Myrna Sanders
League City, Texas, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2004 | INDIE
Music
Press
"Not only can "Not only can leading lady Myrna Sanders sing from a long ranging, vocal spectrum (she’s not always in Joplin voice), she also can play rhythm guitar on a personality-fitting, chartreuse Gretsch. Depending on the current tune, she might swap the rhythm for a bass. The multi-talented firecracker leads a band that is just as talented."
— Traci Rogers, HoustonMusicReview.com - HoustonMusicReview.com
The Houston singer might be best-known for Kozmic Pearl, the Janis Joplin tribute band she's fronted for several years but Sanders is stepping out from behind the legend on "Big Head Diva," a collection of originals that honor her influences while honing in on her own sound. It's a rock-and-blues affair, held together by Sanders' confident vocal work. When: 8 p.m. Thursday; Where: Jackie's Brickhouse, 1053 Marina Bay Drive, Kemah; Tickets: Free; 832-864-2459 or jackiesbrickhouse.com - The Houston Chronicle
The Houston singer might be best-known for Kozmic Pearl, the Janis Joplin tribute band she's fronted for several years but Sanders is stepping out from behind the legend on "Big Head Diva," a collection of originals that honor her influences while honing in on her own sound. It's a rock-and-blues affair, held together by Sanders' confident vocal work. When: 8 p.m. Thursday; Where: Jackie's Brickhouse, 1053 Marina Bay Drive, Kemah; Tickets: Free; 832-864-2459 or jackiesbrickhouse.com - The Houston Chronicle
"Folk-laden blues, rock-influenced ballads, and pop-flavored folk tunes are the order of the day on this disc. Don’t be fooled by genre labels, this is Texas music all the way!"
- MyTexasMusic.com
"Folk-laden blues, rock-influenced ballads, and pop-flavored folk tunes are the order of the day on this disc. Don’t be fooled by genre labels, this is Texas music all the way!"
- MyTexasMusic.com
"It’s possible that Myrna Sanders feels this way because her own music is really good. Her debut CD, Riches To Rags is full of smooth, pop hooks in the ballpark of Sheryl Crow. Surprisingly, there isn’t much resemblance to Janis Joplin musically; although she say’s her next album will be much more blues influenced." - Zach Tate of The Galveston Parrot, November 2010
"It’s possible that Myrna Sanders feels this way because her own music is really good. Her debut CD, Riches To Rags is full of smooth, pop hooks in the ballpark of Sheryl Crow. Surprisingly, there isn’t much resemblance to Janis Joplin musically; although she say’s her next album will be much more blues influenced." - Zach Tate of The Galveston Parrot, November 2010
At Love Street, however, we know and like Myrna best for her many visits to Texas Children’s Hospital and Shriners Hospital for Children and, of course, her time fronting the Love Street Band. Myrna has also been a key ambassador for the organization, promoting it both online through social media and also at some of the open mics she hosts. - The Word – Love Street’s eNewsletter – March 29, 2011
At Love Street, however, we know and like Myrna best for her many visits to Texas Children’s Hospital and Shriners Hospital for Children and, of course, her time fronting the Love Street Band. Myrna has also been a key ambassador for the organization, promoting it both online through social media and also at some of the open mics she hosts. - The Word – Love Street’s eNewsletter – March 29, 2011
"Chart Topping Texas Rocker to Perform at Mardi Gras"
- Galveston Daily News (Feb 08, 0004)
"Chart Topping Texas Rocker to Perform at Mardi Gras"
- Galveston Daily News (Feb 08, 0004)
"I was truly taken by this album. The Godiva chocolate voice which flirts with the range between Sheryl Crow and Ann Wilson (Heart), has its own unique warmth and soulfulness. This is a voice that can bring you to your knees. The arrangements on the album are also notable. Some are so creative and so perfectly orchestrated as to stop you dead in your tracks to catch every nuance. (Almost got into an accident on the road a couple times.) I've known Myrna for years and am pleased and proud for her! Well done!!!."
