Bio Listen to Jonell Mosser just once in concert and you’ll be an instant believer. She sings with all-out passion and heart. No frills. No games. Just a soulful intensity that makes you realize you’re in the presence of the real thing, not some manufactured, corporate-approved diva of the sort littering the landscape these days.  By STEVE MORSE, former staff writer at the Boston Globe for nearly 30 years, who has also written for Billboard and served on the nominating committee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Jonell is as honest as they come, both in her personal life and in her music. Her voice is stunning in its raw power, scope, and ability to take you places where you’ve never been. In addition to her four official album releases, she will be releasing a new album this year.   Jonell's Music Journey Past Jonell started singing at a young age, rising to do jazz standards in piano bars in her childhood home of Louisville. Her dad, a retired Air Force Master Sargent, had died of a heart attack when she was 3, so she was brought up by her mother, Joy, who loved jazz. “I listened to all the big band stuff,” Jonell recalls. “I loved Rosemary Clooney, Nat King Cole and Billie Holiday. She bought me 45s and albums from the time I was 5 or 6. Later on, my brother had great records by Jethro Tull, Al Green and Dobie Gray.” And what about Janis Joplin, to whom she has been compared? “I didn’t like her at first. Janis seemed unattainable. And on the other side, Aretha Franklin seemed unattainable. So I was drawn more to men’s voices, like when I heard Otis Redding for the first time. And James Taylor, of course. I adored him and Jackson Browne and Dan Fogelberg. And then I found Lowell George and Little Feat.” She also loved Texas singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt {whom she first met in Bowling Green around 1978 or ’79} and her debut album was a 1996 compilation of Townes covers called “Around Townes.” Solo Projects Her second album was “So Like Joy” in 2000, a smart, sophisticated batch of songs that Jonell wrote with John Hall (of Orleans fame) and Johanna Hall. They have been major believers in her. The disc included the high-arcing ballad “Do You Love Me” and the stylish title track, about letting go of regret. It is a connoisseur’s record. Next up was “Enough Rope,” a 2001 album that Allmusic.com proclaimed had “enough class, muscle and tough grace to stand out from the pack.” Then a lull followed as Jonell turned to raising her sons, before her “powerful “Trust Yourself” CD came out. The title track was a Dylan song given new heft by Jonell, while other stand outs were three co-writes with the Halls, and a sax-laced soul version of Harlan Howard’s “The Chokin’ Kind.” And perhaps the most intriguing project she’s been involved with in the last few years or so is being one of the Freedom Singers, who perform under the auspices of the First Amendment Center headed by former USA Today editor Ken Paulson. They feature songs that were once banned or censored, such as George M. Cohan’s “You’re a Grand Old Rag” (later changed to “Grand Old Flag”) and the controversial Billie Holiday tune, “Strange Fruit. ”It adds up to a highly unique career with no end in sight. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes in this business, but I feel successful as a human being,” says Jonell. I play and sing every day” “I’ve gotten to sing with Mavis Staples. I’ve gotten to sing with Levon Helm, and with Sam Moore, Bruce Cockburn, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson. I’ve gotten to meet and play music with so many great people, most of whom I feel I can call my friends” “That means everything to me” Now it could be Jonell’s moment to grab the spotlight. “I feel a tidal wave coming,” she says hopefully. “I just don’t want to get buried by it. I want to ride it.

What happens when four of Nashville’s best singers get together on stage? MAGIC!!! When Etta Britt and Sheila Lawrence came up with the concept of a female quartet, they brainstormed on who would be a good fit. As soon as Jonell Mosser and Vickie Carrico’s names were mentioned, there was no doubt in their minds it was right. And right it was. They booked a show at Green’s Grocery, in Leiper’s Fork and it sold out quickly. They decided to play an early show at 3rd and Lindsley, on a week night and when they arrived, there was a line down the sidewalk with people waiting to get a seat, they knew they had hit on something great and Kentucky Thunder has been thrilling audiences ever since. Each of the women has had a successful career on their own. Jonell has been playing to sold out shows, recorded her own records and performed with some of the biggest artists in the music industry. She is a Nashville favorite with a voice like an angel. Sheila is one of Nashville’s great songwriter’s. She has recorded her songs and played to packed houses for years. She never fails to get the crowd on their feet. Vickie is one of the group’s most seasoned performers. She has been in recording studios, on stage and writing songs for over 30 years. With her big voice and spunky stage presence, she lights up the stage and puts a smile on everyone’s face, especially her band mates. Etta came to Nashville after joining RCA recording group “Dave and Sugar.” Her experience with group singing has been an asset to Kentucky Thunder. She has also shared the stage and studio with many great artists. Her funky moves and distinctive voice always makes the audience get on their feet and dance. When the four women come together and share their talents with each other, you can feel a sisterhood like no other. They are truly sisters in song. When you get the chance to experience a Kentucky Thunder show, be ready to be whipped into a frenzy. They never fail to thrill.