Biography

Arleen Nicastro is a true Texas original.
"RIDE WITH ME TO TEXAS" is enough to make any Texan long for home
and her song, "IS IT JUST ME", is just beautiful -
her piano playing and vocals are superb.

- Teresa James, Vocalist/Recording Artist

The CD is being extremely well received in Nashville, Los Angeles and Austin among the music industry and the general public.

The songs are brilliant.

- Michael Dumas, Mad Dog Studios

A loyal supporter of the songwriting community, she has regularly participated in a number of Songwriter Showcases in Los Angeles, including Western Beat, The NAS (National Academy of Songwriters) Acoustic Underground, The NSAI (National Songwriter Academy International) Songwriters Lineup, and Bret Perkin's The Listening Room Concerts. She was also chosen to perform one of her songs in an AirTouch Cellular radio spot that ran nationwide, and has been recognized in a number of songwriting contests.

It's unfortunate, but minds can be closed. . .
which is why some people wouldn't be caught dead in a church
while others wouldn't be caught dead in a bar.

Songwriting gives me a platform and a microphone,
and I have found it to be very powerful
in that through music people listen to messages that they might otherwise resist.

"10 years ago I couldn't imagine doing this . . . .
now I can't imagine not doing this."

Arleen's music makes my ears smile.

- Jerry Tubb, Terra Nova Digital Audio

Performing w/ Teresa James
& the Rhythm Tramps
at Rusty's on the SM Pier.

. . . a passionate songwriter
drawing on the grand tradition of the Texas storyteller
and her own introspection.

"Great big taste buds,
there's an underlying Texas Blues style here that I like a lot.
I've got my copy, hope you can get yours."

"There was a time when I realized that not everyone can write a song,
and not everyone who writes can write a song that moves people".

"I've seen the tears in their eyes and the smiles on their faces,
and they've told me that it was from something they heard in my songs.
I think that's powerful."

He also placed me in positions to educate myself
on less risky ways to pursue my dreams.

Most importantly, He sent me friends
who literally made me get up and perform my songs.
I hated them for that . . . . and now I love them for that."

CD Release party w/ Billy Watts,
Terry Wilson, Teresa James,
Eric Lowen & Dan Navarro.

. . . . she's got stage presence, talent, looks, a voice to die for . . .
and she's from Texas. You gotta love her.


Arleen Nicastro is a true Texas original. "RIDE WITH ME TO TEXAS" is enough to make any Texan long for home and her song, "IS IT JUST ME", is just beautiful - her piano playing and vocals are superb.
- Teresa James, Vocalist/Recording Artist

	Arleen has been writing songs for 8 years, and the year 2000 marks the release of her debut CD, Churches and Honky-Tonks.
				Thank you for the great CD!.... - George W. Bush and Laura Bush, .President and First Lady

				Recorded and mixed in LA and completed in Austin, *Churches and Honky-Tonks* provides an enjoyable resume' of some of Arleen's writing styles, including some blues, country and gospel. In addition to the variety of musical influences exhibited, her lyrics also reflect a variety of emotions and subject matter, while the overall CD successfully maintains a continuity that has been described by some as "just plain ol' good songwriting".

The songwriting lays a firm foundation on which the A-List musicians deliver memorable performances, all of which contribute to the incredible range of emotions that are evoked. The listener enjoys a relaxed summer day in the country with IT DON'T GET NO BETTER THAN THIS, and is taken on a beautiful journey through Texas in RIDE WITH ME TO TEXAS. We are then encouraged to get up and dance to feisty blues-influenced songs like I KNOW YOU LIE, YOU GOTTA SLEEP SOMETIME and HOLE IN MY HEART. Then we are gently reminded to look outside of ourselves for a moment with IS IT JUST ME?, YOU REMIND ME, and NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP, and even invited into the lives of a couple's beautiful life long love story in GOOD NIGHT AGAIN.

The CD is being extremely well received in Nashville, Los Angeles and Austin among the music industry and the general public. "Sensational! Her words and music translate into one word: Artist". -Joe Sutton, President MCA Records; Manager - Neil Diamond, Ricky Nelson & Lou Rawls

* * * * *

The songs are brilliant.
				- Michael Dumas, Mad Dog Studios

Me and John Townsend				As a writer, Arleen has shared the bill with such legendary songwriters as Michael Anderson, Severin Browne, Spencer Davis, John Herron, Eric Lowen and Dan Navarro, Dillon O'Brian, Harriet Schock, Maia Sharp, Randy Sharp, Jodi Siegel, Danny Timms, John Townsend, Wendy Waldman, Randy Weeks, and *Terry Wilson*.

