User:Savannahbloomer/sandbox

Overview
Makenzie Raye (born August 17th, 1997) is an American country pop singer-songwriter. Growing up doing vocal groups and talent shows. At the age of thirteen, Raye was picked up by Prinwall Entertainment, and continued to excel her career with them for three years. She was later picked up by Farm Boy Entertainment and with them released her debut self titled EP, Makenzie Raye, in 2014. She now attends Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Life and career
Raye was born August 17th, 1997 in Lakeland, Florida. She began singing at the age of four, and won her first talent show at the age of ten in her town, Temple Terrance, Florida. At the age of eight, Raye began to get involved in the singing group Applause based out of Temple Terrance, Florida. She was with them for three years before she joined a new group called Showstoppers based out of Dade City, Florida. Through Showstoppers, Raye had the opportunity to perform at Downtown Disney in the theme park Walt Disney World.

Soon after, at the age of thirteen, she was picked up by Prinwall Entertainment based out of Lutz, Florida, it is there where she began her career as a solo artist. During her time with Prinwall, she recorded her first single, “Dang Fairytales” at the Dog Den in Nashville, Tennessee. Raye then continued to travel and perform at music festivals all over Florida and some in Georgia. These include, the Green Bean Festival, the Central Florida Peanut Festival, the Florida Strawberry Festival, the Hernando County Fair, the Florida State Fair, the Zucchini Festival, the Pasco Country Fair, the South Shore Music Festival, and the Barefoot Music Festival.

After being with Prinwall Entertainment for three years, Raye decided to switch managers, and was then picked up by Farm Boy Entertainment, based out of Nashville, Tennessee. From the ages of fifteen to seventeen, she balanced school work, being a part of her high school soccer team, and trying to purse her dream of becoming a successful solo artist. Raye also did some free-lance modeling at this time to gain exposure. She performed at many events and venues including the Crawfish Festival, Uncle Mike’s Smoke House Grill, the Florida State Fair, the Sun and Fun Fly-in, and the Florida Strawberry Festival. During her two years with Farm Boy, Raye set up writes with writing labels in Nashville, Tennessee, such as SWAF and BMI and also became sponsored by Taylor Guitars. Raye released her debut self titled EP, Makenzie Raye, on June 10th, 2014.

Today, Makenzie Raye is a freshman at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, majoring in music business. She hopes to further her career as a country singer-songwriter while also working in the music industry.

Musical Style and Influences
Makenzie Raye’s debut EP shows her true love and passion for country music, but she also enjoys pop as well. Her influences are Kacey Musgraves, Carrie Underwood, and Miranda Lambert. She hopes to one day be as successful as Carrie Underwood.