Penni Lawrence started her amazing music career at an early age. Growing up in a musical family she sang her very first solo on her families Opry stage at 3 years old to Ernest Tubb’s “Thanks a Lot”. Penni’s father Buddie Boswell started the Union Hill Opry in Edgerton, MO in 1970. The Opry was centered around the family. With dad as the emcee, guitar player and lead singer of the band, older brother playing the drums and singing, older sister singing and on fiddle, Penni singing and mom singing harmonies and running the ticket window. Each family member had their part.
Operating from 1970 – 1996 the Opry offered great family entertainment to its loyal customers, as well as hosting a few surprise big-name acts. Some of the guest stars that graced the Union Hill Opry stage were Barbara Mandrell, Roy Acuff, Dolly Parton, Jim Ed Brown, Porter Wagoner, Ernest Tubb, Kitty Wells, Tammy Wynette, Hank Thompson, and Mel Tillis. With weather in the winter months keeping customers away, the family decided to close each January and February and take their show on the road and entertain the traveling snowbirds as they escaped the frigid temperature and wintered in the warmer southern states like Florida and Georgia.
Music has played a significant role in her life for as long as she can remember being strong enough to hold a microphone. At the age of 18 Penni started her very own band and began playing shows across Missouri. She continued until she made the move to Texas in 1996. Once in Texas she joined the Kelly Hastey band and toured until forming her own Texas band in 2006 which still exists today. Band members include Penni Lawrence lead vocals, Mike Hill bass guitar, Michael Corbin lead guitar, Mike Huffman drums, and Mark Philbrick on keyboard.
Penni has had multiple offers to go to Nashville throughout her career but always put her family first. She stated that she really wanted to stay home and raise her and her husband’s three daughters. She said it was important to her to be a mom first and entertainer later. Just as she grew up close to her family, she wanted that for her children too. She has been able remain passionate about her family and her music and is a 3-time state finalist in the national talent competition, the “Colgate/Texaco Country Showdown”, a finalist for the CMT television show, “Nashville Star”, and winner of the “West Texas Idol” competition.
In 2014 Penni and her family made the move back to Missouri for her husband’s job. A year later she had another band formed in Missouri and still travels back and forth playing to packed audiences across Texas and Missouri. Recently the Penni Lawrence Band was the opening act for Shenandoah at the Legendary Coyote Store in Gail, Texas. She has also opened for artists including Bryan White, Gene Watson, Tim McGraw, Lee Greenwood and more. Penni was honored to perform for our great nation’s military in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma on numerous occasions, which also included singing our national anthem in from of 12,000 troops in celebration of Armed Forces Day.
In her bio, famous Nashville songwriter/publisher Charlie Craig describes Penni’s vocals as having the versatility and sultry sound to perform any type of musical genre. He states, “her diversity in material performed and the ability to pull off each style effectively is unlike other female artists.” Seeing her perform live you will understand exactly what Mr. Craig means. Penni has a style and talent unlike any other female artist we have seen. She completely captivates her audiences with her soothing vocal range which allows her to sing any song from any genre. Her Texas band members are flawless in their performances and bring out the beauty of her vocals in each note.
Penni says a new project is coming very soon but fans can always find her current independently released album “It’s About Time” on all streaming platforms. The project was produced by Charlie Craig, who co-wrote with Alan Jackson his #1 hit, “Wanted”. In fact, there are some talented musicians who played on the album. “It’s About Time” featured Alan Jackson’s back up singers, Joe Diffie’s lead guitarist, Lorrie Morgan’s bass guitar player, and Ricky Skaggs former piano player Gary Smith.
It was an absolute honor to have this amazing artist as our featured cover story. It is rare to find someone with such integrity and dedication to her family, all the while finding the time to perform for thousands of loyal fans. We hope each of you will take the time to support Penni and take in a live performance. You absolutely will not be disappointed.
You can find Penni on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ThePenniLawrenceBand for current information and upcoming tour dates. God Bless