A loyal supporter of the songwriting community, she has regularly participated in a number of Songwriter Showcases in Los Angeles, including Western Beat, The NAS (National Academy of Songwriters) Acoustic Underground, The NSAI (National Songwriter Academy International) Songwriters Lineup, and Bret Perkin's The Listening Room Concerts. She was also chosen to perform one of her songs in an AirTouch Cellular radio spot that ran nationwide, and has been recognized in a number of songwriting contests.

"As a writer, there is no greater compliment than for a person to be moved by what we write. I have been fortunate enough to see some of the smiles, the tears, the dancing and the toe tapping that has taken place because of something I have written". .- Arleen

* * * * *

"I feel very fortunate that I discovered songwriting. I'm a relatively young blonde female and I speak with a Southern accent, so there are plenty of reasons why some people might not listen to me when I speak.
It's unfortunate, but minds can be closed. . . which is why some people wouldn't be caught dead in a church while others wouldn't be caught dead in a bar.
Wisdom is wisdom. I believe that it shouldn't matter where we hear it or who we hear it from, but that we listen to it.
Songwriting gives me a platform and a microphone, and I have found it to be very powerful in that through music people listen to messages that they might otherwise resist.

- Arleen, on choosing the title of her debut CD, Churches and Honky-Tonks

* * * * *

								Performing at Rusty's, w/ Teresa, John Stowers, & Mark Shark looking on.
		That voice . . . that great voice.
		-Harriet Schock, .Platinum Songwriter/Recording Artist/Author ."That Ain't No Way To Treat A Lady"

Arleen considers herself a songwriter first, yet as a performer, she has graced the stage of a number of high profile clubs in Los Angeles, including *The Troubadour, The Roxy,* Café Largo and Rusty's on the Santa Monica Pier. Her debut performance was opening for Lisa Loeb at Chumley's in Dallas when they were each home for Christmas, just a few months before Lisa had the #1 song in the country. Recently Arleen has performed in Texas in anticipation of her move back to Austin, singing at Hang 'Em High on 6th Street in Austin, McGonigel's Mucky Duck in Houston, and The Balcony Club in Dallas. She has also performed at Borders** in Nashville, and with invitations to perform at a variety of venues, including churches and honky tonks, Arleen looks forward to becoming re-acquainted with the music communities in Nashville and in Austin.


June 16, 2001, Montgomery, West Virginia Performing at a backyard party at my Dad’s high school reunion

* * * * *

As a producer, Arleen has organized events benefiting TOYS FOR TOTS and *THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION*. She also produced her debut CD, with David Raven and Ed Tree each co-producing with her some of the songs on the CD.

"10 years ago I couldn't imagine doing this . . . . now I can't imagine not doing this."
						- Arleen

* * * * *

*Arleen's music makes my ears smile.*
			- Jerry Tubb, Terra Nova Digital Audio

Performing w/ Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps at Rusty's on the SM Pier.				As a recording artist, Arleen considers herself fortunate to have been able to record with some of the most talented session musicians and vocalists in Los Angeles. Among these are: Jimmy Christie (drums), Teresa James (vocals), Eric Lowen (vocals, guitar) and Dan Navarro (vocals), Dillon O'Brian (keyboards, accordion), Taras Prodaniuk (bass), David Raven (drums), Danny Timms (vocals), Ed Tree (guitars), Billy Watts (guitars, vocals), and Terry Wilson (bass).
* * * * *
. . . a passionate songwriter drawing on the grand tradition of the Texas storyteller and her own introspection.
					- Ed Tree, Producer/Guitarist/Songwriter

Arleen grew up in Dallas, Texas, and never saw a piano she wasn't drawn to. She began playing the piano by ear before she was in kindergarten, and her mother later decided it was time to give her lessons when Arleen came home in the 5th grade and announced that she had auditioned and been selected to be the accompanist for the choir.

Growing up in Texas, Arleen was exposed to a wide variety of good music. Her father played trumpet and was a fan of big bands, introducing her to Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzerald, Tommy Dorsey, Al Hirt and Herb Alpert. Her mother listened to Elvis, The Beatles, Mac Davis, Neil Diamond, and a variety of other quality pop artists, with some country influence. In addition, she and her brothers and sisters also enjoyed their share of The Eagles, Steve Miller, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lyle Lovett and of course, Willie Nelson.

