{{Short description|American singer-songwriter}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Amanda Grace | image = AmandaGrace.jpg | origin = St. Paul, Minnesota, United States | years_active = {{start date|2010}}–present | genre = Adult contemporary, soul, acoustic rock, Christian, children's music | website = {{URL|MusicByAmandaGrace.com}} }}
'''Amanda Grace''' is a singer-songwriter born in St. Paul, Minnesota. Grace writes, releases and performs acoustic rock, soul, children's music and Christian music.<ref name="onlineprnews1">Online PR Media [http://www.onlineprnews.com/news/658853-1453452394-amanda-grace-releases-new-single-better-life.html Amanda Grace Releases New Single Better Life]</ref><ref name="winonastateu1">''The Winonian'' March 30, 2016 [http://thewinonan.winonastateu.com/blooming-grounds-holds-performance-nights/ Blooming Grounds holds performance nights – Lauren Saner] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330172630/http://thewinonan.winonastateu.com/blooming-grounds-holds-performance-nights/ |date=March 30, 2016 }}</ref> Her career originally began with children's music.<ref>Southernminn Scene September 12, 2014 [https://web.archive.org/web/20151206042450/http://www.southernminn.com/scene/article_6d0727a1-826d-5390-a15e-d269e33e88da.html Amanda Grace shows off her big heart and big voice on "Keeping Hearts" by Rich Larson]</ref> Grace has released three albums, three singles, and is also a part of a women's contemporary folk band called Wildflower.
==Background== As a child, Grace dreamed of being a singer and received encouragement from her mother. When she was young she would play music with her sister and play music for churches. Her childhood instrument was the piano, on which she wrote many of her first songs.<ref name="autogenerated1">Lakeland Public Television [http://lptv.org/common-ground-714-young-at-art-exhibit-and-musician-amanda-grace/ Common Ground 714 – Young At Art Exhibit and Musician Amanda Grace]</ref> Grace began writing at the age of six.<ref>BRASH Magazine [http://jil.st/BRASHMagazine-MayJune16 Fearless Women in Music: Amanda Grace]</ref>
She graduated from Bemidji High School. In 1998, she moved to Winona to attend the Winona State University.<ref name="winonadailynews1">''Winona Daily News'' January 12, 2015 [http://www.winonadailynews.com/news/local/building-hope-through-music-winona-musician-embraces-the-journey/article_b1d01aa6-17a4-5d1c-a9f5-5d1f2957811e.html Building Hope through music: Winona musician embraces the journey]</ref> Grace received a degree from Winona State University in communications with a minor in music.<ref name="onlineprnews1"/> It was during college that she learned to play the acoustic guitar<ref name="autogenerated1"/>
Some of the inspiration for her music comes from the death of her nephew Bryce Breuer and later her sister's husband Tim Breuer.<ref name="winonadailynews1"/>
==Career== A few years after graduation from Winona State University, Grace began to write and play music for children. In 2010 she released her first children's album ''Trains, Cars & a Trip to Mars'' under her own label ''Any Kind of Music''. Grace's cover of "You Are My Sunshine", which appears on the album, was featured in ''Parents'' magazine in 2010.<ref name="onlineprnews1"/> In August 2012, Grace released an acoustic rock/adult contemporary album called ''Embrace''.<ref name="allmusic1">All Music [http://www.allmusic.com/album/embrace-mw0002821021 Wilhelmina & Amanda Grace ''Embrace'']</ref><ref>The Independent Music Awards [http://independentmusicawards.com/blog/2014/12/01/discover-artists-that-joined-the-14th-imas-amanda-grace/ Artist Name: Amanda Grace]</ref> In 2014, Grace released the ''Keeping Hearts'' EP which added six new acoustic rock songs to her collection of released music.<ref name="kickstarter1">Kick Starter [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/803084969/keeping-hearts-project-4-new-songs-by-amanda-grace Keeping Hearts Project: 6 New Songs By Amanda Grace]</ref><ref name="nightskyentertainment1">Night Sky Entertainment [https://web.archive.org/web/20150723001454/http://www.nightskyentertainment.net/music/amandagrace.html Amanda Grace]</ref><ref name="autogenerated2">MTV Artists [https://web.archive.org/web/20160414200413/http://www.mtv.com/artists/amanda-grace-00/discography/ Amanda Grace Discography]</ref>
