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SKOPE MAGAZINE features Erica Sunshine Lee!!! May 27, 2010 | by Skope Staff

Erica Sunshine Lee’s single BROKEN PROMISES rushes to #6 at the top of the indie charts within 1st week of play at KXBG’s Birth of Radio in Arkansas!

Erica Sunshine Lee – hired by Ms. Taken.com for vocals on music video – Unwanted, Twilight Spoof

Ms.Taken.com – Twilight Spoof: UNWANTED

Erica Sunshine Lee rocks her way to Hawaii for song and surf
Jan 26, 2010 – 09:26 AM | by Jamie Winpenny | Arts

Erica Sunshine Lee has performed with the likes of ZZ Top and Henry Kapono from Vegas to Hawaii. Courtesy Photo

HONOLULU—If it is possible for a musician to beam over the phone, Erica Sunshine Lee does it from her home in the Bay Area, where she performs regularly when not on the road. The Elberton, Georgia native is gleefully anticipating her upcoming Oahu shows. With country roots, a folk sensibility, and a rock-and-roll heart, Lee is forging a career destined for only those true to their art and committed to the work that success as a performer demands. Also, she surfs.

“Yeah, I’ve got some boards here at home and some in Hawaii,” she says. “I’ll be out there for sure.”

Lee relocated to the Bay Area after visiting her sister there a couple of years ago. She made a fine living selling cars and landed a scholarship playing softball at an area college. She’s come a very long way.

Lee began singing at the young age of “about six,” as many country singers do, in a church choir. Her parents were supportive from the beginning, purchasing for her a karaoke machine to encourage and nurture a natural musical talent. She has been performing professionally for six years, and writing her own original material as well.

“I can play covers until I’m blue in the face,” she laughs in a lilting Southern drawl. But it is her songwriting that has brought her the most fulfillment as a performing artist. “It’s incredible when someone comes up to me and says ‘I feel like you wrote that song for me.’”

Lee has recently released the album Road to Recovery and is already hard at work on her next album, recording in storied Nashville, Tennessee. She will be performing two shows in Honolulu: Tuesday night at Kelley O’Neil’s in Waikiki and on Thursday at O’Toole’s Irish Pub in Chinatown.

“I’m actually supposed to be taking a vocal rest,” Lee says sheepishly. “But I’m really looking forward to the shows.”

Erica Sunshine Lee has performed in Hawaii before, most notably alongside Henry Kapono at his gig at Duke’s Canoe Club and Barefoot Bar. She’s also graced the stage with ZZ Top, a band with possibly the most down-home street cred in the American music industry. Lee confesses a weakness for Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake, and admits that at least a portion of her time in Hawaii will be spent seeking to fulfill that craving.

True to the tradition of the hard-working American music professional, Lee’s Honolulu sojourn will be a working vacation, a time to recharge while charging the waves by day and playing her music at night. With an angelic beauty, flowing blond curls and a voice that breaks hearts, Lee’s will be a welcome sight in the water and on the stage.

For more information, visit EricaSunshineLee.com.

Erica Sunshine Lee’s Sunshine in Hawaii Tour:
Tuesday, January 26 from 9:00 p.m. at Kelley O’Neil’s, 311 Lewers Street
Thursday, January 29 from 9:00 p.m. at O’Toole’s Irish Pub, 902 Nuuanu Avenue

The sun shines on Erica Lee(SAN MATEO DAILY JOURNAL)
January 04, 2010, 03:30 AM By Bill Silverfarb

Photo courtesy of Kim Davison
Erica Sunshine Lee played a bit of guitar at Bean Street Coffee on B Street in downtown San Mateo last week.

When Burlingame resident Erica Lee lost her job in 2008, she took the opportunity to pursue her passion full time — music.
She had spent years selling cars at Putnam Chevrolet Cadillac and working as a recruiting manager for another company while she paid her way through Belmont’s Notre Dame de Namur University studying marketing and French. The tall Georgia native with her Southern drawl and long blonde hair also played softball and basketball for the university.

She also fronted a classic rock cover band called Pier Pressure that played all over the Bay Area.

She came out to the Peninsula for a summer to visit her airline hostess sister nine years ago and never left.

These days there is a “Sunshine” in between the names Erica and Lee and the music she pursues is a little more country and a little less rock.

