Budding Musician is Ready to Shine
Gwen Akers
The Ashland Beacon
Courtney Jo Harr began her musical journey at 14 and is now ready to debut as a singer and songwriter.
After a long break from the musical scene, Harr was persuaded and encouraged by her husband Micheal Harr to step back into the limelight. After a stroke when she was younger left half of her face paralyzed, Harr found her peace and escape in music. Music has always been her instrument of healing and understanding the world, and with the support of her husband, son Bradeyn, and family, she is now preparing to unveil her first EP this January.
Her husband, Michael Harr of 10 years, is one of Harr’s biggest supporters, and he could not be more excited and proud for his wife.
“We were friends for about two years, maybe a little less, and we [would] just take off and drive everywhere. I heard her sing to the radio one day. I turn the radio down, and she just stared at me. I said, ‘Do you sing?’ She said, ‘Nope, I don’t sing.’ I aggravated her for a few weeks, only got her to sing a few things. She just had a good voice, and I just pushed her through,” explained Michael Harr.
Courtney Jo founded her band, the Courtney Jo Band, 2 years ago, and since then has toured all over the area. Born and raised in South Shore, she has toured and performed in a variety of cities–performing various genres but mostly country and classic rock. Harr started writing her own original music at the age of 25 and is now ready to step outside the safety net of singing covers.
“We throw in some originals here and there. We’re slowly getting out of the bar scene and starting to play festivals, fairs, and stadiums. We’re starting to get away from the covers, but it's hard to do whenever the crowd wants to hear stuff that they know. We play anywhere from Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, down to Charleston,” commented Harr about her time on the road with the band, “I love it. I like getting to go out and meet all kinds of people.”
These connections are what really make the traveling music life perfect for Harr as she loves getting to go to new places and meet new people. One couple in particular really brought all of this into perspective.
“A couple came up to me, and they followed me all the way from Toledo, Ohio down here. That was just mind-blowing,” Harr explained as an example of her connections.
Harr is heavily inspired by her life experiences, her family and friends, as well as fellow musicians such as Kelly Clarkson, Martina McBride, Carly Pierce, and local talents Corey Neace and Emmy Davis. Rebecca Derrederry is just one of Harr’s musical best friends. After meeting at the North American Country Music Association International Competition, the two instantly hit it off and have been encouraging each other in their musical pursuits since.
“She’s very passionate about music. She didn’t think she was ever going to be a singer. I mean, she didn't start singing until she was like 19 or 20. She discovered her gift, and she's decided to share it with the world. She’s very outgoing and personable at the same time. You talk to her, [and] you feel like you've known her for quite some time right away,” remarked Derrederry.
In her career, Harr has auditioned for the Voice 11 times and American Idol 10 times, and currently works as a talent recruiter for American Idol, as well as in Hospice. Harr warned that in this industry you have to be resilient and never take no for an answer, especially in the pursuit of making music your full-time career. Harr has never given up on her dreams and encouraged all those other dreamers out there to keep chasing after their passions.
“If you really want it, you gotta go do it. I do watch a lot of the local music scene–they try for a little while, and then it's like they lose the spark for it. You just keep picking yourself back up from your bootstraps and just keep doing it,” expressed Harr.
Those interested in keeping up with Harr’s musical career should be on the lookout for her EP set to come out in January. Until then, remember Harr’s words about being resilient, and keep chasing after your dreams just as she has hers.