My name is Lisa Dames.  I live in Greensboro, North Carolina.  I'm a 40 year-old housewife trying to make a name for myself in a predominantly 20 year-old world, that world being the music industry, country music to be more specific. Since 2005 I have been pursuing a career in the country music industry while raising two daughters...and a husband. 

In 2005, a record promoter that I had worked with, on a six song EP introduced me to David Grow.  David is a Grammy nominated producer best known for his work with Jim Brickman.  (The new romantic piano playing sensation.)  David heard the demo that I had recorded and was interested in working with me on a full-length project.  This project No One Like Me was completed in March of 2006.

In May of 2006 we took the first of two songs to country radio.  As I’m sure you’re aware, most country radio playlists consist of 25-30 songs.  As an indie I was competing with the likes of Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Gretchen Wilson and Faith Hill.  The first single Just Another Day reached #56 on the Music Row chart with a total of 7,724 spins on 43 stations nationally.  The second single I'd Leave Me attained Top 40 status with total spins of 13,635 on 60 radio stations.  Based on 2006 numbers this total should put me in the Top 5 for Break Out Artist of the Year on a Small Label.  However, in my case, there is no label.

Between the summer of 2006 and the spring of 2007, my guitar player, Sam Frazier, and I embarked on a 62 station, 20 state radio tour to promote Just Another Day and I’d Leave Me.  As part of my "million dollar marketing plan" I had my 2004 Toyota Sienna minivan wrapped with my CD artwork.  When I go through carpool all the kids yell, "That's Patti and Penny's Mom."  The songs on my album are geared towards the Moms, not the kids.  However, Stubborn is a favorite of my daughter's second grade class and Your Love is a favorite of my sixth grader and her friends.  My husband's favorite is Takin' the Wheel.  Mainly because he thinks that the song means I'll drive and he can sleep.

My video for Just Another Day debuted on national television on GAC’s Positively Country and was added to CMT.com's website.  CMT radio picked me as One to Watch for 2007.  In May of 2007 I secured distribution through Select O Hits in Memphis, TN and my CD was placed in North Carolina area Wal*Mart stores.  Last year I opened shows for Craig Morgan, Trent Tomlinson and John Michael Montgomery.  Over the 2007 holiday season, I embarked on an in-store performance tour at Western North Carolina area Wal*Mart stores.  The tour was such a success that I have been invited back with plans to expand the tour to other regional Wal*Mart stores.

In addition, my music and I are featured in a promotion just launched in 36 Waffle House locations throughout North Carolina.  The promotion began with a series of radio commercials voiced by me that aired throughout the holiday season.  Custom designed in-store signage promotes the availability of my current project No One Like Me, in local music outlets.  Both the radio commercials and signage direct patrons to songs from the project that are featured on the restaurant chain's jukeboxes.  Nationally, Waffle House is second only to Pizza Hut in the number of retail jukeboxes. 

My family and I appeared on the Winter edition of Triad Living Magazine, which was on stands from mid-November through mid-February.  More photos accompanied an extensive interview by writer Alice Sink that explored the challenges that I face as a wife and mother as I follow my dreams in the rough and tumble music business.

My 2008 tour begins in February, with a host of small venues and festivals including Tuesdays at The Temple in Sanford, NC, The Garage in Winston Salem and The Greensboro Bicentennial Celebration.  In addition to music venues, I have established myself as a motivational speaker with small business groups and women's organizations.