LIVE MUSIC: Melissa Kay McCarthy

The Bookcase and Caribou Coffee are thrilled to be welcoming Melissa Kay McCarthy to our corner on Friday, July 13 at 7:00 in the evening, as part of our summer concert series. 

Melissa Kay McCarthy has her roots planted in Wausau, Wisconsin. With her parents' influence, she grew up listening to country music and knew at an early age that she wanted to sing. She began playing the violin in fifth grade, performed many variety shows and performances as part of the chorus, but did not branch out as a soloist until high school.

At 15, Melissa began singing karaoke in local bars and competing in many contests. Writing and music were her passion and when she wasn't singing, she was filling notebooks and journals with song lyrics, poetry, and stories.  With the help of her grandmother, Melissa purchased her Martin guitar after graduating high school and was playing small gigs within a year of learning to play.

At the age of 22, Melissa completed her degree in Educational Interpreting. She moved away from home for the first time and spent two years on the Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska working with deaf and hard of hearing students. In the two years she resided in Alaska, Melissa continued to write and record music. Her original song, When I'm Gone, was written the night she accepted the position and later took on a new meaning when her grandmother, Jean, passed away just one month after Melissa left Wisconsin.

In 2006, Melissa returned to Wisconsin and took a job in West Salem. She began working on her bachelor's degree, while continuing to work and perform gigs throughout Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota. Within a year of returning to Wisconsin, Melissa's music was gaining recognition.  Another original song, Christmas Without You was featurned on Kentucky Public Radio. Two months later, Melissa was asked to be a featured performer in a songwriting showcase in Nashville.

Melissa has two CDs released and available on iTunes and CDbaby. When I'm Gone is a collection of home recordings, and Live at Corner Coffee was recorded at a show in Minneapolis, MN.

Fore information, visit http://melissakaymccarthy.wix.com/music.