She is currently in the midst of promoting her second studio album “Road to Recovery” recorded at Funhouse Studios in Nashville and Granada Studios in Half Moon Bay. Lee played a New Year’s Eve show in Reno and will play a show this Thursday night at the Broadway Grill in Burlingame with her full band. She is not shy to pull out her guitar, though, and play acoustically in the middle of a crowded downtown sidewalk.

Erica Sunshine Lee wants to be famous and isn’t afraid to say it. She hopes to use all those tools working in sales and studying marketing to hit the big time as a country star.

Not only does she write her own music, she learned how to play the guitar all on her own when she lost her patience with a former guitarist who couldn’t be there at those critical moments when Lee was feeling especially musically inspired.

She is intent on making it in Nashville as a country star but doesn’t mind branding herself “folk rock” when she plays gigs in the Bay Area.

Her first studio album, “Struggle Street,” took Lee on a tour of America through Texas, Louisiana, Florida and Philadelphia. She has also performed in Amsterdam, Costa Rica and Hawaii.

“I’ve done lots of road trippin’ and sleeping in the car,” Lee said. She has made friends, though, through social networking sites such as Facebook and has found new fans in new cities she visits who are willing to offer her a bed for the night.

Her songs mix the best of old traditional folk music and new country with an emphasis on family and lost love.

She sings about grandpa’s love of whiskey and waking up in strangers’ beds. And although she credits Lucinda Williams, Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash as some of her main influences she grew up in a town of people who were more likely to listen to Mary J. Blige than Carrie Underwood.

“I never set out to be a country singer. It just ended up that way,” Lee said.

Like many aspiring singers, Lee auditioned for “American Idol” back in 2007 but didn’t make it to Hollywood.

“I crossed that one off the list,” she said.

But Lee isn’t necessarily interested in making it in Hollywood, it is Nashville she has her sights set on. And even if Nashville does not embrace Burlingame’s own budding country star, she’d be just as happy making ends meet playing shows right here in the Bay Area.

To learn more about Erica Sunshine Lee check out: http://ericasunshinelee.com/.

Bill Silverfarb can be reached by e-mail: silverfarb@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106.

October 22, 12:42 PM
SF Young Professionals Examiner by: Christine Cruz
Q&A with San Francisco Singer/Songwriter Erica Sunshine Lee:
“From Cubicles to Country Rockstar”

Country Rock Folk Singer Erica Sunshine Lee
www.EricaSunshineLee.com

Full Name: Erica Lee
Age: 26
Hometown: Elberton, Georgia
Education: BS in Marketing, Minor in French from Notre Dame Namur University
Business: Country / Folk / Rock Singer, Songwriter and Producer

New Album Release Party: ROAD TO RECOVERY this Saturday, 10/24, 8 p.m. at Broadway Studios
—————————————-
Singer/Songwriter Erica Sunshine Lee, born and raised in Elberton, Georgia, spent 7 years working at Putnam Chevrolet Cadillac closing deals on cars, and negotiating salaries behind cubicles as a Recruiting Manager for Robert Half International. Even though she pulled 70 – 80 hours of work a week, she still found time to perform her shows late at night.
When the economy suddenly took a downturn in late 2008, Erica’s position at Robert Half was eliminated. Instead of moping around, she rolled with life’s punches and took this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pursue her passion and love for music full-time.
“I have always had a passion for music, and singing has been a hobby since I was able to talk. When I got laid off, I realized I didn’t have to just be a side job that I did at night and that I could actually travel, enjoy singing and performing my own music around the world. Not sit behind a desk all day being bored.”
Today, Erica wakes up every morning looking forward “going to work.” As a singer, songwriter, and producer, she has already toured in Europe, Central America, and all over the U.S. She has also performed with world famous musicians Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top in Las Vegas and Grammy Nominee Henry Kapono in Honolulu. After a whirlwind world tour, Erica heard her album playing at hostels in Costa Rica and at a cafe in Amsterdam. The best part about singing, Erica says, is that it allowed her to meet interesting people who told her that her songs spoke directly to them and helped them cope with challenging circumstances.
Erica recently recorded her 3rd album, Road To Recovery in Nashville and will be performing this Saturday, 10/24 at Broadway Studios.
She opens up to Examiner readers about what inspired her to sing, how growing up in the south shaped her musical perspective, and which San Francisco musicians and music venues gets her two thumbs up.

