Jessica Harp
Encyclopedia
Jessica Leigh Harp is an American songwriter
and former country
artist from Kansas City, Missouri
. Between 2005 and 2007, Harp and Michelle Branch
recorded and performed as The Wreckers
, a duo that topped the country charts in 2006 with the Grammy-nominated
"Leave the Pieces
." After The Wreckers disbanded, Harp began a solo career on Warner Bros. Records
, the same label to which The Wreckers were signed. Her solo debut album single, "Boy Like Me
," debuted in March 2009 and was a Top 30 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It was followed by her debut album, A Woman Needs
, in March 2010. A few weeks prior to the release of her album, Harp announced that she would retire from being a recording artist to focus on becoming a full-time songwriter for other artists.
's album, Hotel Paper
. After working together, Harp joined up with Branch in 2005 to form a country duo, known as The Wreckers
, whose song "The Good Kind" was featured on One Tree Hill
and its soundtrack. The group's debut country single, "Leave the Pieces
", was released in February 2006. It was followed by their debut album, Stand Still, Look Pretty
, which was released on May 23, 2006. "Leave the Pieces" reached Number One on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in September 2006. The album produced two additional singles in "My, Oh My
" (a Top 10 hit) and "Tennessee" and was certified Gold by the RIAA for reaching sales of over 500,000.
Harp appeared on the very first live game broadcast by the NFL Network
on November 23, 2006, to sing the American national anthem
before the Thanksgiving Day game between her hometown Kansas City Chiefs
and the Denver Broncos
. They later performed the National Anthem at the 55th Annual NHL All-Star Game on January 24, 2007.
Despite the success of their Number One debut single, album sales, and a nomination for the 2007 Grammy Awards for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for the song "Leave the Pieces", both Harp and Branch announced in August 2007 that they were putting The Wreckers on hold, while both go forward with solo albums. This was announced on the band's official message board, which was later closed.
album for Warner Bros. Nashville in July 2008 and announced in January 2009 that it will be titled A Woman Needs. Songwriter Jerry Flowers produced the album and co-wrote several of the songs. The lead-off single, "Boy Like Me
," was released to country radio on March 9, 2009. It became her first Top 30 country hit, reaching a peak of #30 in June 2009. The album's second single, the title track, was released to radio on January 19, 2010, and the music video was filmed on November 19, 2009. On March 2, 2010, Harp announced she will retire as a recording artist to focus on becoming a full-time songwriter. Warner Bros. Records released her second album digitally on March 16, 2010.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and former country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist from Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. Between 2005 and 2007, Harp and Michelle Branch
Michelle Branch
Michelle Jacquet DeSevren Branch is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and actress. During the early 2000s, she released two top-selling albums, The Spirit Room and Hotel Paper, and was subsequently nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2003...
recorded and performed as The Wreckers
The Wreckers
-Studio albums:-Live albums:-Singles:-Featured singles:^ Song was credited as Santana with Michelle Branch and The Wreckers.-Music videos:-Awards and nominations:-External links:***...
, a duo that topped the country charts in 2006 with the Grammy-nominated
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
"Leave the Pieces
Leave the Pieces
"Leave the Pieces" is the title of a song written by Jennifer Hanson and Billy Austin, and recorded by American country duo The Wreckers. It was released as the duo's debut single, and served as the lead single for their debut album, Stand Still, Look Pretty on February 7, 2006.The single entered...
." After The Wreckers disbanded, Harp began a solo career on Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
, the same label to which The Wreckers were signed. Her solo debut album single, "Boy Like Me
Boy Like Me
"Boy Like Me" is a song written by Jerry Flowers, originally one-third of the American band The Ranch, and recorded by American country artist Jessica Harp as the first single to her debut album, A Woman Needs. "Boy Like Me" was released as a digital download on February 10, 2009 and was released...
," debuted in March 2009 and was a Top 30 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It was followed by her debut album, A Woman Needs
A Woman Needs
-Chart performance:A Woman Needs debuted at #31 on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums chart, selling 2,918 copies in its first week....
, in March 2010. A few weeks prior to the release of her album, Harp announced that she would retire from being a recording artist to focus on becoming a full-time songwriter for other artists.
Biography
Jessica Harp grew up with her parents and her sister, Annie in Kansas City, Missouri. She began singing when she was three, writing lyrics when she was eight, and picked up guitar at 13. In 2002, she pursued a solo career in music, releasing her independent album, Preface. She then worked as a backup vocalist for various country acts.2005–2007: The Wreckers
She provided backing vocals for her long-time friend Michelle BranchMichelle Branch
Michelle Jacquet DeSevren Branch is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and actress. During the early 2000s, she released two top-selling albums, The Spirit Room and Hotel Paper, and was subsequently nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2003...
's album, Hotel Paper
Hotel Paper
Hotel Paper is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Michelle Branch which was released on June 24, 2003.Some of the major themes on Hotel Paper are leaving things behind, constantly being on the move, independence, the mysteries of bus stations and spirituality...
. After working together, Harp joined up with Branch in 2005 to form a country duo, known as The Wreckers
The Wreckers
-Studio albums:-Live albums:-Singles:-Featured singles:^ Song was credited as Santana with Michelle Branch and The Wreckers.-Music videos:-Awards and nominations:-External links:***...
, whose song "The Good Kind" was featured on One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
and its soundtrack. The group's debut country single, "Leave the Pieces
Leave the Pieces
"Leave the Pieces" is the title of a song written by Jennifer Hanson and Billy Austin, and recorded by American country duo The Wreckers. It was released as the duo's debut single, and served as the lead single for their debut album, Stand Still, Look Pretty on February 7, 2006.The single entered...
