19-Year-Old Anchorage Singer's Big Voice Attracts Attention

Now a producer from Nashville, who has worked with Dwight Yoakam, is in Anchorage to record a couple of demo tapes of Beltrami that he will circulate in the country music capital later this month.

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By Bill McAllister
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Story Created: Oct 6, 2011 at 3:29 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Oct 6, 2011 at 7:00 PM AKDT

Cody Beltrami recently performed for 5,000 people at an international union gathering in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Now she's working with a producer from Nashville on some demo tapes that are going to be circulated there later this month, in search of a recording contract.

Whether that dream becomes real or not, the 19-year-old singer says she'll be happy performing wherever she can.

As she sang during a recent rehearsal of her group, Gospel Groove: "I made up mind when I was a young girl / I’ve been given this one world / I won't worry it away,"      

The group is based out of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Parish in south Anchorage.

"I really enjoy doing my thing with my gospel group right now just because we don't sing for money, we don't sing for anything, it's just singing because we're getting that chance to sing. And that's a big part of me. I just want to sing, I want to bring hope and inspire others to kind of follow their dreams."

"Singing with Cody -- a lot of times I just have to close my eyes,” says Gospel Groove member Scott McMurren. “Because I can't believe it's that same little girl who grew up across the street from us. And she's got a big girl voice. I always say, 'Adele, move over.' "

Cody is the daughter of labor leader Vince Beltrami, and she can be seen on a YouTube music video in support of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, doing an old union-organizing number from the folk protest era: "Which side are you on, boys / which side are you on."

That led to her biggest ever gig, last month, performing the U.S. national anthem for 5,000 people at an IBEW convention in Vancouver.

"Best sound system I’ve ever sung on in my entire life. Huge hall. The convention center was gorgeous, but it was packed."

McMurren said: "I think the future is really bright for Cody. She is competent in many disciplines. She takes really good direction. She harmonizes very well. She sings solo really well."

Now a producer from Nashville, who has worked with Dwight Yoakam, is in Anchorage to record a couple of demo tapes of Beltrami that he will circulate in the country music capital later this month.

"He said he's never actively searched out somebody. He's always done it by them auditioning for him, and this and that, but never by somebody he's just heard and said, 'I want you.' "

She says she wants to become a national country music recording star.

But she doesn't appear desperate for it.

"But if it doesn't work out, I'm more than content singing with my group. More than content."

Either way, the show will go on.

 

 

 

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