NewsStudent LifePre-K to 8ServiceFine Arts
Seventh-grader hits the right 'Key'
Aug 23, 2006 10:07 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Written by Karen Shaw, Calhoun Times, published 8/17/06
Calhoun's Tanna Key isn't waiting until she's all grown up to follow her dreams. The 12-year-old daughter of Dan and Carrie Key is already doing what she loves - singing and entertaining.
Four months ago, Key joined the Tyler Nixon Band, a group of area teenagers that performs a mixture of country, bluegrass, gospel and Southern rock 'n' roll music at festivals and rundraisers in Georgia and Tennessee.
"Ever since I was little I wanted to be a singer," said Key. "It's my way of expressing myself, and I've always loved it."
In the band, Key sings lead and backup vocals and writes original songs.
"Our voice teacher taught us that writing music was the major way to make it big," she said. "So I just sat down one day and wrote 'Stranded.' It's kind of upbeat, but when I first wrote it, it was a ballad. I had a tune in my head, and we went to practice one day and put it to music. I hummed it, and Tyler started playing it."
Since then, Key has completed her second original song, "Unfallent Tears," and is working on her third song, "Kiss Me in the Rain." As soon as the group has enough original material, they are heading for Nashville to record them, she said. Two of the band's original songs - "Stranded" and "Down on My Knees" - have already been recorded as demos.
Key credits members of her family for helping her realize her love for music.
"My cousin Monty Powell is a songwriter in Nashville," she said. "And, my mom used to sing a lot. She helps me a lot when I'm working on a song. I also play the piano, which helps me find the correct pitches."
But Key has only her grandmother, Carol Nance, to thank for helping her to become a member of the Tyler Nixon Band.
"The band played at Nance Carpet for a Christmas party and while they were there they told my grandmother that they needed another female singer," Key explained. "She immediately told them that I did some singing."
Before long, Key joined the group, and now she couldn't be happier, she said. "I love being on stage and entertaining people," she added. "It's a lot of fun."
But while it may be fun, it's also a lot of work. "I live in Calhoun, go to school in Rome, and practice with the band in Chatsworth," she said, giggling. "We're on the go a lot!"
Key also has voice lessons each week. She studies piano and dance and is a member of the Darlington School Chorus and cross country team. She also maintains a high A average in her academic work.
"She's a very gifted young lady," her grandmother, Carol Nance, said. "The Lord just blessed her."
Key said she feels very blessed to be a member of the Tyler Nixon Band. "The first day I joined them I was so nervous because everyone in the whole band is older than me," she said. "But Ashley McPherson, the other girl singer, and I got along so well. She was so nice to me and helped me a lot."
The group practices at least three days a week for two to three hours, Key said. They performed at the Calhoun Fairgrounds on the Fourth of July, and at the Fairmount July 4 celebration. The group has also performed at events in Oakman, Dalton, Winchester (Tenn.), Nashville, Chatsworth, Ellijay, Ball Ground and other places.
Fourteen-year-old Tyler Nixon, for whom the group is named, plays lead guitar and also sings lead and backup vocals. He has been performing since the age of 6 and has had a band formed for seven years.
"When I first went on stage, I was with a bunch of older guys, and we didn't have a name," Nixon explained. "So when they introduced us, they looked around and finally just said 'The Tyler Nixon Band.'"
Before forming his band, Nixon competed in numerous guitar competitions and never lost. He also writes original songs. Nixon resides in Chatsworth and is a sophomore at Murray County High School. When he's not singing, Nixon enjoys competing in rodeos as a calf roper.
Other members of the group include:
Ashley McPherson, 14, who has been with the band for four years, sings lead vocals and backup vocals. She also writes original songs for the band and resides in Dalton, where she attends Northwest Middle School.
Tyler Southern, also konwn as T2, plays keyboards and has been with the band for 1.5 years. He is legally blind with amazing talent, Key said. He is 16 years old and lives in Chatsworth.
T.J. Southern, T2's cousin, plays drums and has been with the band for 1.5 years. He is 15 years old and lives in Chatsworth.
"T.J. was in my homeroom class at school, and I knew he played the drums because he was in the high school band," said Nixon. "Then his cousin Tyler joined soon after that."
