Sand Mountain Reporter

Fans of “down home country music” are in for a treat at the 52nd annual Marshall County Fair.

The Tina Marie Band is scheduled to perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday on the back stage.

Lead singer/songwriter Tina Marie is a Marshall County native and lives in the Mount Hebron community near Douglas.

The married mother of a 2-year-old daughter and two stepsons cites Loretta Lynn and her mother Peggy Stone as her chief musical influences. She’s met Lynn a number of times and even played music at the country legend’s ranch. She’s also performed at the World Famous Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge in Nashville.

Thursday night’s performance is the year-old band’s first at the Marshall County Fair.

Tina Marie said to expect a mix of her original songs and classic country covers by the likes of Merle Haggard and other well-known artists.

“I like the ones that keep it really country and tell stories,” she said in a phone interview this week. “I love Loretta Lynn and Alan Jackson and Tanya Tucker.”

Tina Marie said she enjoys writing songs.

“I started writing when I was about 13 or 14 years old,” she said. “I finally asked my mom to show me chords on the guitar and that night I was playing a song. I started writing songs and she kept them for me because she was afraid I’d lose them.

“I just want to put my music out there.”

Tina Marie writes about relationships and family, often in spontaneous moments of inspiration.

“I can see somebody’s situation and write about that,” she said. “I write about my husband when he makes me mad.

“I have written on toilet paper and envelopes. I write on my own hands. My best songs usually come out in about 15 minutes.”

The band’s MySpace page features four songs: “Kind Eyes,” “Glorybound,” “Misery Loves Company” and “Why Do Men Cheat.” All are old-school honky-tonk gems except for “Glorybound,” a song Tina Marie wrote for her grandparents.

Friday: The Christianaires Trio

The Christianaires Trio, of Collinsville, performs on the fair’s back stage Friday night at 7:30.

The trio is comprised of husband and wife, Harold and Susie Riggs, and Susie’s sister, Kathy Walden.

“They can expect some of the traditional country-style gospel and bluegrass gospel,” Harold said in a phone interview this week.

The trio sings harmony to pre-recorded tracks and has been performing together for 10 years.

“It’s more or less a hobby, but we do a lot of traveling,” said Harold, who’s a dispatcher for the Collinsville Police Department. “It’s something we decided to do for the Lord.”

The trio’s career highlight was performing at the Music City Gospel Showcase this June in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

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