Article: Stacy's Music Row Report

Stacy's Music Row Report

"STACY'S MUSIC ROW REPORT" IS COPYRIGHT INSIDER'S GUIDE TO THE WACKY WORLD OF COUNTRY MUSIC. USE OF MATERIALS ON THIS PAGE WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN CONSENT IS PROHIBITED.

Independent publicist CLAIRE RATLIFF has client(s) news and another great story to share. (No, it's not about MARIE RATLIFF…)

Claire is introducing the world to singer/songwriter MIKO MARKS. Miko grew up in Flint, Michigan, attending Grambling (Louisiana) State University on a music scholarship.

While at GSU Miko collaborated with another student, (Grammy award-winning) ERYKAH BADU, before moving to the San Francisco Bay area.

Blazing the 21st century trail for African-American female country-music artists in Nashville (with FRANKIE STATON's approval, no doubt), Marks' debut album, Freeway Bound, features the title song as Miko's first single. (Yes, it's on an Oakland, California label, Mirrome Records, but Nashville's own Barry Yarbrough's Brown Bear Distribution is handling the album's retail sales, outlets for which include Marks' Web site and Cdbaby.com.)

Claire, who can't say enough about the artist who is a "devoted mom" with a "solid marriage," all the while maintaining "tremendous focus and drive," also gives us the 411 on Miko's label mate, CHRIS GRAY, a Gulf War veteran, is "a good ol' boy from Louisiana who's about to return from an Armed Forces Entertainment tour." (You've seen him perform at CMA Fan Fest.)

Gray's new Mirrome CD (also distributed by Barry Yarbrough and available at Chris' Web site), From Where I Am, features the hat act's appropriately-tilted single, I Keep It Under My Hat.

"Both artists signed their contracts with Mirrome right at the corner of 5th and Broadway the morning of June 11 complete with a champagne toast. Music Fest attendees were lined up to enter the GEC and many had photos taken with the artists."