"They love what they do," said Key's mom, Carrie. "It's fantastic that we have kids around this area who are so talented at such a young age."
Calhoun's Tanna Key isn't waiting until she's all grown up to follow her dreams. The 12-year-old daughter of Dan and Carrie Key is already doing what she loves - singing and entertaining.
Four months ago, Key joined the Tyler Nixon Band, a group of area teenagers that performs a mixture of country, bluegrass, gospel and Southern rock 'n' roll music at festivals and rundraisers in Georgia and Tennessee.
"Ever since I was little I wanted to be a singer," said Key. "It's my way of expressing myself, and I've always loved it."
In the band, Key sings lead and backup vocals and writes original songs.
"Our voice teacher taught us that writing music was the major way to make it big," she said. "So I just sat down one day and wrote 'Stranded.' It's kind of upbeat, but when I first wrote it, it was a ballad. I had a tune in my head, and we went to practice one day and put it to music. I hummed it, and Tyler started playing it."
Since then, Key has completed her second original song, "Unfallent Tears," and is working on her third song, "Kiss Me in the Rain." As soon as the group has enough original material, they are heading for Nashville to record them, she said. Two of the band's original songs - "Stranded" and "Down on My Knees" - have already been recorded as demos.
Key credits members of her family for helping her realize her love for music.
"My cousin Monty Powell is a songwriter in Nashville," she said. "And, my mom used to sing a lot. She helps me a lot when I'm working on a song. I also play the piano, which helps me find the correct pitches."
But Key has only her grandmother, Carol Nance, to thank for helping her to become a member of the Tyler Nixon Band.
"The band played at Nance Carpet for a Christmas party and while they were there they told my grandmother that they needed another female singer," Key explained. "She immediately told them that I did some singing."
Before long, Key joined the group, and now she couldn't be happier, she said. "I love being on stage and entertaining people," she added. "It's a lot of fun."
But while it may be fun, it's also a lot of work. "I live in Calhoun, go to school in Rome, and practice with the band in Chatsworth," she said, giggling. "We're on the go a lot!"
Key also has voice lessons each week. She studies piano and dance and is a member of the Darlington School Chorus and cross country team. She also maintains a high A average in her academic work.
"She's a very gifted young lady," her grandmother, Carol Nance, said. "The Lord just blessed her."
Key said she feels very blessed to be a member of the Tyler Nixon Band. "The first day I joined them I was so nervous because everyone in the whole band is older than me," she said. "But Ashley McPherson, the other girl singer, and I got along so well. She was so nice to me and helped me a lot."
The group practices at least three days a week for two to three hours, Key said. They performed at the Calhoun Fairgrounds on the Fourth of July, and at the Fairmount July 4 celebration. The group has also performed at events in Oakman, Dalton, Winchester (Tenn.), Nashville, Chatsworth, Ellijay, Ball Ground and other places.
Fourteen-year-old Tyler Nixon, for whom the group is named, plays lead guitar and also sings lead and backup vocals. He has been performing since the age of 6 and has had a band formed for seven years.
"When I first went on stage, I was with a bunch of older guys, and we didn't have a name," Nixon explained. "So when they introduced us, they looked around and finally just said 'The Tyler Nixon Band.'"
Before forming his band, Nixon competed in numerous guitar competitions and never lost. He also writes original songs. Nixon resides in Chatsworth and is a sophomore at Murray County High School. When he's not singing, Nixon enjoys competing in rodeos as a calf roper.
Other members of the group include:
Ashley McPherson, 14, who has been with the band for four years, sings lead vocals and backup vocals. She also writes original songs for the band and resides in Dalton, where she attends Northwest Middle School.
Tyler Southern, also konwn as T2, plays keyboards and has been with the band for 1.5 years. He is legally blind with amazing talent, Key said. He is 16 years old and lives in Chatsworth.
T.J. Southern, T2's cousin, plays drums and has been with the band for 1.5 years. He is 15 years old and lives in Chatsworth.
"T.J. was in my homeroom class at school, and I knew he played the drums because he was in the high school band," said Nixon. "Then his cousin Tyler joined soon after that."
"They love what they do," said Key's mom, Carrie. "It's fantastic that we have kids around this area who are so talented at such a young age."
