Heather Cloninger and the Deacons tonight at Fat Jack's

Heather Linn Cloninger will perform tonight with her band, the Deacons, at Fat Jack's Oyster and Sports Bar.
Heather Linn Cloninger will perform tonight with her band, the Deacons, at Fat Jack's Oyster and Sports Bar.

Whether it's belting out "Midnight Special" or another grab-you-by-the-soul number, Heather Linn Cloninger knows how to sing it loud and proud.

Blessed with a bluesy voice rich with deep East Texas earthiness, Cloninger has graced local venues in recent months, the Cass County native performing as a solo singer with acoustic backup or with her band.

Tonight, she'll be at Fat Jack's Oyster and Sports Bar with her crew, the Deacons, to warm up the weekend.

For this longtime gospel singer from Bloomburg, Texas, these are busy days. Sitting down to talk about her music at Jack's, she could list three shows for this week. In addition to Jack's tonight and La Fogata last night, you'll find her at Twisted Fork Saturday night.

Singing is second nature to her. She's done it since she was 12. She had bands in high school and, for 11 years, sang gospel. When she hit her 30s, she got back on stage, first as backup.

"But I'm not a backup singer. I'm just not naturally a backup singer," Cloninger says with a laugh. She'd been playing with a band called Dixie Bent. They told her she was ready to go out and sing lead on her own.

From there, Cloninger started playing acoustic shows. Gradually, she got her own band together. It's all rushed by quickly for her, including an East Texas Music Award nomination as top female vocalist.

"The band situation is fairly new. The Deacons. My Deacons are out of Shreveport and Coushatta," said Cloninger, who's been connecting with Texarkana musicians, too. "Once you're a part of this group, there's so many talented people in this town. It's nice to have."

She grew up going to church and sang gospel, where she found a niche. But she cut her teeth at area oprys, here in Texarkana at Oaklawn or one in Ashdown.

"It's a great place to do it because you really learn to play with a band and it teaches you that atmosphere," Cloninger said. She was part of a gospel trio for years, her faith and family guiding her there. "It helped me stay where I needed to stay," she reflected.

And vocally it fit her, too. She could sing from the heart. She's loud, she admits with a laugh. Growing up in a small town afforded her a lot of "atta girl" support, she says. She admits she likes that attention and enjoys being at the center of it.

"I think all us musicians are pretty much attention hogs in some kind of form or fashion," Cloninger said. So growing up, being a talented singer in small Bloomburg gave her confidence, crucial positive feedback.

Getting back on stage in her 30s brought her back to her country music roots, though. It's the music she grew up on, although she's hesitant to call herself a country singer. She's at home with the rock and blues sound.

"This is just it, this is where I belong," Cloninger recalled thinking about getting back on stage. It's where she's been ever since.

She was asked by a friend about what makes her different than all the other women trying to land a gig. She doesn't sound like a lot of female singers around here with the high, sweet voice, she said. She has grit.

"I pride myself on that. It's something I've always had pride in. It's just being different, sounding different, not sounding like that next person," Cloninger said.

She's quick to say she's not any better than anyone else, but she enjoys being different. At the same time, she respects her colleagues.

"If you can't appreciate another singer or another musician, you're in the wrong business," Cloninger said. "You've got to really be able to appreciate what everybody else brings to the table. It's something I try to do."

As far as the music you'll hear at Heather Linn Cloninger shows, she does covers. She's working on her own tunes, but for now her shows see her performing the likes of Janis Joplin, Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton and Aerosmith.

Catch her this weekend in Texarkana. She'll also play the Red River Revel soon in Shreveport.

(Cover: $5. Fat Jack's is located at 3324 N. State Line Ave. More info: 870-774-5225.)

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