Terri Brown was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on December 2nd and raised in the sleepy little town of Lumberton. Lumberton was rural, "with one red light that's now gone, one grocery store and a few service stations. Most places closed around 7 PM." She was introduced to music early in life, as her mother had been a former drummer in an all girl band in the 60s. "My parents bought me a Baldwin piano when I was about 5. They really wanted me to play music." After going through the piano and saxophone, Terri finally decided that guitar was her instrument of choice and was given lessons by a local rock and blues guitarist, Bill Hoyt. "Bill was great! He taught me all my favorite songs, encouraged me to write and all of that really gave a boost to my self esteem. In a town where there is nothing to do, it made me feel like somebody special, connected to the rest of the world out there." In fact, in interviews, Terri gives Bill a lot of credit for helping her through hard times in life through music, at times even talking to her about staying away from peer pressure and drugs. "I'll never forget he used to tell me that music is a business and no one can run a business high on drugs. I think it was partly because of his talks that I never fell into that trap." She adds, "To this day, I still send him a new guitar calendar every Christmas!"
Terri began learning guitar quickly and states this was mainly because it was all she was interested in and spent hours practicing every day. As a teenager, she remembers creating a make-shift studio in the walk-in closet of her bedroom, complete with a 4-track sound recorder, drum machine, bass and rhythm guitars. It was in this "studio" that she recorded her first demo tape. One of the songs from
that tape, her rendition of "Johnny B. Goode" was aired on local radio stations. She began getting offers to play at different festivals across the state and remembers getting to skip school at times for "mini-gigs" and rehearsals for festival music. She states that while her friends were out, she was almost always home, practicing and writing songs. She filled in for rock bands who had an absent rhythm or lead guitarist. After finishing high school, she moved to Hattiesburg and began playing in an all girl rock band called "Me and The Boys." After the drummer quit to go to music school in Boston and the lead singer quit to go to nursing school, Terri began working and going to college part-time, still not really knowing what she wanted to do with her life. She auditioned to showcase her music at a talent show at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, never thinking she would receive a call back. However, that call back did come and she couldn't have been more excited! The day of the showcase, she remembers other artists mostly singing and all of them singing country music. Here she sat with her electric guitar, prepared to play "Johnny B. Goode." She was one of the first ones to play and when she did, she remembers applause like she'd never heard! "I couldn't see anyone except the people in the first row because of all the stage lights but I could hear them coming from everywhere! I was overwhelmed!" Apparently, Don Reed of Don Reed Productions and owner of Starborn Records and Artistree Music was blown away as well. The minute she walked backstage, all she remembers was lots of people shaking her hand and Don Reed, whom she did not know ("He had tall hair!"), begin to ask her lots of questions, such as how long she had played, where she was from, etc. She remembers him saying, "I like your style. I think we can sell that. I'm going to be in touch." She didn't give that conversation much thought afterward but very soon after she returned home, she did receive that phone call from Don Reed, who told her that he had talked with his board of directors, shown them a video tape of her performance and agreed to sign her to their label. She was flown to Nashville and picked up at the airport by Jessica Ledsinger, A&R Representative for the company and recorded her first 2 singles, which were "Tomorrow Land" and "New Woman." The singles were then played on select radio stations in and around Mississippi and also in Belgium, where Don Reed had musical connections. The point was to see how well the songs would be received on air by the public, then the company would receive a finder's fee for bringing her to a major label. The songs did their best in Mississippi but also well in Belgium, according to radio reports. She states that she will never forget WRJW, the Picayune, Mississippi radio station who gave her radio interviews, played her music regularly and allowed her to help judge their annual talent show. The label eventually went bankrupt just as she was getting started, which was a major blow to her career. She basically had 2 choices. She could move to Nashville (where she envisioned herself playing for quarters in the street) or go back to college and have a "back up plan." She chose the latter of the 2 and went back to college at USM in Hattiesburg, MS, all the while still writing and playing music. She played back-up guitar on several occasions for Bobby Freeman, a country artist from Memphis on MCI Records. After finishing college and working as a counselor on two psychiatric units, she decided to get back into recording CDs and making a living from music. She married her boyfriend and "love of my life", Jonathan Grygier, a Meteorologist and fellow musician from Cleveland, Ohio. They have their own recording studio in their home. She recently released a new CD, teaches guitar lessons and plays gigs every weekend.  She credits several people for their help and support along the way. "Firstly, God for giving me the talent, resources and opportunities to make my dreams happen. My parents for buying me my first guitar and lessons, always encouraging me and getting excited about my new music. Bill Hoyt, for teaching me everything I know about music. WRJW, for promoting my music. Jonathan Grygier, my husband, for being there for me, helping me to produce this CD and loving me unconditionally. Dianne Langston, my best and most loyal friend, for always listening and letting me vent, just always being there like the sister I never had. Don Reed for giving me my first opportunity in the music business. The list could go on and on. I'll properly thank people on the CD." Terri states, "I have a little advice for people just starting out in the music business. First of all, I remember something the A&R Rep from the indie record company told me one day. I was complaining that one of the radio stations who had played my music sent mail back to the record company, saying he didn't like it. I was REALLY angry. She sat me down and said, 'Terri, if that bothers you, you're going to have a hard life. Anytime you're in the public eye, you're going to have a lot worse things said about you and it's coming so let's just focus on the positive.' I always remembered that. As long as I know who I am and what I stand for, then it's your business to like me or not. Secondly, when you first get signed, you get interviews, press and people coming out of the woodwork, claming to be your family or friend, whom you barely remember. DON'T let that go to your head! The thing is, if the newspaper has written about your contract, then about your music, then about whatever else, they need to write something NEW about you. They've already covered your contract, your music, your plans. Next, they expect you to do more and more. If that doesn't happen, they stop writing. They stop talking. And as a musician, you have to know that people want to be around you when the music is doing well. When it isn't doing well, all those friends and family you barely know disappear. A sudden rush of small town fame is addictive and when it stops, it can be very depressing. So just focus on your music, not what other people think. Don't fall into that trap where you need that attention to be happy. Do what you love, know who your real friends are and NEVER get a big head. It could all be gone tomorrow. Be nice to people who come out to hear you play. Call them by name. Thank them for their support and always send a thank you note to the establishment you played at." 
With that said, we hope you will make to some of the shows!  A calendar will up soon so you can make plans! 
Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to sign our guestbook!





"We have to adopt a wider perspective and always find common things between the people of north, east, south and west. Conflict comes from the basis of differences."
Dalai Lama

"Follow the three Rs:
Respect for self
Respect for others
Responsibility for all your actions."
Dalai Lama

"Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk."
Dalai Lama

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"The most perfect technique is that which is not noticed at all."
Pablo Casals

"One thought fills immensity"
William Blake

"For my part, I know nothing with any certainty but the sight of the stars makes me dream."
Van Gogh

AND MY VERY FAVORITE OF ALL!!!!!.......
"When you lose, don't lose the lesson."
Dalai Lama