Van Preston was born and raised near Memphis Tennessee, USA. Van started writing at the young age of nine. Graduating as her high school's Valedictorian, she received a full scholarship to a small Chicago college. A Bluesy/Rocking Singer-Songwriter on the rise, her music can best be described as rootsy, with strong influences of Americana, Classic Rhythm and Blues, Blues Rock, and Country. ---------
A songwriter as much as an artist, Van has a co-written song coming out on the "Steel Magnolia" full length album Summer 2010, titled 'Without You' and will be their third radio single. Van has scored several songwriting competition wins, including having two songs among the top nine Country songs in the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Competition, placing two years running in the Nashville Songwriting Association Annual Song Contest, and placing in the UK Songwriting Contest.------------
As an Artist in her own right, Van's music has garnered spectacular reviews in such notable publications as "Maverick", "Performing Songwriter", 'Country Weekly", "Music News Nashville", and many others, with significant critical acclaim building. Arriving in Nashville in July 2004, she has had five top-20 hits in Europe since mid-2006, and three Top 40 songs on U.S. Country radio (secondary stations) in the same period, including a Top Two for her single "Everything I've Never Seen" and a Top Ten for her song "Forever Ago" (www.newmusicweekly.com); receiving airplay for the songs in major radio markets.----------
Her debut album was nominated for 2007 Country Album of the Year in Europe by the European CMA. Her song, 'Bought Myself A Toy' has sold tens of thousands of units across Europe on the 'Best of Country 2008" Universal Records-France compilation. Van has opened for James Taylor, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Steel Magnolia, Dierks Bentley, Love and Theft, LeAnn Rimes, Josh Turner, Alan Jackson, Jason Michael Carroll, Martina McBride, Jack Ingram, and many others. She has played and headlined many venues and festivals, including Euro-Disneyland in Paris, numerous festivals across Europe, has also toured Australia, and has played legendary clubs including the now-defunct CBGB's in New York. She has been featured on the music television station "CMT" in 2009. Her sophomore album is due out in 2010.------------
------------------------Co-founder of Nashville's "Music Row Music Group" with Co-Owner Debbie White, MRMG offers regular music business training and development seminars for individuals pursuing careers in the music industry.
