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“The human experience is a songwriter’s greatest gift. I have made some real fine choices that will never be mistakes; In return, I have been blessed with some mighty fine experiences!”
-Crystal Guzman
Experience is one thing that this 27-year old singer/ songwriter from Antioch, TN, is definitely not lacking. Crystal Guzman admits that she has not always viewed her experiences as wonderful “gifts,” and has come to understand, in time, that her entire life has been one big journey leading her in the direction of her dream. When one looks at the course of Crystal’s life, it is easy to see that this is the path of someone on a quest to find her true place in this world.
Crystal Guzman’s journey begins in Waterloo, Iowa, where she spent most of her childhood years. She was a quiet child who began playing violin at the age of nine, and soon learned that she could express herself best through her music. When Crystal was a junior in High School, her family relocated to Elgin, Iowa, a rural farming community in the Northeast corner of the state. It was during her high school years that Crystal began teaching herself guitar, so that she could begin performing her original songs for family and friends. While finishing High School in Elgin, Crystal encountered a teacher who would start her on a new path by encouraging her to pursue a career in Nursing.
Three and a half years later, Crystal graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Iowa, and joined the United States Air Force Nurse Corp shortly thereafter. While stationed in San Antonio, Texas, Crystal met a fellow Bluegrass enthusiast at an Alison Krauss concert, and together they formed a bluegrass band, Stringshot. The four-person band performed at various local events and nursing homes, where Crystal sang lead and played acoustic guitar. All the while Crystal continued writing songs, and performed at various singer/songwriter events throughout San Antonio. During her three-year term of service to the Air Force, Crystal completed a five-month deployment to Iraq. “I have always had a deep knowing of my true dream, but have spent much of my life too afraid to start working toward it. My experiences in Iraq, caring for the injured bodies and souls of people of all nationalities, skin colors, faiths, and opinions, helped me see the world in a new light. I became more determined than ever to make a positive difference in the world through my songs.”
Friendships were made and dear friends were lost during Crystal’s military service, and each experience pushed her further and further onward toward a place called Nashville, Tennessee. When Crystal’s military service commitment was finished, she moved to Nashville to major in Music Business at Belmont University. After a year of Music Business school, Crystal changed course yet again and enrolled in Belmont’s Master of Accountancy (MACC) program. Crystal is currently pursuing a career in songwriting.
“I have found that the future often looks clearer in the rear-view mirror, and that the human experience leaves much room for interpretation. My dream has led me to places where I have seen the human condition with my own eyes, and each one has found its way into my songs. Experiences that once seemed like bumps in the road have become my greatest tools in building bridges to my dream.”
www.myspace.com/crystalguzman
semi-pro
Country, Folk
Administrative: Crystal Guzman
acoustic guitar / violin / vocals
Alison Krauss, John Denver, Patty Griffin, Hank Williams Sr., Everly Brothers, Darius Rucker, Keith Urban, Daughtry, Ray Lamontagne, Missy Higgins, Cherryholmes
in co writing online
in co writing in person
in networking with songwriters
in pitching songs to artist
in pitching songs to tv
in getting a record deal
in getting a publishing deal
When I have time