Interview with Heather Ballentine
b'HEATHER BALLENTINE\\xa0is a country girl right down to her roots. Raised in Arkansas, she has been singing and writing songs her entire life. Thanks to her father\\u2019s love of retro music, her early influences included\\xa0Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash,\\xa0Elvis, Roy Orbison,\\xa0and Buddy Holly.\\n\\nDuring University, Heather began modelling and was selected for the Catalina Swimwear campaign, which featured her in advertisements and on the runway. She placed top-ten in the Miss Arkansas Pageant, andwas the overall swimsuit winner, which assisted in paying for her education. After graduation, Heather was cast to star as \\u201cAdo Annie\\u201d in Discoveryland USA\\u2019s production of \\u201cOklahoma\\u201d. Performing 6 nights a week, for 3 straight months in a sold-out amphitheatre, gave Heather a taste of stardom. She packed up a U-Haul and moved to LA to pursue her music, acting, and modelling career.In LA, Heather met musicians with whom she collaborated. The band toured 10 countries while opening for major acts.\\n\\nThey were featured in The Wall Street Journal and noted as \\u201cArtist to Watch\\u201d. As an actress Heather has had speaking roles on General Hospital, independent films, and network television shows. She has also starred in National and Regional commercials. As a songwriter, she has had her music placed in numerous television shows and films.\\n\\nIn 2011, Heather moved to Canada and happily adopted it as her new home. Now based in Toronto, she recently recorded with Grammy Winning Producer, Pete Anderson. Heather and Pete have created her own signature sound that appeals to country, swing, and big band audiences alike. To see her live show is to fall in love with her retro charm. Her style is fresh, unique, and unforgettable.\\n\\nHer debut single is called Needle In A Haystack.'