ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, April 29, 1996 TAG: 9604300002
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARK MORRISON STAFF WRITER
WENDY POWERS had been burned down this road to fame before, so naturally she was skeptical. Maybe even a little suspicious.
The name didn't exactly instill an overwhelming sense of trust, either. The Crystal Image Talent Agency? She had never heard of it. And then there was the location for the auditions - at the Holiday Inn Airport off Peters Creek Road in Roanoke County. This was where they hoped to find the next Vince Gill or Reba McEntire?
Not likely, Powers thought.
Still, a dream has a way of defying logic. Besides, the audition was free. (At least the first one was.) ``I'll just go try it,'' she said. ``You have nothing to lose. I mean, these people could be for real. You never know.''
This was about a year ago. Since then, Powers, 25, has been to Nashville several times for recording sessions. She has seen her name rise up the independent country music charts, she has performed at the famed Wildhorse Saloon, and she has enjoyed a privileged peek into the music business that could serve as a lesson for anyone with similar dreams of fortune and fame.
She's no longer so skeptical.
``I think I'm close,'' she said.
A much younger Powers had believed this once before. She was 15 or 16 and traveled to Nashville with her parents to audition for a talent show called ``You Can Be a Star.'' The show's producers seemed encouraging, telling her to expect a call back. She got her hopes up, as any 15- or 16-year-old might.
They never called.
Almost a decade wiser, Powers, a Roanoke native and 1988 graduate of William Byrd High School, approached this more recent audition with more realistic aspirations. If it was a dead end, it wouldn't matter. She had another career path already in the works. Powers is working on a master's degree in business administration at Virginia Tech. She has a 3.9 grade point average, and a good job lined up after she graduates in August.
For the audition, she sang Patsy Cline's ``Crazy,'' a favorite song of Powers by her favorite singer. She impressed the scouts from the Crystal Image Talent Agency enough to get invited to a second audition, this time in Nashville.
This was last July, and this time there was a cost of $300. For her money, she was promised a videotaped critique of her performance, and a chance to go on to other auditions. It was sort of like a ``Star Search'' competition.
Again, she sang ``Crazy.'' Again, she made an impression.
In her critique, she was told she had a good voice and a good look. But Powers decided not to move on in the competition. Instead, she took what seemed like a more promising path - into the recording studio.
The company hosting the competition, SKB Nashville Productions, offered her a chance to return to Nashville and record two songs that would likely end up on a compilation CD of new country artists.
Suddenly, a dream that Powers had carried since childhood seemed possible. It was a dream spawned from a visit to Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium, where she envisioned herself someday singing as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
SKB Nashville Productions sent her home to Christiansburg with a tape of 25 original songs to mull over. She was to pick two and return in August. Again, there was a fee involved - this time $2,500 for the one-day recording session, plus another $1,500 to cover promotional costs.
Before spending that kind of money, Powers did a little homework. She found that SKB Nashville Productions worked closely with Platinum Plus Records and Capitol Management. These are companies that help develop new talent for major labels, sort of like a farm team system for the music business.
They have worked with the likes of Alan Jackson, Sawyer Brown and Clay Franklin.
Her suspicions eased, Powers headed back to Nashville.
The two songs she recorded, ``Whoa'' and ``Life's Too Short,'' certainly aren't blockbusters. But at least they sound professional, comparable really to much of the music coming out of Nashville these days.
And they were indeed included on a compilation CD on Platinum Plus Records, titled simply ``New Artists & Songwriters - 1995.'' It was released last October. Powers spent another $3,900 then to hire a Nashville promotions company to pitch her songs off the CD to radio stations around the country.
In March, ``Whoa'' peaked at a respectable No. 47 on the National Weekly Country Charts in ``The Nashville Tracker'' magazine, which ranks both independent and major artists together.
Locally, ``Whoa'' has been played occasionally on J-93 FM in Roanoke.
Russ Brown, operations manager at J-93, said the station played the record mostly because Powers is a local, but also because it was a decent song and because Powers has some promise. ``If she is in the right place with the right guidance from the right record company,'' Brown said, ``then I think she could have potential.''
Last October, Powers played a showcase at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville. In attendance were record company executives from eight major labels. The show also was taped for possible broadcast on The Nashville Network.
For her 30-minute part, Powers debuted ``Whoa'' and ``Life's Too Short,'' plus she covered Lorrie Morgan's ``If You Came Back From Heaven,'' Terri Clark's ``I've Got Better Things To Do,'' and Shely Wright's ``Sea of Cowboy Hats.''
It was a nerve-racking experience, she said. It was also a great one.
``I would say it was one of the greatest things I've ever done,'' she said. ``I just had chills.''
Now, she is working with Platinum Plus Records and Capitol Management to record a full album that will include ``Whoa'' and ``Life's Too Short,'' plus eight other songs. She has finished four of the tracks already. The rest should be done by summer.
She hasn't had to spend any more of her own money either.
Robert Metzgar at Capitol Management explained that the company hopes to recoup the $50,000 cost of recording the album by getting Powers signed to a major label. If she is signed, then the company would retain a 2 percent interest in any future royalties.
Metzgar said he develops about a dozen new artists a year. Of those, he's lucky if two or three are signed. From there, he said, the road for someone like Powers only gets rougher. Few of these artists ever become stars. Most end up owing the major labels money.
Even so, Metzgar was optimistic about Powers. She has a certain appeal, he said.
``Sort of like the all-American girl next door.''
Meanwhile, Powers is trying to maintain perspective. Even with Metzgar's backing, Powers knows the odds are against her becoming a star. Metzgar has told her the odds are ``20 million-to-1.''
Still, her dream remains intact. She is hopeful.
``I'm pretty impressed by the way it's happening.''
For a sample of Wendy Powers performing "Whoa," call Infoline.
In Roanoke, call 981-0100. In New River, call 382-0200. For the category, enter 9462 (WHOA).
LENGTH: Long : 130 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM/Staff. 1. Wendy Powers, with her friend Flirt,by CNBfinds a place for her portable sound system wherever she happens to
be living. Using the soundtrack sent to her from the studio she can
polish up her vocals before the final recordings. 2. Powers performs
at Nashville's Wildhorse Saloon. 3. cover of "Whoa." color. KEYWORDS: INFOLINE