				Arleen's biggest influences have been singer/songwriters like James Taylor, Carley Simon, Carol King, James Croce, Kenny Loggins, Nancy Griffith and Lyle Lovett, in addition to Fleetwood Mac, The Beatles, and a number of Motown artists. As a singer, she first admired the voices of Karen Carpenter, Barbara Streisand, and Elvis, and the harmonies of The Mamas & The Papas and The Beach Boys. More recently Arleen admits that she is drawn to the soulfulness of Bonnie Raitt, Delbert McClinton, Aretha Franklin and Etta James. As a musician, she is captivated by the piano playing of Elton John, Billy Joel, Harry Connick, Jr. and Marcia Ball, in addition to a number of early rock & roll and blues players.

Her biggest heroes seem to encompass all three: great songwriting, powerful vocals and great musicianship.

Her songwriting reflects the diversity of her influences. Arleen says that she has always appreciated the honesty, vulnerability and soulfulness of *gospel music, the story-telling appeal of country music, and the sarcasm, humor and simple wit of the blues*.

"Great big taste buds, there's an underlying Texas Blues style here that I like a lot. I've got my copy, hope you can get yours."
						- Daniel Moore, Hit Songwriter ."My Maria", "Shambala", and others

At The University of Texas, in Austin, Arleen was exposed to some of the best blues, country, and rock music. After years of singing in choirs at school and church and playing the piano for numerous talent shows and concerts, she majored in music for a year. She decided against a degree in Music Education or Music Performance, however, feeling that neither were stable enough for her, and earned her degree instead in Interior Design/Architecture. She has often said that had there been a curriculum for Songwriting or Music Business, she most likely would have continued in that area.

While pursuing songwriting in Los Angeles, Arleen supported herself by working as a top-level executive and legal assistant in the entertainment industry. Her first job was assisting the Film Supervisor on the Academy Award Show, and attending the Oscars with full red-carpet treatment was the beginning of the encouragement she needed to pursue her dreams.

During this time, she booked concerts through APA for such legends as *Tony Bennett, Johnny Cash, Rosemary Clooney* and Harry Connick, Jr., and worked with a number of record labels and music publishers, including MCA/Universal, RCA/BMG, Sony, Warner Bros., and Qwest, Quincy Jones's label. In addition, she worked with other companies directly related to songwriting, including BMI, The National Academy of Songwriters, The Barry Gordy Company and a number of top music and entertainment attorneys. She also worked with a number of motion picture studios, such as Paramount Pictures, Turner Pictures, Universal, and Warner Bros., and in TV, with ABC, CBS, NBC, and Dick Clark Productions**.

After years of encouragement from peers and friends in the music community, Arleen says that she decided to record her debut CD in an effort to have more time to write. Her rigorous schedule simply could not continue. In addition to working a 60 hour week, her evenings were spent rushing out to see clients of the companies that employed her or to listen to songwriter showcases, and she also hosted song pitches for The National Academy of Songwriters on Saturdays, and sang with her church choir on Sundays.

				While living in LA, she managed to write over 300 pieces of music, completing 80 songs, in the evenings and on weekends. Arleen says that in addition to studying the craft of songwriting and learning about the workings of the entertainment industry, she has watched how self-contained singer/songwriters at her level have benefited from the tools available now. Watching the success they have acheived on their terms has encouraged her to begin generating some revenue with her music.

* * * * *


"There was a time when I realized that not everyone can write a song, and not everyone who writes can write a song that moves people". "I've seen the tears in their eyes and the smiles on their faces, and they've told me that it was from something they heard in my songs. I think that's powerful."
							.- Arleen

Arleen is quick to say that it is by the Grace of God that she stumbled on to songwriting at all. When asked about it, she responds that it is still a mystery to her how she was plucked out of a suburb in North Dallas and plopped down in the middle of Hollywood by herself. Like others who share her "self-made" work ethic, Arleen is blessed and cursed with an unwillingness to gamble with everything that she has worked for. That, together with her lack of confidence in performing, caused her to fight pursuing music for years. Eventually, though, her curiosity and love of music persevered and there came a time when she discovered a way to use her talents.

"I believe God used those years when I was searching to place people in my life to encourage me and to provide examples for me.

He also placed me in positions to educate myself on less risky ways to pursue my dreams.

Most importantly, He sent me friends who literally made me get up and perform my songs. I hated them for that . . . . and now I love them for that."
								*- Arleen*

CD Release party w/ Billy Watts, Terry Wilson, Teresa James, Eric Lowen & Dan Navarro.						With the encouragement of friends, her "worst case scenario" became something she could live with, and it only made sense to pursue her musical dreams. Out of that came *Churches and Honky-Tonks*.


. . . . she's got stage presence, talent, looks, a voice to die for . . . and she's from Texas. You gotta love her.
- Craig Lackey, Coordinator of the Nashville Songwriters Assoc. International (NSAI), Los Angeles.

© 2000