very talented translator, and a very sweet, loving man who I hope to share a last name with someday. He’s pretty cute, too.”

He already has a job in Nashville, and has been checking out the music scene for her.

Brown left Aug. 18 and plans to network and play shows while taking some classes.

“I do plan on coming back to work with Mike and the band,” she said, “and definitely around the holidays to visit my family. I’ve got a baby nephew coming in October, so I plan on being back for that.”

For now Brown said, “I want to focus on music and get my life into a comfortable place while I get the ball rolling in Nashville.”

“It is going to be really depressing to see Kalya go, but you gotta follow your dreams. It’ll be sad, I go to all of her concerts around here,” Lesley Witsman said.

“We have been playing together for two years, and she is a staple of the music scene. The area will miss a lot with Kayla leaving. It will be hard to replace her,” Treichler said.

Bundy added, “She is the one and only Kayla Brown; a rose among daisies.”

Fans can go to myspace.com/kaylabrownmusic for updates, blogs, pictures and show listings.