Dreaming Big, Carving a Path and Never Detouring

Independent country artist Sandee June has a way of drawing you in with her rich, soothing tone and instantly connecting you with the lyrics of a song. She’s a singer, songwriter and lifelong Texan who grew up listening to her parents’ music – Michael Martin Murphey, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Cat Stevens and Elton John. She admits she has classic rock in her soul, but when she sings, it always “comes out country.” Maybe that’s because time spent with her grandparents always included listening to Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn – two of her all-time music heroes. There’s no doubt you can hear the influences of these two country music icons every time Sandee June steps up to a microphone.

Just like her heroes, the storytelling quality in her voice is not something she learned – it’s a God-given gift that perfectly reflects the experiences of her life. You see, Sandee June’s path in music isn’t typical, but one she is uniquely carving on her own, fueled by words of wisdom from her parents that she’s carried with her since she was a child. 

“Growing up, my mom used to always tell me this – ‘Honey, don’t die with your music still inside.’ What 

she meant by that was – if there’s a change you want to make in life, or if there is something inside you that you want to do – do it,” said Sandee June. “And my dad always told me, ‘Honey, I don’t care how old you are, don’t ever stop learning something new.’” 

While she’s always kept those words close to her heart, for the past 30 years she has focused on her children and a career in nursing. “There are a lot of things I would have liked to have done for myself, but I knew it would take two incomes to raise a big family. I thought, if I’m going to work, I am going to get a degree and make good money,” she said. “When I got accepted to nursing school, I had a 3-month-old, a 2-year-old, a 4-year- old and an 8-year-old. I look back on that now and think – how in the world did I do that? But I did.”  

With that same grit and determination – on her 50th birthday – she remembered her parents’ advice and set out to achieve a new goal. “I have always had a deep passion for music, so when I turned 50, I woke up and thought – this is the perfect time to do something for me. So, I went and bought myself a guitar,” she said. She taught herself to play guitar by watching YouTube videos and then realized it would be a lot more fun to sing along. Soon after, her fiancé, Ed Bradley, heard her and said, “by God, I think you can sing!”  

Empowered with six strings and a silky, classic country voice, she decided to start playing at open mics in the Clear Lake and Dickinson areas, southeast of Houston. The positive response she received encouraged her to start recording music and sharing it with others. “When I set my mind to do something, I don’t detour. I don’t get off track, I just do it,” she said. In October 2020, she released her first song to Texas country radio – “Somewhere Between Hell and a Honky Tonk.” 

“That song was written by a very good friend of mine, Randy Meadows; and he allowed me to add a couple of lines to make it my own. It’s a song that could be about a relationship or a place in a person’s life where you might feel a little lost – like you’re between two places and maybe it’s time for a change. I’ve always connected to the lyrics because they remind me of what my mom used to say – ‘don’t die with your music still inside you.’ So, if you’re not happy – make a change so you are.”  

Sandee June is beyond happy with her new journey and has already experienced great opportunities including opening for Texas country artist Josh Ward. “The first time we saw Josh Ward was at Armadillo Palace in Houston. He was walking around the corner and I stopped him and asked if I could have a picture with him. I was starstruck at the time, and then there I was on Labor Day weekend, one of his opening acts. That was a Cinderella story for me,” she added. 

What excites her most now is seeing her dream come to life and knowing that her children and grandchildren are watching and supporting her. “My kids were shocked at first – wow, what’s going on? Mom turns 50 and joins a band,” she laughed. “My grandkids just think it’s the best. We have the best time in our music room. They all grab a guitar or a microphone and want to sing and play. I hope it inspires them, as well, to be creative in life and keep learning.”  

Sandee June hopes to be an inspiration to all and encourages people to dream big, create their own

path, and never detour.