E1 PRIDE supplement to THE MOULTON ADVERTISER THURSDAY, March 28, 2013

Lawrence County’s Got Talent

White hopes new CD will bring positive voice to country music

By Chris Yow that could be considered contemporary Staff Writer Christian. The single, titled 'From That First Day", There was never any decision for Rena has been released as a single on iTunes White to become a musician. She never and her music video is readily available Rena White On the web: had a choice. on YouTube. "I was born into it," she said. "I never What White is hoping for is the song - Over 50 published works really thought about anything else because will bring the audience in and they will Facebook.com/RenaWhiteOffi cial this is who I am." buy her album "Corners of My Heart". She was born into the White Family. The album has seven songs, one of - Dove Nomination (2005) iTunes single: The capital letters are because the White them is a crossover song she is especially Rena White “From That First Day” Family is a bluegrass gospel group that proud to have on the album. - USAFEM Nominations: has sang and played music in Lawrence "I wasn't going to do the album if I Group of the Year (2006, 2007) Offi cial Music Video available on County for nearly half a decade. couldn't include that song," she said. YouTube Rena learned to play piano at a very Much of the reason is because Rena young age. So young, in fact, that she says the album is named as such because - GMA Magazine Nominations: doesn't even remember learning. every song is a piece of her, and the big- Diamond Award (2005, 2006) "Mother said she came in and I was gest part of her heart is her Christian sitting on the piano stool, feet dangling, faith. - FFA String Band playing a song I'd heard on the radio. This album isn't supposed to make her "She said her jaw just hit the fl oor." a country star, and Rena says that's not - State Champion (1982,1983) A young Rena would travel with her what she wants from it. family, singing at the shows in front of "That was my dream when I was young - Multiple TV appearances large audiences, and she's grown accus- and singing in bars," she said. "That's not tomed to the fact her family is talented. what I want now." Rena took the things she'd learned with Now, she just wants to allow people her family, and when in high school at to hear good songs with a more positive Inside: East Lawrence, she joined the FFA string message. band. "Hopefully this album will let people She was part of the state champion know that I want to give them something Groundz Zero, C2 string quartet at East Lawrence, some- more than what they hear on country ra- Muddy Walkers Band, C3 thing she mentions as a major highlight in dio," she said. her career alongside singing at the Grand She says she has been heartbroken Southern Comfort, C4 Ole Opry. lately, dealing with losses and didn't know Porter Dutton, C5 In the quartet with her was Gaylon where to turn. Parker, and the bond they shared allowed "I've lost myself and been confused, Trillmon Steele, C6 them to sing together for several years in but God has a way of teaching you with Capt Capt Cutie Pie, C7 many different groups. the turmoil. Makes the confusion make The pair even co-wrote a song includ- sense. ed on an album nominated for the Dove "Everything we go through makes us Award Album of the Year. who we are." In 1988, Rena says she became a born- Throughout her life, Rena has dealt again Christian and felt God tugging at her with many doubters and unbelievers, but to begin a ministry through her music. she says they can't deter her from her goal She's been in several churches and of sharing the ministry she has. shared her message with thousands "Everybody's testimnoy has bad things around the South through music, includ- in it," she said. "That's why it's a testi- ing her family. mony." "I wanted to go out and share my min- Those times when she's done wrong istry. I did an album with the Isaacs and don't bother her because she says God that was the launching point," she said. takes care of her and her needs. Some- From there, it was as natural as her times, they even allow you to minister to bluegrass roots. those closest to you. "My heart has always been in gospel," "When we go through controversy and White said. feel like we've messed up, but then I look Although her heart is in gospel and her back and remember that God allowed ministry, Rena says her mission is being me to help me get my family saved," she carried on a different path, one she wasn't said. sure about when the opportunity arose. Of course, Rena isn't fi nished with this She'd written a country love song a album or with her ministry. She never will while back and the opportunity to record be satisfi ed. the song and put out an album with Pretty "There's never a point where you feel World Records came about. like you're fi nished, but I have accom- "I've always had on my heart and on plished a lot through music and God," she my mind to do a gospel album, but I had said. this one song, a country song, that I'd It doesn't matter whether it's 10 people written. at Groundz Zero during karaoke on Thurs- "God showed it to me as a chance to day nights or thousands at a festival; Rena reach another audience. One that might White gives the same show. She says it's not go to church or ever turn on Christian because who knows who might be listen- radio." ing. This will be her fi fth album, but her "There's not a difference. Maybe only fi rst one with a country fl avor, although one person needs to hear what you have to the album does include a crossover song say. – or sing," she said.