TV Screens to Tour Buses: Kate Voegele & Tyler Hilton Taking the Stage

Of all the great things that came out of the CW series One Tree Hill, from love triangles to sibling rivalries, the stage it provided for break out artists tops my list. Music was just as center stage as was the Brucas and Leyton drama. Between guest performances and the characters that built their careers and fan base on set. Bethany Joy Lenz as Haley James. Tyler Hilton as Chris Keller. Kate Voegele as Mia Catalano. Lastly, but definitely not least the most recent star Jana Kramer as Alex Dupre.

Today’s spotlight shines on Kate Voegele who took the role as Mia, which was suppose to be a two episode run, which she landed and ran with it for four seasons! Seasons five through eight featured 11 performances of her original songs. If you recall the shy pianist whose real talent was hidden by the huge ego of her band leader, Jason. Haley fired Jason, gave Mia the chance to make her voice heard, and she became Red Bedroom Records’ very successful solo artist.

Off the TV screen Kate Voegele was the first signed artist for Myspace Records. She officially signed with Interscope Records in 2006 and released her first full studio album with the label in 2007, Don’t Look Away. Originals from this album also performed on One Tree Hill range from No Good, Kindly Unspoken, It’s Only Life, I Won’t Disagree, Wish You Were, and Only Fooling Myself in season 5 to Devil in Me and You Can’t Break A Broken Heart in season 6. OTH continued to showcase Voegele’s originals off her next album A Fine Mess. Season 6 featured Inside Out, 99 Times, Manhattan From the Sky (remember the Chase Adams relationship??), Angel, Sweet Silver Lining, and Lift Me Up. In 2011 her Gravity Happens album made its OTH debut with Heart in Chains in season 8.

I now expect true One Tree Hill fans (like myself) to reminisce the above by binging the Mia Catalano seasons. Lucky for us we can also catch Ms. Voegele on the road with her costar Tyler Hilton (Chris Keller) this winter! The series might have ended quite some time ago, but the music never will! Since her exit from the show, making way for Jana Kramer/Ms. Dupre to take the scene, Voegele has continued writing. With her newest label Communikate Inc. she has released an EP, Wild Card in 2014, just a teaser until her full album release which just came out last Friday. Canyonlands is now available to stream on Spotify and order on iTunes. Tyler has been writing too. Possibly producing or writing with Charles Kelley according to some Instagram video clips! Looking forward to that collaboration!

This isn’t the first year Tyler and Kate are hitting the road together. In December 2015 they brought the One Tree Hill Holiday Party to the Gramercy Theatre, NYC. They also released a two sided CD of their live show in London, Live in London.

I encourage everyone to catch this next tour if you missed the first. Whether you want to relive Mia Catalano belt out Kindly Unspoken

or hear both Mia and Chris Keller do their version of When the Stars Go Blue.

{Kate Voegele Kindly Unspoken 12/20/15 Gramercy Theatre NYC}

{Kate Voegele & Tyler Hilton When the Stars Go Blue 12/20/15 The Gramercy Theatre NYC}

Or you’ve been following Voegele and Hilton beyond their OTH days and you want to hear her new song Just Watch Me off of Wild Card about independence and perseverance

{Kate Voegele Just Watch Me 12/20/15 Gramercy Theatre}

Or to hear their duet of Kate’s other new song Caught Up in You.

Whichever persona brings you out you won’t be disappointed. Their talent as singers and songwriters surpass the TV screen. It is quite a treat to see artists continue to grow and succeed beyond their original breakout platforms. It just goes to show you not to underestimate actors turned musicians. Looks like The Voice isn’t the only show where music careers can be born. With that said we really need a new show like One Tree Hill for the next generation, where music becomes a character of its own. While we wait get your tickets and fall in love with the new music! Bayshore, NY 12/17, Mexicali Live Teaneck, NJ 12/18, Irving Plaza NYC 12/20, and Mohegan Sun Wolf Den 12/22. For the complete tour visit http://www.katevoegele.com/tour/.