In 2015 Grace's single "Los Angeles" was in the Top Five of the ''Upcoming100.com's'' "Emerging Artists" category.<ref name="postbulletin1">''Post-Bulletin'' November 25, 2015 [http://www.postbulletin.com/entertainment/stage/seen-heard-help-local-actress-get-that-chip-off-her/article_fca9dad7-98ba-5e63-9975-2523c65126db.html Seen & Heard: Help local actress get that chip off her shoulder – Megan Kennedy]</ref> The single which was released in November of that year<ref>Ucurrentevents.net [http://www.uscurrentevents.net/events-history/1230289/amanda-grace-s-los-angeles-single-release-day-with-prime-blaq Amanda Grace's "Los Angeles" Single Release Day with Prime Blaq]</ref> was also reviewed by NeuFutur Magazine.<ref name="neufutur1">''NeuFutur Magazine Online'' December 27, 2015 [http://neufutur.com/2015/12/amanda-grace-los-angeles-featuring-prime-blaq/ Amanda Grace – Los Angeles (featuring Prime Blaq) – James McQuiston]</ref> It was produced by Scotty Lund<ref>Industry Event Wire [http://www.industryeventwire.com/#!PRESS-RELEASE-Amanda-Grace-Releases-New-Single-Better-Life/cjds/56af55f70cf268328932267b (Press Release) Amanda Grace Releases New Single Better Life]</ref> and featured rapper Trayvon Ellis, professionally known as Prime Blaq.<ref>Soundc loud [https://soundcloud.com/primeblaq/los-angeles Prime Blaq, Los Angeles, # Amanda Grace]</ref><ref name="postbulletin1"/> The words for the song were written at an LA Airport prior boarding a plane.<ref>Upcoming 100 [http://www.upcoming100.com/news-detail/1408/pop-singer-amanda-grace-to-release-new-single-titled-better-life/ Pop Singer Amanda Grace to Release New Single Titled "Better Life"]</ref>
Grace does not claim a particular genre of music, although she credits Mariah Carey and The Cranberries as inspirations.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>
==Live performances== In the past she has appeared at the Winona's Blooming Grounds Coffee House; club owner Amy Jo Marks commented that Grace's style was like that of Norah Jones.<ref name="winonastateu1"/> In June 2014 she appeared at Ed's No Name bar in Winona with her group Wildflower. The event tied in with the release of her ''Keeping Hearts'' album.<ref>Minnesota Public Radio May 8, 2014 [http://blog.thecurrent.org/2014/05/beyond-kindie-family-favorite-amanda-grace-takes-a-new-tack/ Beyond "kindie": Family favorite Amanda Grace takes a new tack by Paul Schmitt]</ref> In September 2014 she was scheduled to appear at the Mid West Music Festival.<ref>''The Winona Daily News'' September 10, 2014 [http://www.winonadailynews.com/news/local/mwmf-looks-to-establish-year-round-presence-launches-fall-college/article_bbfc7942-e808-5f01-8f2d-c7ad94a2411e.html MWMF looks to establish year-round presence, launches fall college concert series, Apply to perform at 2015 Mid West Music Fest]</ref> In 2015, she appeared on the first day of Wisconsin music and art festival Ashley for the Arts.<ref>WKOW Television July 29, 2015 (Updated August 12, 2015) [http://www.wkow.com/story/29658130/2015/07/29/ashley-for-the-arts-preview Ashley for the Arts preview – By Bittany Lake] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418164509/http://www.wkow.com/story/29658130/2015/07/29/ashley-for-the-arts-preview |date=April 18, 2016 }}</ref><ref>''Winona Post'' April 27, 2015 [http://www.winonapost.com/Article/ArticleID/43910/Ashley-for-the-Arts-makes-big-changes Ashley for the Arts makes big changes]</ref> On March 11, 2016, she performed at the Over the Back Fence show held at the St. Mane Theatre in downtown Lanesboro, Minnesota.<ref>''Winona Post'' March 9, 2016 [http://www.winonapost.com/Article/ArticleID/48180/Amanda-Grace-to-perform-at-Over-the-Back-Fence Article, Amanda Grace from Winona will be March's featured musical guest]</ref>
==Discography== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ Singles |- ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Release info ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- ! scope="row" | "Los Angeles" | | 2015 | No. 2 spot in the "emerging artists" category<ref name="neufutur1"/><ref>This Is 50 [http://www.thisis50.com/profiles/blogs/video-amanda-grace-better-life/ Video Amanda Grace – "Better Life"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610081432/http://www.thisis50.com/profiles/blogs/video-amanda-grace-better-life |date=June 10, 2016 }}</ref> |-
! scope="row" | "Better Life" | | 2016 |<ref>Nightlinx [https://web.archive.org/web/20181007224523/http://www.nightlinx.com/events/eventdetail.php?event_id=882906955156239 "Better Life" By Amanda Grace *Single Release Day*]</ref> |}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ Albums and EPs |- ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Release info ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Description ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- !''Rayne Angel'' |Any Kind Of Music |2018 |Album | |- ! scope="row" | ''Trains, Cars & a Trip to Mars'' | Any Kind Of Music | 2010 | Album | Children's album dedicated to her nephew Bryce Breuer<ref name="winonadailynews1"/> |- ! scope="row" | ''Embrace'' | Any Kind Of Music | 2012 | Album | |- !''Better Life'' |Any Kind Of Music |2017 |EP | |- ! scope="row" | ''Keeping Hearts'' | Any Kind Of Music | 2014 | EP |<ref name="kickstarter1"/><ref name="nightskyentertainment1"/><ref name="autogenerated2"/> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Grace, Amanda}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:American performers of Christian music Category:American women pop singers Category:Christian music songwriters Category:Musicians from Saint Paul, Minnesota Category:Winona State University alumni Category:Singers from Minnesota Category:21st-century American women