Southern Halo is the creation of a soulful sister trio born and raised in the Mississippi Delta. Born and raised in the Delta and talented beyond their years, the girls bring a unique blend of blues, southern rock and pop country to the stage.
Natalia, 14 years old, is the gifted guitarist and keyboard player and takes center stage as lead vocalist. Natalia favors Pop Country and rap music styles and is also the lead writer of the group. She has written five of the band's songs.
Christina, 13 years old, is the talented, hard rocking drummer and also takes the stage to lead Etta James style songs with her soulful voice. She has a love for R&B and Rock and Roll.
Hannah, 11 years old, is the classic hippie chick. She is the band's Bass player and percussionist and has a special spark in her stage presence that keeps the others on their toes. Hannah enjoys Pop and Country. A firecracker on stage and typically wearing a bandana, she completes this trio band with a combination of laid back and high energy performances.
Southern Halo has generated an exceptionally interesting sound which is both raw and heartfelt. With each of the sisters bringing their own taste and unique individuality to the band with Rock, Pop, Country, and Blues influences they have become a very well received popular group at festivals and venues throughout the Mississippi Delta from Clarksdale to New Orleans. Southern Halo's unique sound stems from the band's musical diversity and personal influences upon favorite classic songs of the past.
Written by Ruth Ingram (Clarion Ledger 02/02/12)
Five Mississippi kids from Clinton and Cleveland went to school perfectly happy this week. Come Friday, they’ll be singing the blues.
The duo of Clinton High seniors Reed Smith and Cody Sparkman and the Cleveland sister trio of Natalia, Christina and Hannah Morris are the state’s two entries in the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge Youth Showcase. It’s a coveted venue for up-and-coming blues talent, open only to those chosen by a Blues Foundation-affiliated Blues Society to take the stage in Memphis’ Beale Street entertainment district.
The Mississippi Delta Blues Society nominated Smith and Sparkman. The Crossroads Blues Society nominated the Morris sisters’ act, Southern Halo. To say they’re fearless and pumped is an understatement. Said 14-year-old guitarist Natalia Morris, an eighth-grader: “It’s so awesome to meet new people and see how they play.” ”It’s the biggest thing we’ve ever done,” said Christina, 13, a seventh-grader and drummer. The International Blues Challenge has three divisions: Solo/Duo and Band for adult acts and Youth Showcase for youth under 21. Blues societies affiliated with the Foundation can send an entrant to each.
Mississippi’s societies – the Central Mississippi Blues Society, Vicksburg Blues Society, Crossroads Blues Society and Mississippi Delta Blues Society – are sending nominees in the Solo/Duo and Band categories. Two sent Youth Showcase entrants. In all, 22 acts will be showcased, rather than pitted as competitors, in the youth division, said Joe Whitmer, deputy director of the Memphis-based Blues Foundation. Acts come from the United States, Canada, Europe and the Philippines. Adults vie for prizes and industry recognition.
Lori Morris, however, very much feels the awe factor. “I could never get up in front of people and do this,” she said of her girls. “It’s amazing to watch them.” The trio gravitates toward Southern rock, but loves the blues. “They really like rap. They’re definitely trying to do it,” Lori Morris said. ”Southern Halo” started with basic piano lessons with my oldest,” Morris said. “Our middle child Christina is wild and spirited, and she picked up the drums and had a blast. ”Then my baby Hannah said, ‘What can I play? I want to do something.’ ”
The five draw inspiration from musicians they admire. For Smith, that includes Jimi Hendrix; Sparkman cites Clinton High graduate Keith Carlock, who has played drums for Steely Dan, Sting and John Mayer. ”It’s funny. I’ve kind of wondered why I’ve become a blues player,” said Smith, 17. “It probably started with my interest in Jimi Hendrix, and that led me to more obscure blues players.”
Friday, he and Sparkman will sing and play songs, including Weeping Willow Blues, Hooker’s Hobo Blues and a handful of original compositions. Southern Halo’s set will include I’ve Got the Blues More Than You Do, St. James Infirmary Blues and At Last by Etta James. Adult competition began Wednesday. Youth performers on Friday can expect record label reps and talent scouts in the audience.
At age 11, Hannah Morris is short on years of experience, but long on zeal for her newfound craft after taking up the bass not two years ago. The fifth-grader wants what the rest of them want. ”I’m hoping that there will be a great crowd out there, and that we will do good,” she said.
The Top 5 Local Bands
(As voted on by the staff of The Cleveland Current)
By Jordan Thomas
Cleveland is lucky to have a number of local bands right here in town, and with great venues to play in such as Hey Joe’s, The Pickled Okra, and Crawdad’s – just to name a few – there’s never a shortage of live music.
We at The Cleveland Current voted on our favorite local bands and compiled a list of the top 5. There are so many great talents here in Cleveland we wish we could include them all, but here are our five favorites.
Southern Halo: This southern sister trio may be young, but they are talented beyond their years. The group uses their influences to create a blend of Rock, Pop, Country and Blues music that is uniquely their own. Sisters Natalia (14), Christina (12), and Hannah (11) each bring their own strengths and interests to the table. Natalia plays guitar and keyboard and is the group’s lead singer. She has written five of the band’s songs. “I’m working on lead guitar licks for some new songs I’m writing,” Natalia said.
Christina, or Tinka, plays the drums and also sings some of their more soulful songs, such as “House of the Rising Sun.”
According to Tinka she is working on “tweaking my blues rhythm.”
Hannah plays bass and is the percussionist.
Southern Halo plays at various venues and festivals from Clarksdale to New Orleans.
“We are getting ready for the international blues competition exhibition,” said Hannah.
The Morris sisters — Natalia (13), Christina (12) and Hannah (10) — have been rocking Cleveland and other cities with their sisterly sounds.
The band, Southern Halo, came together when Natalia wanted to start taking piano lessons, which soon turned into guitar lessons. Christina became a drummer and Hannah provides a steady beat on the bass. Together the trio has been “covering” southern rock hits at venues around town such as The Warehouse and Airport Grocery. They have even set up on the streets of New Orleans for tips. But according to their parents, there wasn’t any musical talent in the family before the kids came along.
The Cleveland Current
Mark Stowers
Merigold,MS