Sonia Lee Biographies:

Short Bio:

Singer/Songwriter and two-time Kerrville New Folk Finalist Sonia Lee sings in a pure, sweet voice, reminiscent of early Emmy Lou Harris and Allison Krauss. From the U.S. to Ukraine, Lee has engaged audiences at intimate house concerts, nightclubs and full-capacity festivals with her inspirational message of hope and redemption. On her latest CD, "Chance To Start Over" Sonia paints a deeply personal and passionate portrait of her own journey through addiction and her path to healing.


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For the more curious:

Singer/Songwriter and two-time Kerrville New Folk Finalist Sonia Lee sings in a pure, sweet voice, reminiscent of early Emmy Lou Harris and Allison Krauss.

She honed her style and authentic voice through years of performance and travel from New York to Nashville.

Sonia's 3rd CD, “Chance To Start Over", paints a deeply personal and passionate portrait of her own journey through addiction and her path to healing.

From the United States to Ukraine, Sonia Lee has engaged audiences at intimate house concerts, nightclubs, corporate events and full-capacity festivals with her inspirational message of hope and redemption.

Originally from Rochester, New York, Sonia followed her songwriter's heart to Nashville, TN in 1998.

At home in Nashville, Sonia is a regular performer at Music City's best known songwriter proving-ground clubs like the Bluebird Café, Douglas Corner, McGuiness’ Irish Pub, Family Wash, Borders Books, and many others.

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Sit back, maybe get a cup of coffee - get to know me..

Singer/Songwriter Sonia Lee grew up in Rochester, NY, steeped in the rich heritage of the area's Ukrainian community. The daughter of Ukrainian immigrants, she was immersed in her family's abundant cultural legacy of traditional Ukrainian folk songs and dances, Ukrainian embroidery and Easter egg decoration (Pysanky).

She began singing at the age of three and picked up her first guitar at 12 years old (when the Ukrainian camp guitarist didn't show up for the gig!).

But Sonia's heritage was not her only influence. She loved to listen to the music of the Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, and the singer/songwriters of the thriving American folk music scene in upstate New York. She listened - - and she dreamed of being a songwriter. It was this dream that would lead Sonia to Nashville.

After years of honing her unique singing style performing in the northeast, Sonia moved to Music City in 1998. As she sat in the quiet dark of Nashville's famous songwriter haunt, the Bluebird Cafe, ingesting and dissecting the words and melodies, she knew she had found her calling.

But those first few years after her move were difficult times for Ms. Lee and she found herself relying more and more on alcohol to help her through. Sonia now talks openly about those days and about how her life and her ambitions slowly spiraled downward.

It was during that dark time that Sonia met a network of supportive people who shared with her a design for living that was to change her life. She has now been free from alcohol for many years. This freedom defines the spirit of her songwriting on her third CD, "Chance To Start Over".

Soon after her new-found path began, Sonia started to write by herself as well as with co-writers who believed as she did - in love, forgiveness and redemption. And she became part of Nashville's songwriting community, singing in songwriter "rounds" at the Bluebird, where she'd watched so many great songwriters perform.

Kim McLean was one of the songwriters with whom she formed a kinship and later a creative partnership in the studio. Kim was to produce Sonia's first project, "From the Heart", a fresh musical interpretation of traditional Ukrainian folk songs.

"From The Heart", garnered solid critical acclaim, followed by a successful tour of Ukrainian audiences across America and Ukraine. This first CD project was true to Sonia's Ukranian heritage and helped to complete a blood-deep connection to her parent's homeland, but the heart of a songwriter was beating strongly in her chest.

So, for her next project, Sonia again enlisted producer Kim McLean, and together they recorded "True", an album of self-penned and co-written anthems and moving ballads drawn from the tapestry of Sonia's own "True" life.

In 2006, Sonia performed at the world renowned Kerrville Folk Festival in Kerrville, TX. Hailed as "the" festival for up and coming songwriters, this event draws nearly 50,000 music lovers annually. Sonia opened her heart and her voice for the folks at Kerrville, and was rewarded by being chosen as one of 32 finalists out of the more than 800 applicants.

And again, in 2008, Sonia won a "New Folk Finalist" award from the Kerrville Festival.

As a singer/songwriter, Sonia Lee writes from personal experience - - the high-roads and the detours, the tears and the triumph.. In January, 2007, at a standing room only release party for her self produced third CD, "Chance To Start Over", fans and friends at Nashville's Bluebird Cafe shared in the newest chapter of Sonia's growth as a singer/songwriter and as a woman whose life-long dreams have risen above her past struggles.

"Chance To Start Over" carries a positive message of strength and hope that Sonia has found on the sometimes rocky path of her personal journey. Anyone who has faced difficult times, regardless of the challenge, will find an uplifting message in each of these twelve songs.

To book Sonia Lee for an event, house concert or retreat, contact Chris Cavolo at 615-481-9884

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