Erica Lee singing with Henry Kapono in Honolulu
www.EricaSunshineLee.com
Q: What’s your latest news?
A: I just recently won the Bay Area’s Country Colgate Showdown! My new album “Road To Recovery” will be released in late October 2009, and I’m having my album release party in my hometown of the last 8 years, San Francisco at Broadway Studios on October 24th at 8 p.m. in North Beach. I’m privileged to have San Francisco’s favorite country duo tribute, “Fat Boy Floyd and Sarabeth Annmarie,” followed by the winners of the Western United States Country Colgate Showdown, Fresno’s Whisky Row.” I am excited to bring my country music to San Francisco for a night that won’t be forgotten!
Q: What inspired you to sing?
I have always loved being in the spotlight, ever since a play in pre-school where I stole the show and sang my heart out. Singing was never an option as a career path for me, but I always loved to sing. I was sneaking into bars at the age of 18 to sing karaoke every night of the week. When I began to sing in a local classic rock band, I realized that not only was I good, but I could make money at it. Then as I started my own classic rock cover band Pier Pressure, I went through some tough emotional times during which I found strength through writing poetry, and began putting them to music when I bought my guitar in 2008. I taught myself how to play, and booked shows all over the bay area. I didn’t know music theory, and ignorance was bliss. When I heard people saying how much they loved my music and voice, I knew that this was what I was supposed to be doing. Writing is my therapy and singing is my passion. What else can I ask for?
Q: How has being born and raised in the south affected your musical views?
Everyone always asks me… “Why are you living in San Francisco if you’re a country music singer?” I just tell them that I fell in love with the bay area when I moved out here at the age of 18 on my own, and never really had the desire to move back to the south. Now that I’m able to tour so much, I get to see my homeland more often, and that’s a perfect fit for me.
My music has soul, country, blues, and rock influence that I was raised with. Yet other songs have a more urban, rock, indie feel which I’m sure is a result of living in the left sided city of San Francisco. I write what I feel, I say what I think, and I love what I do.

“Road To Recovery” album release party 10/24
@ Broadway Studios. EricaSunshineLee.com
Q: Why did you choose San Francisco? What do you love about San Francisco?
I moved out to San Francisco to visit my sister after my first year of college. She was a flight attendant and was based near SFO. Once I came to visit, I decided the next day to go sell cars for the summer. Once I began making money and found out how awesome it was to live in California, I decided not to go back. Being close to the city, beach, and mountains was my dream come true because I grew up 6 hours away from the coast.
Q: Who are your favorite bay area musicians and bands?
I love the Montana Slim Bluegrass Band, Big Lion, Jahlectrik, Loquat, Otis, Whisky Row, Miriam Speyer, Cassandra Farrar, Laventura, Moller, and of course Pier Pressure, my own cover band.
Q: Where are your favorite bay area music venues?
In San Francisco I love the Saddlerack,  La Barca, The Rockit Room, O’Neill’s Irish Pub, Vin Wine Club, Broadway Studios, The Hotel Utah, The Red Devil Lounge, Cafe Du Nord, Ireland’s 32.
My other bay area favorites include The Hopmonk Tavern in Sebastapol, Starry Plough in Berkeley, Angelica’s Bistro in Redwood City, O’Neill’s Irish Pub in San Mateo, Behan’s in Burlingame, Sam’s Chowder House in Half Moon Bay, and of course Apple Jack’s in La Honda!
Q: What advice do you have for young professionals who want to pursue their passion in music and the arts?
Well I’m not one to model your life after because I’m spontaneous and don’t always think logically. But do it! Pursue what you love. What do you have to lose? I gave up the corporate life to do what I enjoy, and I’m my own boss. Not everyone has the same structure, but I am capable of working on my own, because I know thatI have to. Necessity is the best motivator, and I know that there’s nothing else I want to do than to travel the world writing and performing my music, seeing new things, and meeting new people. I do not regret for one second missing out on Excel spreadsheets, board meetings, and weekly reports because my dreams are coming true.
To rock out at Erica’s country rock album release party this Saturday night, 10/24 at Broadway Studios, go to www.EricaSunshineLee.com.
________________________
Christine features San Francisco networking events, association mixers, and career & workplace advice for young urban professionals who live and work in the city. Please email her at SFYoungProfessional@gmail.com if you have any questions or want to see any stories covered.
Direct Link: http://www.examiner.com/x-10916-SF-Young-Professionals-Examiner~y2009m10d22-QA-with-singer-and-songwriter-Erica-Sunshine-Lee-From-cubicles-to-touring-the-world

