Lydia's Story
Residing in Nashville, the town nicknamed 'Music City', a town rife with history and music culture, Lydia Manuel continues to hone her craft, writing, creating and performing alongside many of her musical heroes. Despite the siren's call to music at a young age, it was only once Manuel moved to Nashville, that she came out of the songwriting closet, and began writing in earnest.
"Some of my earliest memories are of my Dad, who was often singing along with the stereo or humming, (albeit off-key). He was an avid music lover, and like many people, his passion for music was not limited to one genre,- he kept an ever-growing record collection that he listened to, and thereby exposed us (Manuel and her siblings), to everything from Roger Miller, Kris Kristofferson, Tom T. Hall, Fats Domino and Nat King Cole, to World Music, and soundtracks from South Pacific, Oklahoma, and Camelot. "My parents married and had me when they were both very young, and often we would go to the local Drive-In, where popular music was blasting from the outdoor speakers. One of my earliest memories is singing along with "A Hundred Pounds of Clay", written by Kay Rogers, Luther Dixon and Bob Elgin, and recorded by Gene McDaniels. Music moves me somehow, in a way that nothing else ever has. My Mom's sister, Annette was a huge fan of what we now consider to be "Old School" country music; in particular Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Conway Twitty, Whispering Bill Anderson, and Willie Nelson. She would take me and her daughter, my cousin Susan, on her mail route, where she would tell us all about the lives of the singers on the radio. Artistic creativity was not something my working class family pursued, although music as recreation was valued as a way to unwind, relax and enjoy the creative efforts of others."
Manuel has performed at numerous world-famous venues, including the legendary Bluebird Cafe, Douglas Corner Cafe, Historic Roberts Hall, The Commodore Grille, and is also one of a select few songwriters chosen by Emmy nominated director Stacey K. Black, to be filmed for the award-winning documentary "Send My Mail to Nashville". According to Manuel, there are plans to record an Americana album in Spring 2021, for release in Fall 2021.