This weekend, another member of the Sherrill family will entertain the Mississippi State community. Jackie Sherrill’s daughter, Bonnie Bishop Sherrill, will entertain the football crowd in her own way. A rising Texas country singer, Sherrill’s style doesn’t have the traditional country sound.
“It’s a little more rootsy than the kind that comes out of Nashville,” Sherrill said. “People say I have a lot of Janice Joplin in my voice. You know, that raunchy rock-out sound.”
Her style didn’t begin that way, however. After studying opera and classical music in high school, Sherrill found she had talent for writing songs.
“When I put it to music, it just kind of came out country,” Sherrill said. “I didn’t really plan it that way.”
Although unplanned, Sherrill’s music has been a hit all over Texas.
“It’s easy to make a living playing live in Texas,” Sherrill said. “There are just so many places that have live music.”
Another factor of Sherrill’s success is the number of independently owned radio stations around the state who are willing to play local music. Sherrill has also been influenced by many Texas artists who have encouraged her career.
“They come from a place from being nowhere and bust their butts working from the ground up,” Sherrill said.
Sherrill and her band have been playing for the past six months, and released a four-song demo last December. Her band consists of Brett Noaks, lead guitar; Angie Webster, drums and Nick Dotin, guitar. This weekend, however, local musicians Drew Dieckman and Lee Graham will sit in on rhythm and guitar and bass.
Sherrill said she hopes to release her first full-length album but wants to continue playing live music and writing her own songs. Her shows consist of a mixture of music, including original songs as well as some well-known cover songs.
To sample Sherrill’s music before her performance, visit www.bonniebishopmusic.com. Her demo is also available on the Web site, but they will be sold during her performance Friday night.
The show at Dave’s Darkhorse Tavern begins at 9:30 with a $5 cover and will continue until closing at 1 a.m. The piano bar will open and serve cheese fondu from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for those who want to get in early.