Jessica Urick’s desire to perform began at the early age of four. Creating song and dance numbers with her big sister and performing them for the family was a regular form of entertainment. At 11 years old, Jessica began writing songs, penning her first tune “Romeo and Juliet” a country-laced, line-dancing tune. Further finding her voice, every spot in town that had karaoke nights would be Jessica’s outlet, belting out Shania Twain and Dixie Chicks tunes with her friends. After participating in a talent show at age 12, Jessica’s desire to be on stage performing her music was set. Her guitar started going to school with her, writing songs and playing for friends whenever she got a chance. She started performing in coffee shops and at open mics around her community, getting her songs out there while she was still in high school. Jessica’s musical journey began in earnest in her senior year when she recorded her first demo EP of five songs. She began to get noticed by individuals in the local Atlanta music scene, receiving calls to perform around town. Her first meeting with a country music industry executive in December of 2004, set Jessica on her professional path.
2005 was the start to a great country career and 2006 did not slow at all. In April 2005, Jessica and her dad (who is in her band) were featured on TV station, Fox 5 Atlanta, the program Good Day Atlanta, introducing Country Fair, 2005 and the Colgate Country Showdown. Jessica competed in the Showdown, winning the state title while representing Georgia’s largest country radio station, Kicks 101.5. Performing two of her original tunes “Cruel Girl” and “Cowboy,” she received praise from judges at all levels. 2007 has been another award winning year for Jessica winning the SHIFT2NISSAN Battle of the Bands. She was the only female country act out of 80 bands that competed across the country. Jessica continues to contribute her time performances to fundraising efforts for Relay for Life – Cancer Research, a POW/MIA memorial for Robins Air Force Base, Boys and Girls Club of Atlanta, The Dream House for Medically Fragile Children and the 11 Alive TV - annual Can-a-thon. Jessica and her band, Four Story have been the opening act for several successful and Grammy award-winning artists. 2006 proved to be huge with Jessica's audition for Nashville Star in which she was called back out of 1200+ contestants that auditioned in New York to be one of 19 to perform two tunes for the shows producers. Jess didn't make the show but received great feedback on her original tune and met a lot of great people and friends in the process. She continues to receive requests for interviews on radio stations and has performed her original tunes live on The BULL in Macon, WNGC, 106.1 – The Moby in the Morning Show, and WUGA in Athens. Georgia Life and Style, a TV magazine news show taped a segment with Jessica as one of "Georgia's up and coming artists". You can see the clip on her Myspace page. Another small project Jessica worked on “Leaving on a Greyhound” by Jerry Buckner is still getting airplay as the Georgia run-a-way bride continues to make news.
When listening to Jessica's original tunes you can hear some of her favorite artists influences: Delbert McClinton, Carol King, Aerosmith, Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard, Allison Kraus, and Johnny Cash.
In her 3rd CMA Music Festival appearance, up-and-coming country sweetheart Jessica Urick sat down with Chad Carlson to discuss the details of her upcoming debut album, how her music reflects those that influenced her, and her experiences on 'Nashville Star' and the Colgate Country Showdown. Becoming more involved each year at the festival, Urick also shares her feelings at the event as being both an artist and a fan, the excitement of meeting new and reuniting with old fans, and the extensive list of charitable organizations she has supported in her (so far) short but sweet career.