Erica Sunshine Lee turns heads with her WHIPPED CREAM song!
Chantilly Cream
By Chef David “Smitty” Smith
Sunday night, the 19th, was the closing party for the Vertical Tasting Lounge in Squaw Valley’s Olympic House. Steve and Lane did a great job serving drinks and food as they wanted to run down their stock as they get ready for summer. While sitting there enjoying the event, the question came up about what this week’s article was going to be. I had a few things working around in my head but I wasn’t really sure and asked if there was anything particular they wanted to see. A lot of the ideas sounded great, but I would have wanted to do a little testing first to get my version of the recipes down. And then the singer started in on this song about whipped cream and that became the center of focus.
Erica Sunshine Lee had been singing up a storm all night. In town from Georgia on a visit, Erica really did have an incredible voice and sang a wide variety of songs which at times had the crowd very quiet, or at least as quiet as a crowd running the bar stock down can be. Anyway, once Erica started in on the whipped cream song, the crowd was anything but quiet and that became the article request of not just my friends, but also several other people listening to the music near us. I asked if they really needed a recipe to make whipped cream and after listening to some of the responses, I finally relinquished and said “maybe”. After her last song of the evening, I was complimenting Erica on her performance and noticed a good sized bowl of Chantilly cream on the counter. She informed me it was one of her favorite foods but she could never get it exactly right. Lane was standing with us and had supplied the topping along with various pieces of cut fruit that many of the party goers were now enjoying and that was when I finally agreed to write about what I consider to be one of my easiest recipes to date.
So the first question was; “Is there a difference between whipped and Chantilly cream?” The answer is “kind of.” When most people talk of whipped cream, they are in fact usually referring to Chantilly cream. That is, they are talking about sweetened whipped cream used for desserts. Whipped cream is just that; cream that has been whipped. There is not always any sweetener as it can be used to add body to something. One example is for some appetizers such as oysters Rockefeller, whipped cream is combined with hollandaise sauce on top of the oyster and that is browned under a broiler. Chantilly cream is always sweetened and most often flavored with a touch of vanilla, or some other flavoring.
Someone else then said that Chantilly cream is always very lightly whipped to just a very soft stage. Although some people, including some chefs I’ve known, think Chantilly cream is only cream sweetened and very softly whipped, that does not have to be the case. Sweetened cream whipped to a stiff enough consistency to pipe through a pastry bag in order to decorate a dessert is still Chantilly cream. All you need for the cream to be considered Chantilly cream is the sweetener. If whipped a little too much, just add a little cream and fold it in to bring it back. If it is whipped to butter about the only thing left is to try it on a piece of toast.
There were also some concerns about the sugar used. It really doesn’t matter what type of sugar you use. Some people swear by powdered sugar because it will dissolve and incorporate into the cream easier. That is true, but I have noticed that powdered sugar gets old much faster than granulated sugar. It will actually pick up the flavor of the plastic bag and just taste bad. With whipped cream being so delicate flavor wise, I will normally go with whatever I happen to have around and actually use the fine granulated if there is any available. Just be sure to taste the powdered sugar before using it to be sure it is still fresh. For a simple dessert, try a small bowl of fresh berries with Chantilly cream and enjoy.

PULL OUT:
1C heavy cream
2-3 T sugar
1t pure vanilla extract
Place the bowl in the freezer for a little while. Use an oversized bowl as the cream will double in volume and the extra room will make whipping easier. Add the ingredients into the bowl and whip together until it is at the desired consistency you like. Look for silky consistency unless you are going to pipe it out of a bag for decorating in which case you will want it a little stiffer. You can add a little more sugar or vanilla to taste so taste it just as it starts to thicken.

Smitty is a personal chef specializing in dinner parties, cooking classes and
special events. Trained under Master Chef Anton Flory at Top Notch Resort in
Stowe, VT, Smitty is known for his creative use of fresh ingredients. He has
been a chef for PGA’s “Memorial Tournament” for more than fifteen years and
ran the main kitchen at the World Games. For more information and archived
copies of Stir it Up, visit www.chefsmitty.com. Smitty welcomes your questions
and comments at smitty@chefsmitty.com or (530)412-3598.

