HAMPTON ROADS, Va. — Local musician Roberta Lea is celebrating a career milestone: Country Music Television is debuting her new music video. However, as she gains national recognition, she's keeping her Hampton Roads roots at the forefront.
Lea was born and raised in Norfolk, but her unique mix of country, pop, and soul, is branching out beyond Hampton Roads with the debut of her music video for her song ‘Girl’s Trip.’
She graduated from Virginia Wesleyan, a place that nurtured her passion for music, but that interest had existed long before.
“In grade school and elementary school, I started playing violin, and that love for music started to develop even more when I started going to church…There were all sorts of instruments, always a reason to sing, always a reason to play,” Lea said.
Earlier this year, Lea was able to shoot the Girl’s Trip video with the help of PHOND, a production company in Newport News. The video featured multiple Hampton Roads locations, showing viewers just how important her upbringing was in her musical journey.
“I've been very fortunate to be a part of multiple communities and perform in different spaces. And it's always been, you know, absolute love and support for one another,” Lea said. "It's been very beautiful and very humbling.”
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After working hard to pursue music professionally, it was no surprise to fans that success followed.
From becoming a member of the Black Opry, an organization that highlights the work of Black country artists, to being recognized by the local music magazine Veer, Lea worked her way up to being deemed one of country’s rising stars by CMT.
“It's very validating to me that as an independent artist with limited resources that a franchise like CMT’S ‘Next Women of Country’ will look at me and say, ‘You're doing great, and we got your back.' That's one of those stepping stones," said Lea.
Girl’s Trip is set to officially debut on CMT on Thursday, July 25. A billboard featuring Lea will appear in Time Square on Thursday too.
Lea is on her ‘Too Much of a Woman’ tour for the remainder of the year, with 14 more stops. Her next show will be at the Richmond Music Hall on July 31.
For more information on Roberta, click here.