- MyTexasMusic.com
"I was truly taken by this album. The Godiva chocolate voice which flirts with the range between Sheryl Crow and Ann Wilson (Heart), has its own unique warmth and soulfulness. This is a voice that can bring you to your knees. The arrangements on the album are also notable. Some are so creative and so perfectly orchestrated as to stop you dead in your tracks to catch every nuance. (Almost got into an accident on the road a couple times.) I've known Myrna for years and am pleased and proud for her! Well done!!!."
- MyTexasMusic.com
"They're also starting to notice Sanders. She was around before the relatively recent rise in popularity of female singers and has slid into it with ease". "Sanders' ability to draw a crowd has everything to do with that big voice of hers. She can wail like a siren when she wants, filling a club from wall to wall."
- The Houston Chronicle (Dec 17, 2003)
"They're also starting to notice Sanders. She was around before the relatively recent rise in popularity of female singers and has slid into it with ease". "Sanders' ability to draw a crowd has everything to do with that big voice of hers. She can wail like a siren when she wants, filling a club from wall to wall."
- The Houston Chronicle (Dec 17, 2003)
"Meanwhile, GoGirls monthly concert series at Houston's Rhythm Room has been gaining in popularity and has helped as a launching pad this summer for the recent debut CDs... from Joplinesque rocker, Myrna Sanders (Riches to Rags).
- Texas Music Magazine (July 2004)
"Meanwhile, GoGirls monthly concert series at Houston's Rhythm Room has been gaining in popularity and has helped as a launching pad this summer for the recent debut CDs... from Joplinesque rocker, Myrna Sanders (Riches to Rags).
- Texas Music Magazine (July 2004)
Discography
Big Head Diva 2012
Riches to Rags 2003
Numerous compilations
Photos
Bio
It's been nine years in the making, but it's been worth waiting for.
Big Head Diva, the long-awaited release by Houston singer and songwriter Myrna Sanders, delivers 11 new tracks that expand Sanders' already broad musical palette to paint new images covering a range of Americana sounds, from blues to country to rock and pop.
When Sanders got together with a songwriting partner in 2007 to come up with new material for the follow up to her debut 2003 release, Riches to Rags, she concedes she had no idea the journey to the release of Big Head Diva would take this long. But she says the extra time was well-spent, as she worked on her successful side project, Janis Joplin tribute Kozmic Pearl, and added regular weekly solo gigs to tweak the songs in preparation for recording sessions at Houston's Sugar Hill Studios.
I wrote six of the new songs with my friend Joey Benz several years ago, but really was interested in doing more steady gigging so I took a while to get back to working on the other songs, she said. Well, I guess it look a lot of extra time looking back, but now I can't wait to get out with the band and play the new material.
While Sanders' first release, highlighted by the single Good Thang, actually was inspired by darker themes such as the death of her parents, a divorce and other life lessons, Sanders says the songs on Big Head Diva reflect her own maturity and her appreciation for all of the positive influences in her life.
The song Sweet Life, for example, deals more with looking back over what a strong foundation her parents laid down for her, growing up near Telephone Road in Houston's East End. Other tracks, such as Stand Down, Life's Too Short and Let You Go, reflect on her realization that hanging on to bad memories, or letting situations or people get under your skin, creates too much emotional baggage.
Speaking of positive influences, Sanders also wrote a song about her husband, David, titled So Damned Cool.
Sanders, who started playing bass guitar at age 18 and played in Houston thrash metal band Bad Heaven in the mid 1980s, plays bass and rhythm guitar on all of the 11 tracks, and is joined by songwriting partner Joey Benz on lead guitar for their six co-written songs. Several well-known Houston studio musicians also worked the sessions, including keyboardists Randy Wall and Paul English.
Sanders worked with Sugar Hill's Andy Bradley on this album.
The sound includes more slide guitar and resonator, leaning more toward blues and Americana. As for the timing and sound of the next group of songs, Sanders, who cites Lucinda Williams as a major influence, says she has been listening to a lot of country lately, and that has influenced her most recent compositions.
And considering she doesn't exactly work on a strict recording timetable, Sanders knows she has plenty of other sounds to explore. "It all depends on where the road takes me", she says.
Band Members
Links