Erica Sunshine Lee headlining the San Mateo Wine Walk!!!
San Mateo offers music, wine
June 15, 3:11 PM

The 14th annual Wine Walk in downtown San Mateo features live music that celebrates and highlights arts and culture in the Peninsula city. The Wine Walk features two main stages with live entertainment throughout the night on Fri., June 26. Stage One is located on Ellsworth between 3rd and 4th Avenues and Stage Two is located on Third Avenue at El Camino Real. The Downtown San Mateo Association handpicked four different bands that run the gamut of musical genres.
Singer/songwriter Erica “Sunshine” Lee will kick off the live music with her blend of folk, rock and country on Stage One at 5:30 pm. Island Dream follows with bringing a tropical sunshine sound to the night sky from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Pamela Rose, a San Francisco based jazz and blues vocalist takes to Stage 2 at 5:30 p.m. Playing feel good classic Top 40 hits is the final musical act Rock Candy on Stage 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Wine Walk visitors can visit businesses and restaurant as well as sample fine vintages while listening to the live music. There will also be raffle prizes throughout the night, and the first 2,500 patrons with purchased tickets will receive a free, reusable tote bag made from 80% recycled plastic bottles.
Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 and the price includes a wine glass and ten tasting tickets. For more information call 650.342.5520 or visit www.winewalk.org

Gary Jones, The Elberton Star

Erica Sunshine Lee to Tour Southeast in March 09

Folk/Rock/Country Singer~Songwriter, Erica Sunshine Lee, from northeast Georgia has just announced her first tour in the Southeast, after the release of her first album Struggle Street, and is hitting the road on tour with acoustic duo partner Byron Adams of Athens, GA.
Moving out to California to pursue her dream as a singer in 2001 has begun to pan out for Singer/Songwriter Erica Sunshine Lee. Her first album is being well received nationally and internationally as she just got back from touring in Las Vegas, where she played with world famous Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Hawaii, where she performed with grammy nominee Henry Kapono, and The Netherlands. After performing all over the Bay area and northern California for the past 4 years, she is venturing back to her roots in the Southeast during the month of March. Beginning in Clemson, South Carolina, she will be playing at “Loose Change” with Paul Lioidice’s band also playing. Then from there, heading to Nashville for a few shows, then down to Ocean Springs, Mississippi at Mosaic Tapas Bar on March 13th, then back through Georgia in Athens, Madison, and Atlanta playing for her homeland.
Working 5 am shifts at Dunkin Donuts, while selling easy bake-oven chocolate chip cookies and pizza by the slice on campus was normal for Erica to put herself through college. Erica’s always been competitive played two college sports, basketball and softball, while simultaneously being the leading salesperson at Putnam Chevrolet Cadillac Hummer for the first 7 years of her California career; Erica wasn’t your typical “Carsalesman.” It wasn’t uncommon for the underage singer to sneak into bars to sing karaoke every night of the week. Currently she is managing 5 Bay area bands, as well as booking their shows, marketing, advertising, and self promoting. In early 2008, she linked up with several talented northeast Georgia musicians, and completed her first album at Farmhouse Studios with producer/drummer Zeke Sayer, Bass player- Jim Volrath, and most importantly Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist/Harmonica Guru Byron Adams. This duo went to high school together, but it wasn’t until Christmas 2007 when Erica sent Byron a message on www.myspace.com to organize a show on for their hometown that the two realized their potential from teaming up musically. After one hour’s rehearsal, the two put on a 3 hour show in their hometown bar on the local square, and got a great response from their native friends. Byron went out to visit San Francisco for a week, and the duo played non-stop, so Byron moved to the Bay for two months while they toured around and played locally.
Just barely over one year later the two have decided to take their “song and dance” on the road, and don’t be surprised if their “Jackson” and “Time’s a Wastin” rendition of Johnny Cash and June Carter doesn’t take you back to days of the Man in Black. They just performed their 2nd annual show in their hometown bar-Richards, Elberton, Georgia at Christmas, and will be stopping by a town near you! Erica’s band is recording her next album at Granada Studios in Half Moon Bay in early April, then she is heading to Hong Kong in April and Costa Rica in May to perform. Stay tuned for Erica Sunshine Lee’s full band touring nationally in May and June, as they were just selected as the Bay Area’s Battle of the Bands Finalists, and were chosen among only 12 bands to perform at the MAY DAY Festival in Orlando, FL on May 23.
Sunshine’s album is now available online on Itunes and her website. For additional information and details for this Southern Belle’s Tour, visit www.EricaSunshineLee.com or
www.myspace.com/EricaSunshineLee