Trish DeRousse

Trish DeRousse, a Southern Illinois native, was born--just like the great Loretta Lynn, a coal miner's daughter. But Trish's story is one with a twist! Trish's father, Mike Adkins, was like many Southern Illinoisan's in that time, a coal miner--yet he was better known as "the singing coal miner." Mike had been signed to RCA Records personally by Chet Atkins in the 1970's, but watched disappointedly as his career seemed to fizzle. After Mike gave his heart to the Lord and became a born-again Christian, great musical things began to happen to Mike and his family.

Trish's childhood was anything less than typical as she would sit at the dining room table helping her father address records to radio stations one week, and the next be traveling around the country as her Dad would walk into radio station after station dropping off his self-penned, independently promoted album, "Thank You for the Dove." The events tht unfolded from these actions spawned miracles unprecented then and still today in the music business. Mike's album took off across the country and eventually was certified Gold, selling half a million copies, all without Mike ever signing to a record label, even after being approached. "Adoration," the song most renowned and certainly most anointed, went to number one on the Gospel charts at the same time several other cuts from the album were entering the top ten. Trish recalls the memories of her childhood as a very exhilerating and unusual time. "I remember so well the excitement we shared as our family drove around the country and would hear my Dad's record playing on the car radio. I was certainly the only kid in the sixth grade at my school who had that happening!"

The roots in music began to grow deeply in Trish, although her childhood shyness would temporarily disguise the degree to which Trish had inherited her family musical gift. "I always surrounded myself with music, but didn't really personally discover it until college. I thought that I could sing, but I honestly wasn't confident enough to believe it." After her first performance, it was clear to everyone around that Trish had indeed been blessed with musical ability and then some! She began to slowly gain her confidence and performed at local events and in her college choir. Trish went through what she describes as "some very difficult personal growth times coupled with some bad decisions." She married very young, and subsequently went through painful divorce. It wasn't until years later, when her personal life resembled more normalcy, that Trish rediscovered music and became "all-consumed" by it.

Trish was working as a registered nurse in private duty nursing, and would often sit up all night besides individuals requiring medical monitoring. "One night a family invited me to turn on the television to help pass the time, and I discovered County Music Televesion (CMT). I became obsessed with it!" Trish fell in love with music again, and quickly related to country music's "real life" themes. Withing a month, Trish had penned her first two original songs--quite a feat for someone who couldn't read or write music and didn't play an instrument. "From that moment on, I felt stronger than anything, that God was going to use me musically." Trish began entering singing contests, pocketing prize money and gathering a local following of friends and fans of her music. Trish concentrated on polishing her performance while she looked for an open door to "enlarge her musical territory." That door flew open in June of 2001 when Trish was signed to a record deal & management contract with Platinum Plus Records in Nashville, Tennessee. The fall of 2002 saw the release of Trish's debut album, "You Wouldn't Lie To An Angel," with much success. The title cut, co-written by veteran hit writer Paul Overstreet, was test-marketed to the midwest and the internet with phenomenal results. The single went to Number One on the major country charts of MP3.COM, the world's most popular internet music site, and has received significant airplay in the Midwest, Australila, New Zealand, Africa, and around the world. The single is set to be released to nationwide country radio on the premiere radio compilation, CDX, in the spring of 2003. As Trish's career continues to gain momentum, she is already in the works to begin recording her sophomore album in Nashville with several self-penned cuts already chosen for the project.

If you hear Trish's voice and see the unmistakable sparkle in her eyes, you will soon know that you have found a rare gem in country music. Soothe your soul with the voice of an Angel. . . .

Yes, we are currently playing throughout the Midwest to support my debut CD, "You Wouldn't Lie To An Angel."

We do a variety of country music including my own originals, originals from other Nashville songwriters, country classics as well as favorite covers. While I am a country girl at heart, my influences and music run the gammet from Tammy Wynette to Matchbox 20! I'm told my voice is very unique, but my range is often compared to Martina McBride's.

Check out our website, www.trishderousse.com for the latest updates!