", was released in February 2006. It was followed by their debut album, Stand Still, Look Pretty
Stand Still, Look Pretty
Stand Still, Look Pretty is the debut and only studio album by the duo The Wreckers, a country pop duo consisting of Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp. It was released in the United States on May 23, 2006 and has been released in other countries.The album debuted at number fourteen on the U.S....
, which was released on May 23, 2006. "Leave the Pieces" reached Number One on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in September 2006. The album produced two additional singles in "My, Oh My
My, Oh My
"My, Oh My" is the title of a song written by Wayne Kirkpatrick, Josh Leo, and co-written and recorded by American country duo The Wreckers. It was released in September 2006 as the second single from their debut album, Stand Still, Look Pretty.-Content:...
" (a Top 10 hit) and "Tennessee" and was certified Gold by the RIAA for reaching sales of over 500,000.
Harp appeared on the very first live game broadcast by the NFL Network
NFL Network
NFL Network is an American television specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League . It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve its formation...
on November 23, 2006, to sing the American national anthem
The Star-Spangled Banner
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships...
before the Thanksgiving Day game between her hometown Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
and the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. They later performed the National Anthem at the 55th Annual NHL All-Star Game on January 24, 2007.
Despite the success of their Number One debut single, album sales, and a nomination for the 2007 Grammy Awards for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for the song "Leave the Pieces", both Harp and Branch announced in August 2007 that they were putting The Wreckers on hold, while both go forward with solo albums. This was announced on the band's official message board, which was later closed.
2008–2010: A Woman Needs
On February 4, 2008, she married The Wreckers' fiddle player Jason Mowery. She started recording her first solo countryCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
album for Warner Bros. Nashville in July 2008 and announced in January 2009 that it will be titled A Woman Needs. Songwriter Jerry Flowers produced the album and co-wrote several of the songs. The lead-off single, "Boy Like Me
Boy Like Me
"Boy Like Me" is a song written by Jerry Flowers, originally one-third of the American band The Ranch, and recorded by American country artist Jessica Harp as the first single to her debut album, A Woman Needs. "Boy Like Me" was released as a digital download on February 10, 2009 and was released...
," was released to country radio on March 9, 2009. It became her first Top 30 country hit, reaching a peak of #30 in June 2009. The album's second single, the title track, was released to radio on January 19, 2010, and the music video was filmed on November 19, 2009. On March 2, 2010, Harp announced she will retire as a recording artist to focus on becoming a full-time songwriter. Warner Bros. Records released her second album digitally on March 16, 2010.
Discography
- For a discography as a member of The Wreckers, see The Wreckers discography
Albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US Heat Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
||
| Preface |
|
— | — |
| A Woman Needs A Woman Needs -Chart performance:A Woman Needs debuted at #31 on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums chart, selling 2,918 copies in its first week.... |
Warner Bros. Records Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies... |
31 | 7 |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
|||
| 2009 | "Boy Like Me Boy Like Me "Boy Like Me" is a song written by Jerry Flowers, originally one-third of the American band The Ranch, and recorded by American country artist Jessica Harp as the first single to her debut album, A Woman Needs. "Boy Like Me" was released as a digital download on February 10, 2009 and was released... " |
30 | A Woman Needs |
| 2010 | "A Woman Needs A Woman Needs (song) "A Woman Needs" is the title of a song recorded by American country artist Jessica Harp. The song, which is the title-track of Harp's debut album, was released to country radio on January 19, 2010 and to digital retailers on December 8, 2009... " |
56 |
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | "Boy Like Me" | Scott Speer Scott Speer Scott Speer is an American music video director born in San Diego, California.-Career:At age 23 he was signed with HSI Productions, and in 2006 Speer received the MVPA Award for Directorial Debut of the Year for the music video of "Stars" by Switchfoot.In 2007 he won his first MTV Video Music... |
| 2010 | "A Woman Needs" | Kristin Barlowe |
Awards
| Year | Organization | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Country Music Association Country Music Association Awards The Country Music Association Awards, also known as the CMA Awards, or the CMAs, and not to be confused with the ACM Awards, are voted on by business members of the Country Music Association. The first CMA awards were presented at an untelevised ceremony in Nashville's Municipal Auditorium in 1967... |
Vocal Duo of the Year (as The Wreckers The Wreckers -Studio albums:-Live albums:-Singles:-Featured singles:^ Song was credited as Santana with Michelle Branch and The Wreckers.-Music videos:-Awards and nominations:-External links:***... ) |
|
| 2007 | Grammy Awards | Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal The Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal was awarded from 1970 to 2011. The award has had several minor name changes:*In 1970 the award was known as Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group... — ("Leave the Pieces Leave the Pieces "Leave the Pieces" is the title of a song written by Jennifer Hanson and Billy Austin, and recorded by American country duo The Wreckers. It was released as the duo's debut single, and served as the lead single for their debut album, Stand Still, Look Pretty on February 7, 2006.The single entered... " as The Wreckers) |
|
| Music Row Awards Music Row Music Row is an area just to the southwest of Downtown Nashville, Tennessee that is home to hundreds of businesses related to the country music, gospel music, and Contemporary Christian music industries... |
Major Label Breakout Artist of the Year (as The Wreckers) | ||
| R&R R&R (magazine) R&R was a weekly music trade publication that followed the radio industry and tracked the monitoring of current songs by format, station and audience cumes... Readers' Poll |
Best New Performer (as The Wreckers) |