Amanda Cevallos is a Latina country music songstress whose retro style and clean vocals garners comparisons to singers like Crystal Gayle and Kelly Willis, Amanda Cevallos grew up in Houston, Texas. Her entertainment career began as a child model for Houston’s Neil Hamil Modeling Agency at the age of 9. By the time she was 17, she was the VJ of her very own cable television, Latin-based music video show called, Mega Mix. At 19, Amanda began working as an actor represented by Houston’s premiere talent agency, Pastorini & Bosby. The majority of her jobs were voice-overs, which has proved to be quite fitting. Always encouraged by her family to perform, Amanda was never shy to try something new; songwriting and playing the guitar. Her mom, Frances, bought her a $40 guitar from a thrift store in Houston, TX. Amanda carried it around for two years until she wrote one of her most popular songs, Jose Guadalupe. A song she wrote about her father. The same song she sang to Willie Nelson, when she met him, and he asked her to sing for him. After two short college stints in California and Chicago, Amanda finally settled down in Missoula, Montana for a degree in Modern Dance performance. However, the guitar was a huge distraction and the music began to take sole focus. After one full-length record, Rainy Day, and an EP, Chase The Rain, Amanda completed her studies and graduated from The University of Montana in May of 2008. She then moved to Austin, TX in March of 2009.
Amanda started a country band in Austin, recorded a live album, Country Music Turns Me On, and then decided to visit a man by the name of James White, the owner of the most well known honky tonk in Texas. Amanda’s persistent nature, custom cowboy hat, and traditional country music style landed her a coveted residency at Austin’s legendary honky tonk, The Broken Spoke. This new “Austinite” was honing her craft alongside the spirit and presence of some of Texas country music’s legends. She went on to nail down a few weekly spots at other honky tonks throughout the larger area, she also landed opening act gigs for The Derailers, Todd Snider, Rick Trevino, Susan Gibson, Django Walker & Jim Lauderdale, and was picked up by a festival in France in summer 2012. But before Amanda could get to France, she managed to grab the attention of singer/songwriter and record producer, James Hyland. They recorded one song, “Good For Nothing But Each Other,” that Cevallos co-wrote with Austin Singer/Songwriter, Not In The Face front man, Jonathan Terrell, in December 2011. Recording with producer, James Hyland, continued in late January and went on through spring 2012. Special guests on the record include Texas music hard-hitters such as Lloyd Maines, Earle Poole Ball, Stephen Doster, Redd Volkaert, Dale Watson and a Texas Tornado by the name of Augie Meyers. Packaged with Amanda’s witty lyrics and sultry old country style, you’ll find a new Texas treasure titled, “I’ll Never Honky Tonk You.” Amanda’s cowboy hat is featured on the cover along with a sassy little pose that introduces you to Austin’s lovable, up and coming, honky tonk girl.
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