Amy Speace


 Beth Nielsen Chapman


 Danny Schmidt


 Doug & Telisha Williams


 Jonathan Byrd


 Michael Johnathon


 Nora Jane Struthers


 Rita Hosking


 Ronny Cox


 Rosie Flores


 Terri Hendrix


 The Steel Wheels


 The Waymores

Terri Hendrix

Try to pigeonhole the music of Terri Hendrix, and you’re in for challenge. The way she sees it, “life’s too short for one genre” — which is why her songs range in style from folk to pop to blues to jazz and all points in between. Not surprisingly, she covers just as much expansive ground in her writing, exploring both joy and struggle in equal doses. But even when her songs dig deep and fearlessly confront the truths of life, the heart and society, they still reveal her belief that it takes just as much courage to embrace and celebrate the light as it does to wallow in the blues. Hence the title of her latest album, Cry Till You Laugh — and her reputation for always putting on an engaging and energetic live show that can take listeners on an emotional roller coaster but ultimately leaves them feeling good and spiritually charged.

From day one, Terri has proudly gone her own way — adopting the “Own Your Own Universe” approach to life that has defined her art and set her apart from the crowd throughout her long career as one of the most original and proudly independent artists in the Americana/roots scenes. In 1996, long before the DIY approach was the all the rage, she self-released her debut CD and has never looked back. Cry Till You Laugh (June 22, 2010) — a project encompassing both a new album and a book of essays about life and song — is her 14th release on her own Wilory Records label. What’s more, she’s one of very few artists who has always owned all of her own masters.

Following the release of her second album, 1998’s Wilory Farm, the native Texan won “Best Singer-Songwriter,” “Best Folk Act” and “Best New Band” at the Austin Music Awards, and it wasn’t long — thanks to constant touring — before her grassroots fan base spread from coast to coast and all the way to Europe. Terri’s music translates especially well to live performance, with her fun, charming stage presence and deft instrumental chops (guitar, mandolin and Sonny Terry-style harmonica) selling out arts centers and proving a hit at prestigious listening rooms (The Ark, Freight and Salvage, The Cactus Cafe) and at such renowned festivals as the Four Corners Folk Festival in Colorado, the Philadelphia Folk Festival, the Kerrville Folk Festival (which made her its brochure covergirl one year), the Newport Folk Festival and the Austin City Limits Music Festival. And though she has held her own many a time playing solo, she frequently tours with acclaimed producer Lloyd Maines, a musical partnership dating back to 1998.

In addition to recording and touring, Terri has also found time to teach a number of popular songwriting and music business workshops around the country, including at the Mountain Stage Newsong Festival, Texas Tech University, the Berklee School of Music in Boston and her own annual “Life’s a Song” retreat on the Texas coast. Meanwhile, she’s found considerable industry success without ever having to compromise her eclectic sensibilities. Among other achievements, she co-wrote a Grammy-winning instrumental (“Lil’ Jack Slade”) on the Dixie Chicks’ 2002 Home album, scored a satellite radio hit with the punk scream-along “Nerves” from her award-winning children’s CD, 2005’s Celebrate the Difference, and won first place in the lyrics category of the 2008 USA Songwriting Competition for her song “If I Had a Daughter.” And in 2010, St. Mary’s University in her hometown of San Antonio, Texas, presented Terri with its Art of Peace Award, honoring her for creating art in the service of peace, justice and human understanding. She also received her own star on the South Texas Walk of Fame in Corpus Christi, right alongside such Lone Star legends as Guy Clark, the Texas Tornados and Bill Haley.

With two decades of performing now under her belt, Terri is still actively expanding her artistic horizons, growing with each year as a writer, musician and performer. Put it all together, and it’s no wonder why she’s made such a lasting impression on not only thousands of loyal fans, but plenty of fellow artists, critics and DJs, too. Gene Shay of WXPN-FM (and the co-founder of the Philadelphia Folk Festival) put it best in a quote from Terri’s 2007 Texas Music magazine cover story: “Out of all the women singer-songwriters of today, Terri’s in my top three — and I don’t even know who the other two are because they keep changing!”

“Terri Hendrix is a gifted songwriter and performer. Her ability to reach people with music and her positive attitude amazes me. Listen to her music, see her, and then . . . you’ll understand.” —Helen Leicht, Music Director, WXPN-Philadelphia

“Folk, pop, country, blues, Latin, and country swing. None of it evades Terri Hendrix, who has a fresh enthusiasm and a divine voice, which equals an electric stage presence.” Mary Skilton, Chicago Sun Times

“It’s only natural one would fall for her wholesome, winsome, apple-cheeked charms, and with the voice of an angel and lyrics that draw the listener to her side, she can make everyone else in the room disappear.”– Buzz McClain, Washington Post

”Terri Hendrix is an amazing performer and a great writer. Her storytelling has a certain kind of believability that is natural, and she can turn on a dime and twist it around where it’s as unexpected and as funny as anything you could imagine. All combined, it’s pretty amazing.” Joe Ely, Texas singer-songwriter

“Stunning, breezy, smart Americana …” — Performing Songwriter