The Rising Stars of Arizona Country
Writer Shannon Severson // Photography Courtesy of DDP Worldwide
Guitar in hand, a fresh-faced young talent steps up to the mic, the rhinestones on her belt flashing brilliance beneath the spotlight as the crowd holds its breath for a moment — waiting for that first note to wash over them. At just 13 years old, North Scottsdale resident Evelyn Errante is pursuing her dreams of becoming a worldwide country music sensation.
“Honestly, music is my whole life,” Evelyn says, crediting her parents, Jenny and Eric, for taking her seriously when, at age 10, she sat them down and said she was determined to pursue a career in country music after attending a Carrie Underwood concert. “My parents were athletes, and they coach me like an athlete. I work hard, and I’m very dedicated. I love doing it because it doesn’t feel like work — I’m pursuing my dream.”
Eric says Evelyn has always had a clear sense of purpose and drive when it comes to both her music career and personal identity.
“She knows who she is,” he explains. “One of the compliments she gets when performing isn’t just about her singing ability, but her character — how kind she is. Those are the characteristics that matter most to us. The person she’s becoming is bigger than just her talents and her singing ability.
“Jenny and I were athletes, and we’ve been tossed into this world and are trying to navigate it and set her up for success. A lot of the intangibles we had as athletes — guiding preparation, hard work, being part of a team, handling adversity — they’re all applicable. We’ve tried to find opportunities to strengthen those skills and experience the lessons to make her stronger and better. It’s amazing to see how far she has come in such a short time.”
Evelyn’s lifelong love of singing is now her professional pursuit. She’s performed on many stages in the Valley, on Phoenix morning television and has sung the national anthem at a Phoenix Suns game. This spring, she captivated crowds during Cave Creek Rodeo Days, adding another impressive credit to her growing resume. Her remarkable voice — demonstrated in original songs “First Rodeo” and “’Til You Can’t” — has a tone and strength beyond her years and a stage presence that has audiences falling in love with her spirited personality.
In addition to Underwood, she’s inspired by powerhouse female vocalists such as Grammy winner Lainey Wilson, Shania Twain, Dolly Parton, Miranda Lambert and Faith Hill.
“They’ve all left their mark on me, and their legacy is amazing,” she says.
Between online schoolwork, voice, guitar and piano lessons, Evelyn focuses on songwriting, drawing inspiration from her own life experiences as well as books and movies.
“I want to create songs that people can relate to, whether funny or sad,” Evelyn explains. “I want to convey emotions and make people feel like they’re understood. My goal is to have a positive impact on people with my music.”
Since every entertainment sensation begins with the small seed of vision, drive and a supportive network, Evelyn is professionally represented by Dennis Petty, CEO of DDP Worldwide and co-founder of the Arizona Desert Country Music Association. After years in the entertainment and management business, Petty saw the need for an organization focused on advancing the Grand Canyon State’s country music talent, just as such associations exist in Texas and Nashville.
“I noticed that not many Arizonans get their music played on the radio,” he recalls. “We have a lot of great musicians and songwriters in this state. They’re just not getting the attention that they need.”
DDP artists, including Evelyn, Bobby Joe Bell and Lacey Rashea, regularly appear at local venues — Harold’s Corral and the Buffalo Chip in Cave Creek; Foley Ranch at Desert Ridge and The Stillery in Norterra. Further south are Rooster’s in Mesa and the new Rusty Spur in Apache Junction.
AZDCMA seeks to create a community that draws from this well of homegrown talent and the ardent fans who sing, line dance and two-step along to the rich music tradition grown from dusty desert roads and plucked from brilliant Arizona sunsets.
When he approached the station owner of KSWG-FM 96.3 Arizona’s Real Country about a radio program to promote Arizona artists, the response was a resounding “Yes!”
Petty and Diana Blewer — his wife and business partner — teamed up with accomplished country performer Shari Rowe for a weekly 7 p.m. Sunday show, “Arizona on the Rise.” Each week, a different Arizona artist is featured along with six of their original songs and a sampling of songs by artists who inspire their work.
The radio show is just one of the Arizona Desert Country Music Association’s many initiatives to promote and develop Arizona’s unique country music tradition and to make Arizona the “Country Music Destination of the West” — a hub for talent, a driver to develop a fan base here and across the country through social media, and hopefully a thriving culture and live performance haven that keeps locals from being forced to pull up stakes and leave for Nashville in order to “make it” in the industry.
Petty and Jeremy Weeks, DDP’s executive director, are determined to put the state on the map during a time of the genre’s enormous popularity. After all, this is the state that gave the world Waylon Jennings, Glen Campbell, Marty Robbins, Linda Ronstadt and, more recently, Tanya Tucker and Dierks Bentley.
“I’ll put it this way,” Petty says. “In the East you have the Nashville sound; in the South it’s Red Dirt; in California, it’s the Bakersfield sound. Arizona never really had its own sound. Now, the way some writers are writing and the sound that results is a melting pot. You’ve got good classic country, ‘90s country, and folk Americana country and you take all those and throw in the outlaw country sound, and blend it all together and that’s what’s coming out of Arizona now.
“We’re the Wild West, and that’s how our music is. You can bring your own style and fit in. You don’t have to be a certain way or define yourself one way to play your music. That happens in other places, but here we say that we want your best — I don’t care if you use a fiddle, a steel guitar or an electric guitar.”
Petty notes that many local songwriters, including Rowe, are inspired by the desert, and it comes through in the music. It’s something special to foster and celebrate.
This fall, Weeks says there will be a kickoff party for AZDCMA, and anyone — fans, songwriters, singers, industry professionals including producers, engineers and agents, and venue owners — is welcome to join the association. Members have the opportunity to attend exclusive events, performances, seminars, retreats and festivals to build community and recognition. The team also envisions an Arizona Country Music Awards ceremony to highlight our state’s incredible talent.
“We want fans, businesses, media and singers to join,” Weeks says. “We’ll have presale tickets for members, and as their favorite artists grow in popularity and perform at larger venues, they will get early ticket access.”
The AZDCMA is also developing a mentor system for more experienced artists to take younger ones under their wing.
That mentorship and guidance add to the experience and potential of artists like Evelyn, who says she has been happily surprised and flattered when so many fellow artists show respect for the hard work she’s putting in and take her seriously as an emerging talent.
“I think everyone has their own unique style, and we are all pursuing a dream and supporting each other. Being a part of this community has helped me with confidence and leadership — and I love performing.”
Weeks imagines a bright future for Arizona artists and audiences, bringing everyone together to “live life,” connected through the power of music. He envisions a future entertainment district similar to Nashville’s Broadway — filled with honky tonks, live music venues and perhaps recording studios — a hub for creativity, jobs and music tourism.
“We want to be a hub that captures the essence of Arizona artists and gives everyone in the state — or even internationally — an avenue to view them, to learn about them, to hear their music and their stories.”
As the Arizona Desert Country Music Association continues to build momentum, the future looks as brilliant as an Arizona sunset for the state’s thriving country music scene. From emerging talents like Evelyn Errante to experienced industry professionals, a community is forming that honors Arizona’s rich musical heritage while forging its own distinctive sound.
Through initiatives like the weekly radio show, music festivals and involvement with thriving live performance venues, the AZDCMA is blazing a trail for local artists to find success without leaving the desert Southwest. The spirit of the Wild West lives on through Arizona’s country music — a sound as vast and captivating as the landscape that inspires it.
‘Arizona on the Rise’
Sundays // 7–8 p.m. // KSWG-FM 96.3 Arizona’s Real Country // arizonarealcountry.com
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