Bree Stevens ~ Rio Grande Valley's Country Music Sensation

by Holly Putegnat
(Brownsville, TX USA)

It’s been said “Nashville stars have nothing on Bree.” For most of her young life it was her family that was saying it. But lately, others are beginning to take notice of this beautiful young musician. At the age of 16, her sweet soft high range and brassy belting alto voice is top notch. It’s amazing how much sound comes out of her small five foot two frame.
Bree has been amazing audiences since she was two years old when she took the microphone away from a lady at a church pie auction in Dibble, Oklahoma and began to sing. From that moment she has dazzled others with her talent.
Bree was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma September 11, 1991. Her parents moved to Maysville, Oklahoma, a small town just southwest of Norman, right after her birth. There, she sat in a swing connected to rafters in a barn while her Nana fed baby calves and sang to her. Her parents were attending college nearby. Bree was swinging and soon singing back. Bree’s parents didn’t have a phone and only one channel on the television was clear enough to watch so they spent much of their time listening to music, singing, and playing games to pass the time. At the age of two she sang her first solo in front of a crowd of hungry pie bidders. Her voice, performance poise, and talent have been growing ever since.
Bree lived in and loved Oklahoma for 13 years. She left her Oklahoma roots and moved to Brownsville, Texas with her parents, little brother and sister. In an unfamiliar school she took a break from performing and began to focus her studies. But the music inside her needed an escape. At age of 13, and a 7th grader, Bree started singing the National Anthem at the High School Football Games. She’s looking forward to her 5th year on the field before the game. Most are stunned to hear such a powerful, passionate sound coming out of someone so petite. She's moved some to tears.
Her career took a turn in 2006 when owner of a Brownsville Honky Tonk heard a song Bree performed for a variety show that was recorded when she was 13. He asked Bree if she would like to sing at his establishment with the house band backing her up. “For real?” she asked!
The moment she stepped on stage with the band, she knew what she wanted to do. She wanted to sing and write music, and she wanted her own band. Bree recalls, “the hardest part of putting a band together was getting really good musicians to take me, a fifteen year old, seriously. Some dismissed me before they even heard me sing or heard what I had to say. It was really frustrating!” But patience paid off. Since October of 2006 Bree has had her own band that travels the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas. She calls herself lucky to have a crew of very talented musicians that play with her. Straight Forward Band members include Will on Lead guitar, Louie on drums, Frankie on Bass guitar, Bree on Rhythm Guitar, Carys on Keyboard, and Holly on backup vocals.
Bree is currently in the middle of recording some of her original music in demo format. Yes, she’s young, but she’s talented and she’s driven by her passion for music. For richer or poorer, in good times and bad, Bree decided at a very young age that she will make music her life’s work.