American singer-songwriter Melissa Elliotte's debut album "Sunshine Moonlight" produced by Irish guitarist David Keary (Jerry Lee Lewis, Andrew Strong , former musical director for Flatley's Lord of the Dance ) and mixed by Nashville's 5-time Grammy winner Gary Paczosa (Dixie Chicks, Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, Nickel Creek) is NOW AVAILABLE. All songs are original and written/arranged by Melissa Elliotte and David Keary. At age 12, Melissa began her first important step in music by finding a professional voice instructor in the renowned Grace Buckley of New York City. Though always involved in music, Melissa continued her education and received a Masters in French while studying in France for several years. She moved to Ireland to work for an international business but continued to write songs on the side. In Ireland's musical culture of pub singsongs, Melissa flourished as more people commented to her “you're in the wrong business, give up the day job.” With newly gained confidence, she took a week's holiday to record 6 of her songs in a studio in Galway. One of her songs, “No One Else,” went on to be covered by the popular Irish singer Frances Black for her album “How High the Moon.” After this recording experience, she was hooked and left her job 2 months later. Since then, Melissa has been fortunate enough to work with drummer/percussionist Ray Feane (U2, Sinead O'Connor, Elvis Costello, Crowded House), keyboardist Paul Trudeau (Meredith Brooks, Mandy Moore, Lifeline), fiddler Nollaig Casey (Mary Black, River Dance) plus Chris Hillman from the legendary band, the Byrds. She has been successfully performing in Ireland including support to Frances Black, Lloyd Cole and Mercury Award winner John Spillane and was featured on the UK gold compilation album, “Songbird.” She also recently performed as a guest artist at the legendary Bohemian Caverns jazz club in Washington D.C. where the great Duke Ellington himself started! About her music, Melissa says, “I grew up listening to all the Broadway/Hollywood musicals as a child. My parents both loved the old standards in particular jazz and classical music. I went to my first private voice lesson at age 12 and I haven't tired yet of exploring how to express and create using the voice . Up until the age of 12, I wanted to be a poet until it occurred to me that everyone we were studying was in fact dead which was a bit disillusioning as a career choice. :-) So, I didn't try poetry again until 15 years later when I started writing songs. I love the way you can create an emotion or set the scene through song. I dabbled in a lot of styles at first, but went back to the torch songs, swing, blues, Cole Porter, Fred Astaire, Billie Holiday – this, for me, feels like home.” In 2006, Melissa's tunes have been receiving airplay on the John Creedon show, RTE Radio One's Round Midnight, Clare FM and Lyric FM in Ireland and on Big L Radio London with legendary DJ Mike Read as well as John Darvall on Saga FM in the UK. Although classically trained vocally, Melissa is inspired by artists such as Alison Krauss, Sarah McLachlan, Cole Porter, Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Fisher and Nina Simone. Currently Melissa is based in London writing a novel inspired by the Sunshine Moonlight album. Check out her website for upcoming news at www.melissaelliotte.com! RECENT COMMENTS FROM THE MUSIC INDUSTRY: Big L Radio London's legendary Mike Read : “Melissa reminds me of a female Jamie Cullum.” After singing on his show at TalkSport, the UK's #1 commercial radio station, James Whale says “let me know when you're playing next in London and I'll be there.” Saga FM's John Darvall: “She's even better live than on the album!” Michelle Harding from Ireland's RTE Radio 1 show Round Midnight and Clare FM's Acoustic Freeway: “Melissa is like a Norah Jones but more sass.” Ronan Hardiman (composer of Hayley Westenra's song “Pure,” the fastest selling classical crossover debut in British chart history) states “there is something unique and appealing about Melissa's voice.” Recording engineer Adrian Cunningham (Trisha Yearwood, Nancy Griffith, Maria McKee, Iris Dement) says “one of the best singers I've ever heard live. This girl has no issues with pitch.”