Artist & Songwriter

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Teresa Wade’s bluesy melodies and real-life lyrics reflect her upbringing in the heart of the south, and the highs and lows of the journey called life. Her stories in song reference magnolia trees, fireflies in the summer, church on Sunday, sweet southern delicacies, fishing with her dad, and of course, love and heartbreak – all that started for Teresa as a towheaded kid who blossomed into a Georgia peach. 

Teresa grew up in Stone Mountain, GA, just outside Atlanta, where she started piano lessons at the age of five. The songbird went on to sing in church, excel in classical piano competitions, perform as a vocalist, and serve the local congregation as church organist. She landed her first paid music gig as a pianist at a neighboring church; her dad drove her there each Sunday– she was only twelve years old. Teresa’s overachiever nature was already in bloom.

After completing an undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia, at the age of 25, the songbird loaded her dog into her jeep, and drove north to Nashville, TN to pursue her music career dream. She spent 15 years writing, recording, playing the guitar, and performing in Music City and across the southeast US. Fans relate to the stories and emotions crafted into each of her songs that draw on real-life experiences.

The songbird honed her talents in Tennessee, where she put her nose to the grindstone as a staff songwriter for Charlie Daniels Music and BMG Music Publishing. Country and pop artists in the US and Europe have recorded her compositions. She wrote nine of the 11 songs on her own album The Real Thing, released in 2005 on Klimbing Kudzu Records. “The Kudzu Song”, her second single from The Real Thing, is autobiographical about her Georgia roots that still keep her growing tall. Her soulful sound draws on Teresa’s influences of Barbara Mandrell, Bonnie Raitt, Keith Urban, Billy Joel, and Norah Jones. Her ultimate dream duet partner was the late Ray Charles.

A Songbird for Hope

When she was 23, the plight of orphans in Russia resonated with this philanthropy champion. We often wonder what we can do to help others with overwhelming problems and countries that are in dire situations. But Teresa knew what to do. She took her music, faith, and messages of hope to children in Russian orphanages during on three mission trips.

“Living conditions in the orphanages were terrible, children were hungry, ill, and lonely. But with each visit and each song, their faces lit up,” the philanthropy champion said. “We took medical supplies, food, music, hugs, and hope through Jesus’ love.”

Also, in 1993, this Georgia peach was crowned Miss DeKalb County, GA, and she spent that year performing and campaigning for philanthropic causes. Between the Miss DeKalb title and her professional career, Teresa has performed for causes and events across the southeast US, including NASCAR, listening rooms, festivals, concert halls, and more. These days she is very involved with and performs often at events for Hope for the Warriors, Cool Kids Campaign, and more.

Teresa is a mass of contradictions and an expert in many vocations which lend to the vivid descriptions in her songs. Listeners love and identify with the lyrics. When asked about the songwriting process she said, “it’s often therapeutic and healing for the writer, and I treasure the opportunity to capture the listener and hopefully make a difference in their moment, their minutes, or their lives.”

Access The Real Thing from Apple iTunes and Amazon.