Biography

Merritt Whitley
It was something that started out as love, and slowly ignited into a deep passion…….
Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Merritt Whitley has been singing all her life, slowly growing into the musician she is today. Through elementary school she would perform in all of her school talent shows singing songs by her favorite artists such as Amy Grant, Martina McBride and Faith Hill.
She then began doing karaoke contests through middle school, joined the church choir, and fell in love with performing. It wasn’t until high school she discovered she had another innate talent; songwriting. After going downtown one weekend to watch local bands with a group of friends she met a classmate who was a singer/songwriter. After talking to him he inspired her to pick up a guitar and begin writing her own music. For the first couple years that Merritt had begun writing she did not share her music with anyone. Until one day she decided to show some of her close friends everything she had been hiding. They immediately fell in love with her heart felt lyrics, and unforgettable melodies. Maybe this is why she was voted “Most Likely to Have a Number One Hit” her senior year at Park Hill High School.
Her parents had always known she was a good singer but it wasn’t until they heard her music that they knew there was something there. Considering the little amount of training Merritt has had, it just proves that she simply has a gift, there is no doubt she has been blessed with a musical ear. After sending out some of her songs to a friend who worked at a local radio station, she realized that her friends and family weren’t the only ones who believed she was extremely talented. She then met with a man named Tim Holcomb who believed that she should start sharing her music with the world. He recommended recording an album and referred her to “Dixiana Studio” on music row in Nashville. Merritt immediately started working with two amazing producers Phil Lister and Mark Lister. She has recorded 12 songs and plans on releasing her freshman album Spring of 2011.
Her music has a pop folk feel to it and her inspiration comes from people in her life. She writes about experiences and likes to tell stories in her music. She is inspired by various artists such as Liz Golden, Colbie Caillat, Michelle Branch and Taylor Swift. Merritt will be starting her sophomore year at Eastern Illinois University, playing on the tennis team and being a student as well as pursing her music dream. Merritt has many things going for her, from her music, to school, the tennis team and her strong work ethic shines through in whatever she is doing. Her songs are reflections of her experiences, and will leave you wanting more.